Thread: Christmas in Russia

For example "Halloween" is celebrated a bit in the UK, despite it being an American holiday

It's a British holiday. Originally Irish.

Originally Posted by Marcus

[Halloween is] a British holiday. Originally Irish.

Not only Irish, but more specifically Irish Catholics -- it's the day before "All Saint's Day", a Catholic religious festival on 1 Nov.

I've heard some Russians object to Хэловин (or however you want to spell it) not so much because it is connected with пиндосы ("f*cking Yanks"), but because it is linked to the church calendar of римский католицизм, and so it's considered improper for "Eastern Orthodox" Christians.

One thing I just learned from Wikipedia -- Eastern Orthodox Christianity has its own "All Saint's Day," but theirs is connected with Pentecost (Пятидесятница), and therefore it's a spring festival rather than an autumn one.

P.S. I'm sure most Russians who study English already know this, but the etymology of "Halloween" means накануне Святых, or in full, накануне Дня свех святых. "Hallow" = "hallowed" = "holy" = святой; and "e'en" = "evening" = канун (or вечер).