“Russians certainly take their mid-winter celebrations seriously. I spent three years in Moscow a few years ago and I recall that for more than 10 days after New Year, working life slowed down considerably. Everyone was busy with private gatherings,” said a retired Pakistani diplomat on his way to a party with some Russian friends in Islamabad.

He said Santa Claus was called Ded Moroz in Russia.

“I hope he will be at the party,” he joked, adding that Christmas in the Orthodox Church was on January 7, with the evening before being the main event, celebrated with a family feast.

All the Russians in Pakistan who could go home for Christmas and New Year did. Those who stayed behind, including many diplomats, hosted parties in their homes.

A Russian diplomat, Alexey Afanziev, said: “There are typically dozens of parties in January. We also marked the new year on January 13 and 14, where it falls according to the old calendar.”

Sounding like he missed home, Alexey continued: “Our New Year’s tree is decorated much like a Christmas tree and stays in the house till the end of January.”

He said Russian Ambassador Alexey Dedov had gone home for the holidays and that the deputy head of mission, Alexander Khosin, was currently acting ambassador.

An Ethiopian woman explained that in her home country, the Coptic Church follows the Orthodox Church’s calendar as well.

“Like in Russia, South East Europe, Egypt and other countries, we celebrate Christmas a bit later as well,” she said.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2016