Merry Christmas! (literally: "with Christmas"; most common greeting)
с Рождеством!
Pronounced:
se razh-dist-vOM
Audio:
(Sveta)
Merry Christmas!
весёлого Рождества!
Pronounced:
vi-sYOl-a-va razh-dist-vA
Audio:
(Sveta)
Happy Christmas!
счастливого Рождества!
Pronounced:
shast-lI-va-va razh-dist-vA
Audio:
(Sveta)
Jesus rises again! (common religious Christmas greeting)
Иисус воскрес!
Pronounced:
I-soos vas-krYEs
Audio:
(Sveta)
Merry Christmas!
From the 1917 Revolution until the fall of Communism, Russians were not allowed to celebrate their religious holidays openly. But now that all such bans are long lifted, Russians are re-embracing their spiritual identity, albeit in their own style.
Firstly, unlike Europe, Russians do not celebrate on (what we know as) Christmas Eve - December 24, and only an (increasing) minority celebrate on December 25. Instead, most Russians celebrate Christmas - the birth of Christ - according to the Russian Orthodox calendar on January 7th.
Christmas services are held on the night of January 6th and are among the most beautiful services of the year.
If you want to wish your Russian friends a Merry Christmas then check what date they observe Christmas day – if they are Russian Orthodox then it will probably be January 6 / 7.
Note, in Russia, Father Christmas / Santa Claus ("Dyed Moroz") usually visits children during the night of New Year's Eve, not Christmas eve.
