American Holidays

[Gone To Texas 0]

This is my first "post", so forgive me if I completely mess it up. Since today is Thanksgiving, I was just wondering how well Russian women, or women from any other nationality or culture, adapt to American holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.

My fiance' and I have talked and compared holidays quite a bit, and I know that the Orthodox Christmas is actually January 7th, which makes it interesting. So I am already thinking our household will put up a tree in December and not take it down until after January 7th. I think that the kids would probably love the idea of 2 Christmases.

But as for the food, the religious context, and other parts of our Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc, I wonder how well they adapt, and do you make a very long list of American holidays and their holidays and try to celebrate each as it would be celebrated in that country, or at least the ones that they consider vitally important?

And for those of you who have your significant other with you, do you guys go "all out" on the food preparation and celebrations of these events....American and Russian?

I'm thinking that the answer might be just like it is here for American families....some do....and some don't......but I thought I would just throw it out there.

Peace out......and Happy Thanksgiving everybody.

Mark

[Rob_Lesya 4]

This is an excellent question, and as you point out it's probably going to depend a little bit on the individual persons.

But in my previous experience regarding Russians and adjusting to American holidays, my wife and stepson had little trouble adjusting to American holidays. Of course the stepson ABSOLUTELY LOVED the fact that he essentially had 2 Christmases! He would have the one on December 25.... and then some days later would get a HUGE package from grandma. Perhaps the one holiday that is the most difficult for most Russians to adapt to is New Year's. First you have to understand that New Year's in Russia is THE holiday for most --- much differet than the relatively subdued New Year's that we celebrate here. A Russan New Year's is going to look to you a lot like American Christmas -- it's the time when people put up decorated trees, sing many of the songs that for us are "Christmas Carols", and spend time with family and friends and co-workers. Except that this doesn't happen just for ONE night, but goes on for an entire week.

Most Russian holidays today are "political" in nature and not ones that most Russians are going to be that interested in continuing to celebrate once they get here. But New Year's was the one holiday where we combined traditions a bit. It's usual in Russia to have a big celebration on New Year's night... and then a few minutes before midnight, you turn on the TV and listen to an address by the President and then listen to the chiming Kremlin bell-tower, drink your toast to the new year and continue your celebrations. Here (and where you're at in Texas), midnight in Moscow occurs at 3pm our time. So it was usual for us to watch Russian TV via the internet and continue the tradition of listening to the President and toasting the Moscow New Year. I'll be happy to send you links and information about how to get Russian TV channels via the internet. In addition to this midnight toast, it is very usual for almost ALL channels in Russia to spend the entire New Year's week broadcasting special concerts and musical variety shows, etc. It's normal for most Russians to have these programs playing in the background as they celebrate, and in my opinion they're among the most interesting and entertaining programs on televsion in ANY country. As I said, it's usual for there to be parties, with family, friends, and co-workers every night between New Year's and the Orthodox Christmas. Here in Baton Rouge we got to know quite a few Russians and Ukrainians who lived here and different people would host parties on these nights. We were "lucky" enough to be the hosts a few times. The amount of alcohol and food consumed during one of these parties would astound most Americans. But they're able to do it every night for a week straight.

Now in the matter of religious holidays, that will be an issue that you'll have to discuss with your fiancee and decide for yourselves. You can look to see if there are any Orthodox Churches in your area. You might end up being surprised. Many Orthodox Churches here are not the big and grandious style that you'll find in Russia, but many of them are simple and relatively plain and can go unnoticed as you drive by them. But just as in America, there are many Russians who might not be of the "every Sunday" variety.... but they'll still want to go to the Pascha service each year, for example. If that's something that's important to your fiancee/wife and you can acommodate her, that would be great.

I hope this helps a little bit. If you have any additional questions you can always feel free to PM me.

[SunDrop 59]

I had a very international upbringing and was friends with a lot of culturally blended families. Most merged the important holidays, taking traditions from both and creating unique ways of celebrating that were often twice the fun!

German/ English families would have mum and dad put the tree up on Christmas Eve at sunset, lighting the candles and allowing the kids to open one present or family gifts, and then santa would visit over night and leave more gifts for the morning. They would have turkey on the 25th and gammon ham on the 26th.

Dutch families would put their shoes out on Dec 6th for St. Nick and then do Christmas in the other half.

There are lots of little traditions that relate to the build-up and aftermath of Christmas itself, like the German 4 week 'advent' where you light a candle each week, usually placed on a wreath that sits on the table.

I'm actually kinda distressed at merging into my SO's traditional christmas, simply because he doesn't care much for turkey and doesn't like a lot of vegetables. I love cooking traditional christmas dinner, getting the tree up the closest weekend to Dec 1st, listening to carols (he loathes how commercial it's all become), celebrating advent with a little gift or chocolate every day... you name it, I love celebrating it. I guess we'll figure it out but with his home becoming ours rather than a more conventional blending of homes from within the same culture, it's going to be harder to influence it! lol...

