Muscovites wrapped up their preparations ahead of the New Year celebrations. The Russian capital put the final touches to its festive look since 1 December, whilst New Year trees made their appearance in streets and public venues closer to year’s end.
28 December 2012
Voice of Russia World Service
The property managers of the Moscow Kremlin installed and decorated a 30-metre-tall (@100-feet-tall) spruce as the city’s main outdoor New Year and Christmas tree. The decorations include almost 4,000 tinsel items and 4,500 energy-saving light bulbs. There’s also an indoor holiday tree, installed in the State Kremlin Palace, which is going to host children’s parties. The first party will be on Tuesday 25 December for kids from large families, orphanages, and winners of contests from all over Russia.
24 December 2012
Voice of Russia World Service
http://english.ruvr.ru/photoalbum/99138311/99138334/
Editor’s Note:
No, it isn’t a “Christmas Tree”… it’s a “Holiday Tree”, as it’s for both Christmas and the New Year. It’s a tree for all Muscovites and all Russians, of all nationalities and all beliefs (including secularism). In any case, trees aren’t “native” to Orthodoxy… they came in with the Germans in the 18th century. Lighten up… it’s not an assault on Christianity. There ARE secular holidays, after all… and we should enjoy them.
BMD
How ’bout some Christmas music? Here’s Hej, w Dzień Narodzenia (Hey, it’s Christmas Day!) sung by pop singer Krzysztof Krawczyk… it’s definitely disco polo, but this is what you hear in modern Poland in the mall…
Merry Christmas to all of my friends on Catholic Christmas! I hope that your holiday is both fun and blessed. Yes, I will break the opłatki with you…
BMD
The decorations on the premier Russian New Year’s/Christmas tree haven’t seen an update for some time. However, in anticipation of New Year 2013, the Office of the President decided to change the usual scheme, which was traditionally in the colours of the Russian flag. Our RIA-Novosti Infographic shows how the Kremlin Christmas tree will look this winter. According to the design project, gold items join the red, blue, and white (silver) decorations; instead of bell-shaped ornaments, balls in “clusters” of various sizes… from 0.5 to 2 metres (1.7 to 6.6 feet) in diameter… will deck the tree. Ornaments will be in three tiers, at the levels of 8 (26 feet), 17 (56 feet), and 34 (112 feet) metres. The main colour of the first tier will be red, the second will be blue, and the third will be silver. A wreath, also in the colours of the tricolour, with a total length of 1.5 kilometres (0.94 mile), will decorate the tree in four tiers. The garland of 4,500 Christmas lights are in intertwined threads of right, white, and blue bulbs, along with some of the ornaments. The rest of the balls will be on the branches according to the colour scheme. On top of the tree, a ruby star shines in the colour of the stars on the Kremlin towers.
24 December 2012
RIA-Novosti
http://en.rian.ru/infographics/20121224/178268294.html
Editor’s Note:
Don’t lecture me with any of that “war on Christmas” bullshit. This is a “New Year’s” Tree… it’s a tree for everybody, not just Christians. There… let’s put that one to rights even before it pops up its pointed little head…
BMD
Click here, and you’ll go to a page with a two-minute vid on Christmas lights all over the world. Now, that’s something to cheer about!
BMD
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Topless Femen Activists Detained at Gay Protest in Vatican City
Tags: Russia, politics, Christian, Religion and Spirituality, Christianity, Religion, Catholic Church, Pope, Ukraine, European Union, EU, Italy, Political, Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican, protests, Rome, Christmas tree, Pope of Rome, political commentary, demonstrations, political demonstrations, protest actions, protesters, Protest, protest rallies, political activism, feminism, protest action, Vatican City, Demonstration (people), FEMEN, Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City, Nudity and protest
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On Sunday, local media said that four activists of the Ukrainian feminist group Femen staged a topless protest for gay rights in Vatican City as Pope Benedict XVI Ratzinger was reciting a prayer. The activists, who had the slogan “In Gay We Trust” painted on their backs, staged a protest by the Christmas tree in the centre of St Peter’s Square. AGI news agency said that the Vatican police briefly detained the women. The radical feminist movement Femen began in 2008; mainly, it protested issues of interest to women. Later, the group made headlines in pro-democracy and anti-corruption protests in Russia, the Ukraine, and London.
13 January 2013
RIA-Novosti
http://en.rian.ru/world/20130113/178750360/Topless_Femen_Activists_Detained_at.html