Slavic Christmas

Last Thursday, Wolfe, Ruby and I visited the Russian Orthodox church for the first time. This was a big deal to me in many different ways. First, driving with both my little kids on the four wheeler, down the icy hill, in the pitch black, cold morning, was a huge accomplishment for me. But we did it, and got there right at 9am. Secondly, this being the only church and one of the few social buildings, I felt that attending opened my eyes a little more to this culture.

Wolfe outside the church

Although I have not learn what Slavi is entirely about, I know it's the way the Yu'pik people celebrate Christmas here. Starting with a morning service on January 7th, Slavi (this is also spelled several ways) goes for an entire week. After the that first service, villagers travel to other villages,  singing at several houses, then eating after. Usually Father Bishop is the first house to visit in every town. Then, well known families after that- each providing a meal after the caroling is done. Elders have told me that more villages are visited when it snows and the river is frozen. Lights of 30-40 snow machines and sleds can be seen traveling on the river through the tundra to towns at night. These days, when the snow doesn't stick, we usually only get travelers from villages twenty or so miles away.
Today, we visited a group of carolers from Koliganek singing at Anu's house (the second grade teacher in New Stuyahok). Instead of eating a meal, she sent them to the next house with bags of chips and Chips A'hoy cookies. Traditions change slightly with time, I guess. 

 

And now a few pictures from our own Christmas celebrations:

Christmas Eve hot cocoa

 The night before Christmas, Wolfe asked me where our stockings were. In conclusion, I had to pin two of my longest socks to the wall. The two pictures on the right above are of the kids with their gifts.

Reading the story of Christmas with Josh