merry chrismakwanzukkah (and a happy new year)~!

because the predominant religions here in kazakhstan are islam and russian orthodox christianity, aside from the small amount of catholics (primarily the german descendants) and protestants (those who have been converted by missionaries here, generally the koreans), december 25th comes and goes without fanfare (russian orthodox christmas is on january 7th). the main winter holiday here is new year's, which is a direct result of the soviet union's oppression of religion. since people couldn't celebrate christmas, on new year's eve they partied like it was 1999 every year. so they still have christmas trees here, with all the trimmings, and give each other presents, but it's on new year's instead of christmas. and, for some bewildering reason, it is customary to dress up in costumes on new year's, creating a sort of hybrid holiday between halloween, christmas, and new year's.
there are no stockings hung by the chimney with care, since no one is waiting for santa claus (or saint nicholas, for that matter) to soon be there. instead, they have 'дед мороз,' which roughly translates into 'father frost,' and instead of happy little elves, he has 'снегурочка,' a snow girl. i'm not sure if father frost has a mrs. claus equivalent, but i have a feeling she wouldn't be too happy about her husband doling out gifts to the children with some hot chick (снегурочка is often depicted as a little girl, but she is also depicted as an attractive young woman who wears a blue outfit with a very skimpy flirty skirt).
all in all, while the traditions may change from country to country, one thing remains the same: the holidays are about family and friends, about giving and sharing, and love.
happy holidays, everyone~!
all my love.