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Hello all, Hoping your Christmas was really great. Duane and Benly, thank you for your wonderful esseys about Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions. As my students are on their winter vacation, I myself should tell you about Russian Christmas. The matter is that Catholic and Russian Orthodox Church have different calendars. Orthdox Church uses older calendar which is 13 days later than Catholican. That is why Christmas comes to Russia 13 days later, on Jan. 7. Then, according the old calendar, the New Year Day comes.. No matter that this calendar exists only for Church: we are happy to celebrate all these holidays! :) So actually we celebrate: Western (Catholic) Christmas on December 25 - just to support you, our friends :) ; then we celebrate New Year Day as most people on the Earth; then Orthodox Christmas on Jan.7; then...according the old calendar... we call it "The Old New Year" :) . Join us!!! During the years of Communist regims Christmas day had been almost forbidden; so the New Year Day has become the most joyful and funny holiday for us, with lots of presents under the fir-tree, great feast and champaigne at homes; fireworks, iced-towns, snow hills and big fir-trees on the main squares of the cities, towns, villages. Then Orthodox Christmas - it is very calm, kind and serious, many people think of God much more this day. Then Old New Year - it is calmer than real New Year, we usually meet "old" friends having supper with them. I hope you are not too tired because of our holidays and my descriptions:) Natalia

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Hi Mariko! Very nice to hear from you. I agree that Jo's Message Board is a good place to learn about the culture of many people. I have learned very much here and I have met many nice people like you. Please feel free to ask any questions that you have. I'm sure someone here can answer your question. I am glad that you feel comfortable enough to post your message. The more that you write the easier it will become for you. Keep up the good work that you have started.

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HELLO!Duane.I think place how to good communication.People have different other calture teach myself culture.It is great thing.For example you are important to positive thinking.I think good how to not negative thinking. not negative thinking.

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Hello, Lyuda! Thank you for your reply. Since it is getting cold recently, I don't want to go out. But I like snow or Christmas very much. The town is beautifully illuminated during at this time every year. The other day, we had a snow in Tokyo. It is unusual to snow an early time. It was hard for me to walk and a train was a little behind time the day. However there is a difficult matter, I think most of people feel happy. I will go snowboarding next year. Although I have never gone snowboarding, I'm looking forward to the plan. See you again!

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Dear Western friends, Merry Christmas to you! We here celebrate Christmas later - on January 7. I wish you many presents (in the chimney? under the fir-tree? Everywhere!), tasty Christmas pies, good companies! Your Natalia

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Hi,just a quick post to wish you guys a merrrrrrrry X'mas and a Happpppppy new year :) PS Benly hope the saints win on boxing day :)

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Dear All,

Just dropping by quickly to wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. I won't be eating turkey and playing monopoly (though that is an accurate description of some of my past Christmases Benly!) My husband and I fly to Berlin this afternoon for four nights. I think the big meal will be tomorrow, Christmas eve, but I don't know what it will be! I've been to Germany during advent before and the Christmas markets were lovely, but I've never been there for Christmas itself.

All my very best wishes to all my visitors! 'See' you soon (virtually!)

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Hello again - I forgot to mention to some of you that I have been chatting with Jane in China and she regrets very much not being able to post and read messages from Jo's Message Board. She asked me to say "thanks" to Jo and to say "Hi" to Jo and Haruka and Benly. She misses you and the ability to communicate with you on Jo's Board. Anyhow, she sends her good wishes to you.
Duane