NATIVITÉ DU CHRIST

As the Julian calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church lags 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, the Nativity of Christ is celebrated on 7 January. Introduced into Russia in the 10th century with Christianity, this feast was considered by the Orthodox Church to be the second most important after Easter. It closes the New Year's holiday week, which began on ¹ January. Christmas lost its popularity after 70 years of prohibition in Soviet times.