Three-quarters of Russians are going to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas; 85% of Russians usually congratulate their family and friends on this holiday.
MOSCOW, January 7, 2020. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to how Russians celebrate the Orthodox Christmas, how they congratulate their families, and what gifts they give.
Three-quarters of Russians (72%) are going to celebrate Christmas this year; they are mainly respondents aged 45-59 and those aged over 60 (76%, respectively). Christmas will be celebrated by 86% of the Orthodox Christians, 36% of adherents of other religions, and 40% of non-believers.
Christmas is mainly perceived as a family holiday: three-quarters of those who are going to celebrate Christmas will stay at home with their families and friends (73%). Every fourth Russian celebrating Christmas (26%) intends to go to church.
An overwhelming majority of Russians (85%) usually congratulate their friends and relatives on Christmas. Of those who celebrate this holiday, this share makes 95%. One-third of Russians (36%) say that, as a rule, they give gifts to their family and friends at Christmas. Those are basically small gifts (10%), sweets or bakery (7%), useful things (4%), money (3%) and toys (3%).
Prior to Christmas, the Orthodox Church observes the Christmas Fast (November 28th - January 6th). Nine percent of respondents say they are observing this fast. According to the survey dated November 27, 2019, the same share of respondents said that they were going to observe it.
Russian VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on December 29, 2019. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers is used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Are you going to celebrate Christmas on January 7th? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Men | Women | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | 60 and over |
Yes | 72 | 67 | 75 | 52 | 71 | 69 | 76 | 76 |
No | 24 | 28 | 21 | 43 | 24 | 26 | 21 | 21 |
Don’t know | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
Are you going to celebrate Christmas on January 7th? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||
| Total respondents | Orthodox Christians | Adherents of other religions | Non-believers | Those fluctuating between faith and non-faith |
Yes | 72 | 86 | 36 | 40 | 70 |
No | 24 | 10 | 62 | 54 | 28 |
Don’t know | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
Are you going to celebrate Christmas on January 7th? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||
| Total respondents | Orthodox Christians who do not go to church | Orthodox Christians who go to church occasionally | Orthodox Christians who go to church regularly, at least once a month |
Yes | 72 | 74 | 88 | 93 |
No | 24 | 18 | 9 | 6 |
Don’t know | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
How will you celebrate Christmas? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of respondents who are going to celebrate Christmas; shown are answers of at least 2% of respondents) | |
| Russians who are going to celebrate Christmas |
In the family circle, with relatives and friends / I will invite friends/ at home/ we will set a festive table | 73 |
I will go to church/ pray/ light a candle in front of icons | 26 |
At a friend’s house | 5 |
I will congratulate friends and relatives / give gifts | 4 |
Walk | 2 |
I will go Christmas caroling, fortune-telling / treat the carolers | 2 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 7 |
Do you congratulate your friends and relatives on Orthodox Christmas, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||
| Total respondents | Those who will celebrate Christmas | Those who will not celebrate Christmas | The undecided |
Yes | 85 | 95 | 57 | 79 |
No | 14 | 5 | 42 | 17 |
Don’t know | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Do you usually give gifts to friends and relatives at Christmas? If yes, what kind of gifts? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents; shown are answers of at least 1% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Trinkets / small things / souvenirs / small gifts | 10 |
Sweets / candies / chocolate / bakery | 7 |
It depends on the person/ necessary things / useful things | 4 |
Money | 3 |
Toys / games | 3 |
Household stuffs / for house | 2 |
Perfumery / eau de cologne | 1 |
Cards / drawings | 1 |
Different things / it depends / it depends on the situation | 1 |
Books | 1 |
It depends on financial situation/ opportunities | 1 |
Socks | 1 |
Grocery basket / groceries / treat | 1 |
Dishes | 1 |
Towels | 1 |
Attention / care | 1 |
Flowers | 1 |
Household appliances | 1 |
Calendar | 1 |
Bijouterie / accessories | 1 |
Hand-made stuff / handicrafts | 1 |
I do not usually give anything | 57 |
Other | 1 |
Don’t know | 9 |
The Orthodox Church observes a fast prior to Christmas, from November 28 till January 6. Are you going to observe the Christmas Fast? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of Orthodox Christians) | |
| Orthodox Russians |
Yes | 9 |
No | 90 |
Don’t know / this is the first time I hear about this fast | 1 |
Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.