Where theres Christmas, theres Christmas Eve. Twelve days "from star to water," that is, from the appearance of the first star on Christmas Eve to baptism on Epiphany. This holiday is a vivid example of how pagan and Christian rituals merged in our history.

Russian holidays have always been an amazing combination of spiritual rejuvenation and the simple pleasures of good food and gathering around the table. Special dishes were always seen by our ancestors as an indispensable part of any celebration. And when we look back into our ancient rituals, we sometimes see how little has changed to