Party like a Russian (peasant): Christmas festival mixes Orthodox and pagan rites

Despite Christianity’s attempts to sanitize it, Russia’s midwinter festival, Svyatki, is the most anarchic, mystical and obscene pagan extravaganza you’ve never been to. Is it too late to join in? Translated as Holy Days, Svyatki begin on Christmas Day – January 7 according to the lagging Julian Calendar used by the Orthodox Church, and end […]