Russian Christmas is on January 7th, is an Orthodox church holiday (why it is in January I wrote here). Winter long holidays started December 31st and are till January 10th. So many days to relax and I had to think what to do these days. The list was not too long: to watch city decorations, to go to my garden and cottage, depending on the weather of course.
This picture was taken yesterday in the woods along the road to my garden,
it was -20 C ( -3 F) and my camera said "no more pictures".
I cooked some dishes for Christmas dinner: chicken breast rolls wrapped in smoked bacon, cabbage and carrot, smoked sprats with green salad. For dessert: bread pudding with fruit, nuts and cream and apple-orange-banana-cranberry salad.
I love to embroider, therefore I've chosen an interesting pattern to make the new pillowcase for the sitting room cushion and when I have free time I do my new thing. This embroidery is made on canvas, floss in 3 threads. I took a picture of my work, but it isn't finished yet.
A very cold day, oh!
Beautiful pictures of St. Petersburg!i hope you can enjoy the very cold holidays. Groetjes Hetty
ReplyDeleteIt's true, Hetty, I enjoy these sunny and frosty holidays.
DeleteNadezda I’d love to be walking in Palace Square next to the Alexander column and that beautiful Christmas tree! I also love the photo you took of your woods near your garden. Your needlepoint is very pretty too. You asked how we spent our holidays. Well, today is the first day I am back on the computer. From Dec 22 till last Sunday I was mostly in bed with acute bronchitis, so I never celebrated anything. The menu you show is so tempting (I have been eating Chinese noodle soup for 2 weeks…) I know your cooking must be very tasty. Or I would also like to be with my cousin in Cairo, Egypt, who are also celebrating Christmas according to the Julian calendar – tomorrow since they are Eastern Christian Orthodox. It must be hard for Orthodox in the US as most everyone take off their Christmas decorations as soon as the 25th is past. On the 25th December here it was 77 F degree or 25 C so it felt strange to be so warm. Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2016.
ReplyDeleteVagabonde, sorry you were very ill, dear. I hope you're better now. I'd love to enjoy these Christmas meals with you, here in Saint Petersburg. I'm glad you liked decoration and Christmas tree!
DeleteThank you for this lovely look at your Christmas in St.Petersburg. Such a beautiful city!
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas food looks delicious, especially chicken breast rolls and bread pudding.
Enjoy some time to rest and have some free time.
Betty
Oh, yes, I have enough free time to cross stitching and strolls, although the temps are very low.
DeleteBoa tarde, católicos, ortodoxos e outras religiões festejam o natal em diferentes datas, porque será? A fotos são magistrais.
ReplyDeleteAG
AG, The Orthodox Church has holidays according the Julian calendar ie 13 days after the general calendar.
DeleteNadezda, Happy Christmas!!!
ReplyDeleteSt. Petersburg looks phenomenal!
The dishes look very appetizing.
Pillow, gorgeous.
All the best!!!
Kisses and greetings.
Lucia
I'm glad you liked my post, Lucja!
DeleteHow gorgeous!!! Your photos are amazing, Nadezda!
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda!
DeleteHappy New Year Nadezda girl !
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous pictures ! I love looking at Christmas lights and decorations .. so pretty ! ... What a feast you made as well it all looks so delicious : )
We went from plus one to minus 18 .. -25 with windchill in an overnight thing that set the trusses of our roof to cracking noises BIG time ... in fact one of the webbings is cracked so now we have to get that repaired .. this is very unusual weather for us too ... I have no idea what the Spring garden is going to be like or how many plants I may have lost.
But such is life right ?
Fingers crossed we will both be lucky !
Take care !
Joy : )
I do hope as well Joy that my plants will survive this unusual weather. It's pity you have to repair webbing, such frost with wind is terrible.
DeleteBut we will wait for spring, won't we? :)
Wow!! Those decorations are spectacular! Beautiful. I liked reading about the Old New Year and calendar differences in the other post, too.
ReplyDeleteDoes everyone receive a "long holiday" from work in Russia? Here many businesses only give employees Christmas Day (maybe part of Christmas Eve) and New Years Day off. But some places give more time off and many employees use paid vacation time to spend more days with family.
Your food looks delicious! Anything wrapped in bacon is wonderful! Have you ever tried bacon-wrapped dates? They are an amazing blend of sweet and savory!
Very nice embroidery work!
These long holidays are official paid days for all employees, Mary Anne. People who work on public transport (as underground, buses, trams), hospital, food industry,electrical and heating industry work all days in January, except Jan 1st.
DeleteI've never tried bacon-wrapped dates, but I should :0)
Saint Petersburg looks beautiful and your food delicious. Thank you for sharing with us Nadezda!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Alain!
DeleteYour pictures are fabulous. Two and a half years ago, we were in a coach going over one of those bridges over the River Neva. It was such a lovely holiday. Happy Christmas to everyone in St Petersburg.
ReplyDeleteYou were in Saint Petersburg, crossing river Neva, how wonderful it is Molly! Thank you!
DeleteBeautiful moment and the dishes looks so delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you Endah!
DeleteWonderful Cristmas photos from Sankt Petersburg!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could sit behind your Christmas table with you and taste all these interesting Chrsitmas dishes. :)
You're welcome, Tistou!
DeleteThe Christmas lights are spectacular. We have a very quiet Christmas holiday just me , Martyn and my sister. The new year period has been a bit traumatic as our little dog had to have an operation but seems to be on the mend now.
ReplyDeleteI hope your dog is better now, Sue. I love quiet family Christmas.
DeleteBeautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pictures of your beautiful town!
ReplyDeleteThese festive dishes look tasty !!
I wish you a Merry Christmas !!
What a wonderful post, dear Nadezda! Gorgeous city views and enchanting woods. Your photos are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI feel a little bit stupid now: I of course knew that you celebrate Christmas on January 7 and meant to come to wish you Merry Christmas before it... and then I forgot it. Well, I'm still in time to wish you a very Happy New Year!
Your Christmas dishes look lovely. We have something similar to your smoked sprats and I have always loved them. The dessert sounds tasty and healthy! Thank you for sharing!
Have a great weekend!
Sara, I'm glad you remember that our Christmas is on Jan 7, so thank you for your kind words!
DeleteThose are stunning holiday photos, delicious food presentation, and a lovely craft project. You've been busy. :-)
ReplyDeleteYes,I've been,Judy!
DeleteI share your traditions with my students who love learning about Christmas and old new year! Thank you for sharing such beautiful pictures of the decorated city and beautiful country. Your embroidery is gorgeous and will look very nice in your front room!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Peter!
DeletePreciosas postales de Navidad Nadezda. Por aqui de momento sólo cae agua esta año la nieve no quiere llegar. Rico menú. Tambien he hecho mucho punto de cruz;)
ReplyDeleteBuen sábado.
Besos.
Laura, tenemos no solo la nieve pero mucho frio, este tiempo es extraordinario aqui. Quiero ver tu punto de cruz!
DeleteSt. Petersburg is certainly beautiful at Christmas time. Your Christmas dinner looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures of St. Petersburg. It's nice to see such views. Regards.
ReplyDeleteTank you Giga!
DeleteSt. Petersburg is beautiful at this time of the year, I think you for sharing Nadezda.
DeleteI work 12 hour shifts in the run up to Christmas so my holiday pretty much consists of doing very little!
You deserve relaxing time, Angie.
DeleteIn the meantime your holidays is over too. Loved to see St. Petersburg in Christmas time. Hope to visit this interesting place once.....
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it would be nice time, Janneke!
Delete