I did succeed in getting everyone to wear their christmas cracker crowns at the table, which they thought was totally insane and utterly hilarious! I'm contemplating getting them all to watch the Queen's speech at 8am, when it airs in the UK. lol...

[CountingDays 0]

Ive adapted to everything but cooking the Turkey! Its big, its heavy and it scares me. But boy I do like to eat it

[Old Dominion 26]

Christian holidays will be on different dates, but otherwise we don't observe many other holidays -- July 4 and Thanksgiving come to mind. Others are just long weekends for most folks.

Traditional Russian culture is so rich and it will be educational and inspirational to your kids to become immersed in it.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

This is my first "post", so forgive me if I completely mess it up. Since today is Thanksgiving, I was just wondering how well Russian women, or women from any other nationality or culture, adapt to American holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.

My fiance' and I have talked and compared holidays quite a bit, and I know that the Orthodox Christmas is actually January 7th, which makes it interesting. So I am already thinking our household will put up a tree in December and not take it down until after January 7th. I think that the kids would probably love the idea of 2 Christmases.

But as for the food, the religious context, and other parts of our Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc, I wonder how well they adapt, and do you make a very long list of American holidays and their holidays and try to celebrate each as it would be celebrated in that country, or at least the ones that they consider vitally important?

And for those of you who have your significant other with you, do you guys go "all out" on the food preparation and celebrations of these events....American and Russian?

I'm thinking that the answer might be just like it is here for American families....some do....and some don't......but I thought I would just throw it out there.

Peace out......and Happy Thanksgiving everybody.

Mark

We chose to celebrate Orthodox Christmas. I was outnumbered 3 to 1, plus We do all our shopping after Christmas here and save 50-75% We do go to my family's celbration party but that is usually a weel or two before our Christmas and doesn't involve gifts. New Years is the same and while Thanksgiving may not have a special meaning or hold special memories for Russians/Ukrainians , everyone enjoys a day with all the family, good food and good cheer. we had a great time yesterday.

we also still recognize Women's Day...better NOT for forget that one...and also Mother's Day. Fourth of July, again, who doesn't love a cook out and fireworks? New Year's celebrations here are tame compared to Russia/Ukraine so this will be one of our two visits per year. We plan to visit in the summer and at New Year's each year.

Some others, May1, Victory Day, etc. pretty much pass by, but then they did for us in Ukraine also.

[slim 1,525]

we also still recognize Women's Day...better NOT for forget that one...and also Mother's Day. Fourth of July, again, who doesn't love a cook out and fireworks? New Year's celebrations

Yes, no matter what, do not forget 8 March!

New Years is the biggy - you'll probably have a "New Year tree" (yolka) in your house, if your holiday is anything like ours, you pretty much have one long celebration from 24 Dec - 07 Jan, give or take a few days. Since you're in America you'll be forced to work a few days in there somewhere and unless you hang out with other "Russians" she'll have to have a pseudo-New Years/Christmas celebration. We just do the American dates but I still try to hold something back for her on 07 Jan.

And that's really convenient because that means there's stuff for her on 14 Dec (anniv.), 25 Dec, 01 Jan, 07 Jan, 25 Jan (b-day), 14 Feb, Easter, 08 Mar... and then we're good for a little while. Broke, but good, because at least she's happy!

July 4th she actually really enjoys. As Gary said, who doesn't like bbq, beer and fireworks? I usually end up celebrating this "American" holiday doing "shashliki" with a bunch of Russians. What's really interesting though is they probably appreciate the sacrifices of our forefathers and the freedoms we have more than most Americans I hung out with previously on July 4th.

Labor day and Memorial day are basically just long weekends, but usually include "shashliki" as well. Turkey day we just hang out with my family but now she's discovered this whole "Black Friday" thing. Uh oh!

Best way to handle all this stuff is talk about it before and just try to find a happy median. After all, everyone likes holidays, no matter whose they are!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

we also still recognize Women's Day...better NOT for forget that one...and also Mother's Day. Fourth of July, again, who doesn't love a cook out and fireworks? New Year's celebrations

Yes, no matter what, do not forget 8 March!

New Years is the biggy - you'll probably have a "New Year tree" (yolka) in your house, if your holiday is anything like ours, you pretty much have one long celebration from 24 Dec - 07 Jan, give or take a few days. Since you're in America you'll be forced to work a few days in there somewhere and unless you hang out with other "Russians" she'll have to have a pseudo-New Years/Christmas celebration. We just do the American dates but I still try to hold something back for her on 07 Jan.

And that's really convenient because that means there's stuff for her on 14 Dec (anniv.), 25 Dec, 01 Jan, 07 Jan, 25 Jan (b-day), 14 Feb, Easter, 08 Mar... and then we're good for a little while. Broke, but good, because at least she's happy!

July 4th she actually really enjoys. As Gary said, who doesn't like bbq, beer and fireworks? I usually end up celebrating this "American" holiday doing "shashliki" with a bunch of Russians. What's really interesting though is they probably appreciate the sacrifices of our forefathers and the freedoms we have more than most Americans I hung out with previously on July 4th.

