CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA
                        In the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was not celebrated very much. New Year was the important time - when 'Father Frost' brought presents to children. With the fall of Communism, Christmas can be openly celebrated - either on December 25th; or more often on January 7th. This unusual date is because the Russian Orthodox Church uses the old 'Julian' calendar for religious celebration days. 
                         St. Nicholas is especially popular in Russia. The legend is that the 11th-century Prince Vladimir traveled to Constantinople to be baptized, and returned with stories of miracles performed by St. Nicholas of Myra. Since then many Eastern Orthodox Churches have been named for the saint, and to this day, Nicholas is one of the most common names for Russian boys.
                         The feast of St. Nicholas (January 6th) was observed for many centuries, but after the communist revolution, the celebration of the feast was suppressed. During the communist years St. Nicholas was transformed into Grandfather Frost. Other religious traditions were suppressed during the communist era. Before the revolution, a figure called Babouschka would bring gifts for the children. Like Italy's La Befana, the story is that Babouschka failed to give food and shelter to the three wise men during their journey to visit the Christ Child. According to tradition, she still roams the countryside searching for the Christ Child and visiting the homes of children during the Christmas season. Babouschka never completely disappeared, and now in the post-communist era, has returned openly. Christmas trees were also banned by the Communist regime, but people continued to trim their "New Year's" trees.
                      Most Christian Russians belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church, and it is customary to fast until after the first church service on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve dinner is meatless but festive. The most important ingredient is a special porridge called kutya. It is made of wheatberries or other grains which symbolize hope and immortality, and honey and poppy seeds which ensure happiness, success, and untroubled rest. A ceremony involving the blessing of the home is frequently observed. A priest visits the home accompanied by boys carrying vessels of holy water, and a little water is sprinkled in each room. The kutya is eaten from a common dish to symbolize unity.

Egypt
                     The Coptic Church is an Orthodox Church and in the Coptic Church Christmas is celebrated on the 7th December. Advent is observed for forty days and during this period people are expected to fast eating no meat, poultry or dairy products. Some people only do this during the last week of Advent.
                    On the Eve of Christmas everyone goes to church wearing a completely new outfit. The Christmas service ends at midnight with the ringing of church bells, then people go home to eat a special Christmas meal known as fata, which consists of bread, rice, garlic and boiled meat.
                   On Christmas morning people in Egypt and other parts of the Middle East, visit friends and neighbors. They take with them kaik which is a type of shortbread, which they take with them to give to the people they visit and eaten with a drink known as shortbat. Christmas Day is a public holiday for Christians.

Zimbabwe
                Zimbabwe is situated in the southern part of Africa, between South Africa and Zambia. Fellowship is a big part of Christmas Day in Zimbabwe. Since the country is located south of the equator, Kisimusi, or Christmas is celebrated December 25, during the broiling hot summer.
              Starting weeks in advance, everyone starts to gather loaves of bread, jam, tea, and sugar for the Christmas dinner.
On Christmas Eve, a fir tree is placed in the main room and decorated with colorful ornaments, mostly hand crafted. Gifts are then placed under the tree and a member of the family, one of the elders, is selected to be the “Santa” for the gift distribution on Christmas Day. Fathers give gifts to their children and wives, usually consisting of clothes and candy.
                 At the early morning church service on December 25th, the children, dressed in their best clothes, sing the songs that they have practiced for this special day.
               Sometimes a feast is held for the members of the church. This meal is served at one home. The women take turns preparing the food so that they all have a chance to attend the service. It can consist of fresh roast ox or goat, cornmeal porridge, bread, jam, tea, and sugar. After the dinner, they all sit, relax, and sing gospel songs. The minister may even give an informal sermon to try to win more souls to Christ.
               In many homes, members of the family gather from all over and the women prepare a huge afternoon Christmas feast. At noon, all gather around in the living room where prayers are recited and speeches are given. Then, “Santa” distributes the gifts under the tree and reads out messages for each person. When the meal is served, everyone sits at one huge table. Afterward, the children play while the adults relax, listen to music, and sometimes visit a neighbor to wish them joy. 
                There is a big difference in what people in the villages can afford for gifts and a Christmas dinner compared to the people who live in more populous areas. As the sun goes down in the villages, herd boys return to their flocks and children play games around the fire. After the sun sinks in the west, Christmas is officially over.

Kenya
                Kenya is located in eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania. Its other neighbors include the Sudan, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.  In Kenya, the churches are decorated with balloons, ribbons, flowers and green plants as well as Christmas trees. Missionary organizations provide special Christmas dinners in slum areas and at orphanages. In larger cities such as Nairobi, the commercial aspect of the season is making inroads. There you will find Father Christmas and his elves who are depicted by children from the area.
               Often a group will go singing house to house, usually on Christmas eve in urban areas. The occupants of each house will give a gift of some kind (often money) to the singers, then on Christmas Day, the singers will present whatever was given to the church they attend.
                 It's customary to attend church on Christmas morning and everyone, especially the children, wears new clothes for the occasion. Just before Christmas, markets such as the one on Jogo Road in Nairobi are filled with people buying and selling chickens, goat, pigs and various other foodstuffs for th holidays.
                 Christmas dinner is often a barbecue with family members traveling from far away to be together again. In addition, neighbors drop in for a visit on Christmas day to sample the Christmas fare. A great deal of food is prepared including nyama choma, roasted meat, usually goat or beef and sometimes chicken. In addition there will be chapati, a fresh baked African flat bread. People living in the cities will also have a special Christmas cake; a treat that is not available in the villages.

South Africa
              In SOUTH AFRICA, Christmas comes in the middle of the summer. After a large Christmas lunch, families visit the homes of friends to ask for and receive a "Christmas box" which usually has food inside.
               There are eleven languages in South Africa. Here are the five most common ways of saying "Merry Christmas"!
Merry Christmas - English
Geseлnde Kersfees - Afrikaans
Sinifisela Ukhisimusi Omuhle - Zulu
Sinifisela Khisimusi Lomuhle - Swazi
Matswalo a Morena a Mabotse - Sotho