Russian Christmas

1. Which regime abolished all religious holidays, including Christmas?
6. What happened to the USSR before Christmas was finally reinstated alongside other religious holidays in the 1990’s?
7. Which Russian prince ordered the Christmas holiday to become an official celebration, in the late 10th century?
9. In which month is the Russian Christmas festivities celebrated?
14. Which calendar is followed by Western European churches?
15. To which holiday have many surviving Christmas traditions been transplanted to?
16. Who first introduced decorated Christmas trees to Russia?
17. What did the Bolsheviks think of the Christmas tree?
19. What is the Russian term for supreme leader?
20. Who traditionally brought Christmas gifts to Russians?
21. Which regime repurposed the Christmas holidays in the 1930’s?

2. Who usually accompanies Moroz Ded?
3. What pulls Grandfather Frost’s sleigh?
4. Who needed a break from their hard work in the middle of a long, cold winter?
5. Which calendar is followed by the Eastern Orthodox Church?
8. What is another name for Moroz Ded?
10. What was the official religion policy during the early Soviet period?
11. What did the Bolsheviks think of Christmas?
12. How was the Christmas tree repurposed, to be admired by all children throughout the Soviet Union.
13. How did religious Russian Christmas traditions change?
18. Whose anti-religious policies largely erased Christmas from the Russian calendar for much of the 20th century.