We are celebrating Christmas again tonight in Kodiak.
If you look at it right, it's the 3rd time this Holiday.
Of course, Dec 24/25 was celebrated. Then on January 6/7 came: time to celebrate the Russian Orthodox Christmas. But we had a blizzard that night. So a few did celebrate it with services at the church and the native museum.
But an important part of the festivities were put off till today. So tonight they will carry a spinning star from the church to the homes of members on a pre planned course. There they will celebrate with some nourishment, payers, and a small ceremony. Then the group will follow the spinning star to another home for more celebration. At the end, they will return the church.
Quite a tradition. And a nice way of keeping the faithful together as a community within our community.
To see a starring form another part of Alaska go to the YouTube video below
And here is a short article about the celebrations a few days ago, which goes along with the pic at the top:
KODIAK — They came slow and in groups, getting rides and helping each other from snow drifts, but 10 inches of snow couldn't keep Kodiak's Orthodox Christian worshippers from church on Saturday, Christmas day.
The Orthodox church follows the Julian calendar, and thus its Christmas falls two weeks later than the date celebrated by other Christians.
While that sets Orthodox Christians apart, Alaskan Orthodox worshippers have traditions that separate them even from their counterparts in Europe and Asia.
Foremost of these is the custom of starring, or Slaviq. Celebrants carry a large, colorful star from the church to the homes of those celebrating the holiday.
Accompanying the star are carolers who sing traditional Slavonic hymns.
On Saturday night in Kodiak, the star's first stop after leaving Holy Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral was the Alutiiq Museum, where almost 50 people gathered to sing and share conversation.
Contact Mirror editor James Brooks at editor@kodiakdailymirror.com.
Read more: kodiakdailymirror.com KODIAK — They came slow and in groups, getting rides and helping each other from snow drifts, but 10 inches of snow couldn't keep Kodiak's Orthodox Christian worshippers from church on Saturday, Christmas day.
The Orthodox church follows the Julian calendar, and thus its Christmas falls two weeks later than the date celebrated by other Christians.
While that sets Orthodox Christians apart, Alaskan Orthodox worshippers have traditions that separate them even from their counterparts in Europe and Asia.
Foremost of these is the custom of starring, or Slaviq. Celebrants carry a large, colorful star from the church to the homes of those celebrating the holiday.
Accompanying the star are carolers who sing traditional Slavonic hymns.
On Saturday night in Kodiak, the star's first stop after leaving Holy Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral was the Alutiiq Museum, where almost 50 people gathered to sing and share conversation.
Contact Mirror editor James Brooks at editor@kodiakdailymirror.com.
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