Okay so I am a little late with this blog entry about Christmas but I still have my lights up so it is still the holiday season!


Christmas isn't the same around the world. Many practicitioners who belong to the Eastern Orthodox religions celebrate Christmas in January. It has to do with the differences between the Gregorian and Julian calendars.


I have a colleague who throws a Russian Christmas party every year. On the invitations she always announces that the Krambambuli will be lit at a specific time.



So for the past three years I have thought a Krambambuli must be like an advent wreath or maybe some type of candelabra that starts the festivities. I mean I'm Jewish and the act of lighting candles often starts celebrations. Hanukkah and Shabbos are two that come to mind.

I decide I want to see what this Krambambuli looks like so I got on-line and did a Google search. Between Google and Wikipedia, I can spend hours learning totally useless bits of information. So I googled Krambambuli to satisify my curiosity about this assumed Russian candelabra. Well, wasn't I surprised to discover it isn't anything like an advent wreath!


Krambambuli is a punch, a highly alcoholic punch. In some versions, rum is set aflame and then poured over a brick of sugar into the mulled wine punch. In others the sugar cone or brick was soaked in the rum and them lit. One recipe even had you add Champagne after the rum/sugar brick was extinguished. Now, I must say that just might put everyone in the holiday spirit. It all brought back memories of my college drinking days with 151 flaming shots. It was a much crazier time.



I have always found it interesting to read about how holidays are celebrated in other countries. I remember as a kid having a book about christmas around the world. I was fascinated by the Swedish tradition where a girl is chosen to be a Lucia and wears a crown with candles on her head as she brings food to her family.

Here are some books about Russian Christmas and Christmas in other countries--like Sweden (St Lucia Day, Peter Forsberg, Mats Sundin, Pippi Longstocking, ABBA, Roxette, The Hives, Greta Garbo, Dolph Lundgren, Saabs, Volvos, Swedish fish, Absolut AND Ikea, what a great country!)


Uncle Vova's Tree by Patricia Polacco This children's book portrays an extended family gathering at a farm to celebrate Christmas in the Russian tradition.


Hanna's Christmas by Melissa Peterson Another children's book but this one shows the St. Lucia Day tradition from Sweden.


Swedish Christmas Crafts by Helene Lundberg Crafts for adults that are reminiscent of Sweden


The Ultimate Party Drink Book by Bruce Weinstein This book is full of drinks to please any type of crowd--just in case the Krambambuli is a little to intimidating. We don't want any 911 calls because of uncontrolled fire!


The World Encyclopedia of Christmas by Gerald Bowler This volume includes entries on the many gift-bringers, from Santa to Babouschka, the histories of celebrations and folk traditions and much much more.


Celebrating Christmas Around the World by Herbert Wernecke