Up until recently, Christmas was mainly a religious holiday. For some sects, even keeping the holiday was suspect. In Colonial Connecticut, an early president of Yale was reputedly fired for being a secret Christmas keeper. The idea of parties and celebrations before Christmas was unheard of as it was a time of strict fast. Following Christmas, one celebrated until the Feast of Epiphany or Theophany, 12 days after Christmas. While this was common in early American times, it has died out mostly and survives to some extent only in the Eastern Orthodox Churches. 

The Eastern Orthodox Churches continued the use of the older Julian Calender to this day and hence Christmas for Old Calender falls on Jan. 7th, 13 days after the western Christmas. Back in the 1582, Pope Gregory XIII degreed the change to bring the calender back in line with the seasons. It took time for this to be accepted, up to the 1700s in Europe and Russia didn't change until after the Revolution in 1918. The Orthodox Churches have not accepted it although many celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December but calculate Eastern on the Old Calender.

The dual theme is because once the song of the 12 days of Christmas made sense. Christmas was preceded by a fast, and followed by 12 days of parties and feasts like is done today in more traditional Orthodox families. The fast ends with Holy Supper on Christmas Eve. Many traditions are associated with this - straw on the table to remind one of the manger, chaining the legs of the table together to bind the devil, setting extra plates for those wandering, and eating garlic and honey for the sweetness and bitterness of the year. The meal is normally fasting but that varies from meatless to no meat-dairy-eggs-olive oil-wine-fish depending on local tradition.

Bill from World Famous Recipes sends us a cabbage soup recipe that would fit right in the strictest fast.

Susan of Vegan Success would almost fit right in with her chocolate zucchini bread.

From the Art of Balanced Living, Lovelyn sends this Raw Kale Greens recipe which just needs a oil swap to be strict.

Betsy of Money Changes Things sends a recipe I wish I had before our family meal - a meat substitute wonton soup. Anyone who reads this blog knows I have a jones for Chinese and her Happy Vegetarian Family Wonton Soup looks great.

On Christmas, after Liturgy, the eating starts and we have a ton of great ideas:

First off, Elisson of the Blog de Elisson sends a recipe for meat. By now with the fast, the kids are looking tasty and his recipe for tenderloin in Eat Drink and be Merry is just what I need to make sure they last another year.

Regardless of how you spell it, they are great and while we normally have them for Holy Supper, Martin's recipe for pirozhki at Ego would be great for part of Christmas dinner.

The title says it all: halubki-is-Slavic-for-love-sort-of - pretty much. I miss these and miss the little dinner near Bowie that made them just like Momma did... Thanks to the Expat Chef at The Expatriate's Kitchen

Wow, two recipes for Slavic soul food. Kathee Sue from Slow Cooker Recipes sends us another recipe for stuffed cabbage. It's enough to make a man dance kazotskys. (A young man - not me).

And what else says love in Slavic? Potato pancakes. But the recipe from Pancake recipes for Florentine Potato Pancakes is a whole lot fancy that what we make.

Renea from Pickles and Pomergrates sends in this recipe for quick meal,  Monterey Spaghetti,

Ham soup? You bet and Lucynda sends a nice recipe to use up that left over ham bone. However she suggests using turkey which seems to defeat the idea...

From Chicken Recipes, Thelly sends us one for Chicken Shishkabob.

From my favorite Hungarian, who no longer visits me, at Bunny? Anna is cooking a goose. And I didn't get invited...Doesn't it look grand though?

Famous Recipes sends us two submissions this time: Turkey, Spinach and Bread Pudding and Lemony Greek Chicken, both of which would help break the fast.

For something to hold folks over while dinner is cooking, Chef Andrew of The Recipe Bank sends us Super Bowl Party Half-time Crab Dip.

Or maybe some Oreo Biscotti? Amy from Moitherload sends the recipe but I think they might spoil dinner.

After Christmas itself, the festival days continue. We have the feast of the Adoration of the Magi 3 days after Christmas if you are Orthodox and on the 12th if Western. For the Orthodox, the 12th day is Theophany, when the baptism of Jesus is celebrated and water is blessed. Where I was raised on the coast, a cross was tossed in the water and the young man dove for it. And of course, Twelfth Night is also the name of a play and that silly song. It's also another excuse to make a King Cake...

Speaking of cake, our beloved carnival keeper, Shawn Lea of Everything and Nothing has sent in a recipe for Black or White Russian Cake

Cathy at Chief Family Officer makes Monster Cupcakes. Go look. She means that morel literally than you might think.

And Chocolate Covered Cherries are always a hit. Laura of Laura William's Musings sends us an easy recipe for them. Laura also send a recipe for making your own Bisquick-like Mix, if you get tired of whomp biscuits.

Karen sends us a recipe for real English Scones from her blog, Author Mom with Dogs.

Sunny from Dandelions and Daisies sends a recipe fro her husband's favorite snack: Carmel Popcorn Ring. I better keep Ben away from that one!

Jennie of Jennie's Rambles sends us a post with Two Russian Desserts: Tea Cakes and Honey Gingerbread. Just the thing to serve with tea to keep that winter chill away.

Katy of Sugarlaws makes petit fours for the holidays and don't they look lovely. And she does it in a tiny NY kitchen...

Deb of Increase Metabolism & Live Healthy sends us a recipe for a 12th Night Kisel Good-For-You Smoothie.

From the Skinny on January, January sends us another sweet, Nut Butter Cocoa Treats.

That's all for this time. Next week we are at the Common Room for the "Come as you are" Edition. Submitted your recipes either via the Blog Carnival Submission form or by email to recipe.carnival@gmail.com. Thanks to the lovely Ms. Shawn for letting me play and y'all come back.