Celebrating the Season: Slavic Christmas and New Year Traditions
- Ann Kutner
- Dec 4
- 4 min read
For many Slavic nations, Christmas is about deeply rooted family traditions and religious practices. The date of Christmas varies depending on whether a country follows the Julian or Gregorian calendar. Orthodox Christians in Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Ukraine celebrate on January 7, while Catholics in Poland, Slovakia, and Croatia celebrate on December 25.
One of the most cherished traditions is the Christmas Eve dinner, called “Wigilia” in Poland, “Sviat Vechir” in Ukraine, or “Badni Vecher” in Bulgaria and Serbia. Meals are usually meatless and feature symbolic dishes - 12 in Poland for the apostles, a variety of beans, fish, and vegetables in Bulgaria, and beans, nuts, and honey in Serbia. Polish families share opłatek or kolivo/kolyvo in Bulgaria, a sweet wheat dish symbolizing life and hope.
In Russia, Christmas is quiet, spiritual, and reflective. Orthodox families fast before the holiday, abstaining from meat and dairy. On Christmas Eve, or "Sochelnik," a special porridge called kutia—made of wheat or rice with honey, poppy seeds, and dried fruit—is served to symbolize abundance. Caroling is popular, and families attend church services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to celebrate the Nativity. Homes are decorated with candles, evergreens, and sometimes small nativity scenes. While Christmas in Russia is a time of faith and reflection, family togetherness is also at the heart of the holiday.
Caroling is a cherished tradition across Slavic lands: in Russia, Ukraine and Serbia, groups go house to house singing songs, often with playful costumes, masks, or folk instruments, receiving treats in return. In Bulgaria, children and adults perform koledari, a ritual procession of young men singing blessing songs for health and prosperity, accompanied by traditional sticks or decorated staffs.
Slavic New Year Celebrations Sparkle
While Christmas can be solemn, New Year celebrations across Slavic countries are lively, festive, and full of folklore and fun.
In Russia, Novy God (New Year’s Eve) is the highlight of the season. Given the two calendars, Russians celebrate New Years twice, once on January 1 and again on “Old New Year” on January 14. Homes sparkle with New Year trees, gifts are exchanged, and Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) delivers presents with his granddaughter Snegurochka. Festive dinners include salads, pickled vegetables, smoked fish, and sparkling drinks, and fireworks light up the sky at midnight.
In Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Serbia, New Year is celebrated with folk music, dancing, and house-to-house performances. In Bulgaria, people enjoy Survakane, where children tap adults on the back with decorated sticks called survachki for luck. In Serbia, people celebrate with badnjak rituals (burning an oak log for prosperity) on Christmas Eve, and the New Year brings fireworks, gatherings, and fortune-telling traditions similar to Russia and Poland.
Traditional Decorations
Across Slavic lands, homes are adorned with evergreens, candles, and hand-made ornaments, often reflecting local folk art styles. Markets and town squares are decorated with lights, and people enjoy street performances, ice sculptures, and folk dances.
In Russia, the New Year tree is decorated with colorful ornaments, tinsel, and sometimes small figurines of animals or fairy-tale characters. In Ukraine and Bulgaria, the didukh or wheat sheaves remain a central symbol, while Poland boasts handmade nativity scenes (szopki). Serbian homes are decorated with evergreen branches and candles, and large bonfires are common in villages. Everywhere, the season is marked by warmth, community, and creativity.
Marvelous Winter Traditions
Ice Swimming: In Russia and Ukraine, some brave souls plunge into icy rivers or lakes on Epiphany (January 19 in Russia) as a purification ritual.
Fortune-Telling: Slavic New Year is full of mystical fun! From melting wax or lead into water to interpreting shapes, to reading the future from sunflower seeds or the patterns of spilled grains, everyone gets a glimpse of what the new year might hold.
Caroling Antics: In Ukraine, Serbia, Russia and Bulgaria, groups performing Malanka, koledari, or kolyadki often wear funny or scary costumes, singing, dancing, and playfully teasing neighbors.
Blini & Sun Symbolism: In Russia, blini (pancakes) symbolize the sun and hope for warmth and prosperity in the coming year.
Wishing on Fire: Some Poles, Russians, and Bulgarians write wishes on paper, burn them, and toss the ashes into a glass of champagne or water, drinking it as the clock strikes twelve.
A Season of Togetherness
What ties all these traditions together is the focus on family, community, and hope. From sharing a humble porridge to ringing in the New Year with laughter, song, and fireworks, Slavic winter celebrations are full of festivity and warmth. If you’re in San Francisco, you can experience Slavic traditions firsthand at several upcoming events:
Children’s Winter Holiday Fair: December 13
A delightful afternoon of holiday dance performances, food and crafts, children’s activities and bake sale. Kids take a photo with Father Frost who brings a gift for every child 12 and under. Tickets and Info.
Christmas Market: December 21
A day full of local Christmas vendors, activities for kids, cookie decorating and food at the Holy Virgin Cathedral. Details and information.
Christmas Elka: January 11:
Enjoy a fun day of food, dancing and show at the Sts. Cyril and Methodius School Christmas Fair. More Details.
San Francisco's Slavic Festival: January 31–February 1
An annual two-day festival celebrating the heart and soul of Slavic countries and traditions. Featuring live performances, music, traditional food, delicious blini, and craft vendors from many Slavic cultures, you won’t want to miss this unique festival for its warm hospitality. Tickets and event details.