Labor day and Memorial day are basically just long weekends, but usually include "shashliki" as well. Turkey day we just hang out with my family but now she's discovered this whole "Black Friday" thing. Uh oh!

Best way to handle all this stuff is talk about it before and just try to find a happy median. After all, everyone likes holidays, no matter whose they are!

Though it is not really a "holiday" she finds Halloween very strange. And thinks people are strange for putting "horrible dolls" in front of their house. Our kids are way past that age and we live in a very rural place so it isn't like we get "trick or treaters" but it is funny anyway.

I explain that Memorial Day is like Victory Day, but since WE had two "Victory days" we had to choose one to celebrate. To which she answers that capitalists are too cheap and greedy to take TWO holidays. And that May 1, though it originated in CHICAGO, was changed to Labor in Seot as May 1 became "too communist"

Alla went to the first "black Friday" with my lunatic sister that actually does the Thanksgiving party until 2am and then hits the stores that open so early! That was last year....this year we slept in. Been there, done that, I guess. Though we ARE going shopping today, the "before 1pm" sales finally got to her. I am sure we are going to "save" hundreds of dollars before 1 pm today. When did this "before 1pm" stuff start? I missed that entirely.

Actually, Alla will hold out as she was astounded by the sales after Christmas last year when the clothes were "almost free" and she will stock up for the summer trip to Ukraine/Russia and buy clothes for her friends.

[1HappyGuy 45]

We try to combine as many holidays as we can. In my wife's opinion, we Americans don't have enough holidays. She enjoys Thanksgiving but we are still buying the store-cooked dinner. I think next year she will try her first turkey. It was interesting this year, as I was the only one that didn't speak Russian at our table. But then, my mother always said to not talk with food in your mouth.

International woman's day needs to be celebrated more here, but for me it comes during my tough work time and I usually don't take any holidays at all during that time of the year. My wife was shocked we didn't celebrate it but I was more shocked to discover it was started in America. So, why did we stop celebrating it?

As far as Christmas, we have really blended our traditions. My tradition has been to cut a Christmas tree the Friday after Thanksgiving. Now we need to keep it up until January 7th to last through all the holidays. A fresh cut in water can make it through all of that time as long as you monitor the water level.

We try to get together with friends for some of the national holidays, whether they are American or Ukrainian, whenever we can. You need to try to embrace the cultural differences to enhance your new family life.

[CountingDays 0]

I will never "adapt" to cooking the turkey. Its big and its scary. But I like to eat it at other people's houses.

[slim 1,525]

My wife was shocked we didn't celebrate it but I was more shocked to discover it was started in America. So, why did we stop celebrating it?

Duh! It's not like there's an International Man's Day. Like women are really going to have something "extra" that they didn't work hard for and earn? Like they would ever let a man treat them for a day. No way, sister! They'd rather go to work and hold their own doors and that sort of thing. After all, they've earned it!

I will never "adapt" to cooking the turkey. Its big and its scary. But I like to eat it at other people's houses.

Drop that joker in the deep fryer!

[Rob_Lesya 4]

My wife was shocked we didn't celebrate it but I was more shocked to discover it was started in America. So, why did we stop celebrating it?

We didn't. It never was widely celebrated here and few outside of the New York area would have ever even heard about it. It was a holiday declared by the Socialist Party in 1908 and basically consisted of a labor march through the streets of New York to commemorate a labor march that had occured there 50 years earlier.

The fact that this holiday was championed by the Socialist Party guaranteed that it was never going to become very popular here, especially after the "red scare" of the 19 teens and twenties.

[BluesTraveler 0]

I explain that Memorial Day is like Victory Day, but since WE had two "Victory days" we had to choose one to celebrate. To which she answers that capitalists are too cheap and greedy to take TWO holidays.

You do realize that the US has TWO holidays dedicated to observance for US veterans, Memorial Day in May and Veteran's Day in November. I think Veteran's Day i.e. Armistice Day is more similar to Russian Victory day. Originally Memorial Day was observed, you DON'T celebrate Memorial day, to commemorate the US Civil war soldiers.

I agree that the one holiday that is very different for people from RUB is Halloween. My wife stated that it was gaining in popularity because many of the bars and dance clubs put out special decorations and shows on Halloween.

Explaining the importance and significance of most American holidays is easy, now explaining the Navajo Night Chant this one was really difficult.

[Oksana81 0]

I agree that Halloween is weird for most Russians and I personally don't accept "dark and scary" part of the holiday.

As far as turkey, I am lucky that my husband doesn't like it, so I don't have to cook it

[Kailey 3]

I agree that Halloween is weird for most Russians and I personally don't accept "dark and scary" part of the holiday.

As far as turkey, I am lucky that my husband doesn't like it, so I don't have to cook it

I am actually looking forward to that 'cooking an entire turkey' experience . Never done it before .