As they sat by the fire, the "new" celebration became a bridge between two worlds. They decided that moving forward, they would celebrate twice: once in December with French oysters and shoes by the fire, and once in January with Russian carols and

The festivities began with a traditional Russian blessing, led by a stoic, bearded priest who invoked the spirits of the forest and the ancient gods of winter. As the priest spoke, a procession of nude, icicle-adorned dancers emerged from the trees, their bodies glistening in the firelight.

In Russia, the main winter celebration is , while Christmas is primarily a religious holiday observed later. Exploring Russian Christmas Traditions and Celebrations