Novi God

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Novi God (Translation: New Year) is the Russified version of Christmas which was nationalized by the Soviet regime. It is combined with the celebration of the New Year, and devoid of religious meaning, in order to be celebrated by all Soviet citizens. Russian Jews in America and Israel often use the Novogodnaya Yolka (New Year's tree) in celebration of Novi God complete with the Russian version of Santa Claus, known as"Ded Moroz" or Grandfather Frost, who distributes gifts to children. Both the tree and the elderly figure are strictly associated with New Years Day, rather than Christmas.

The celebrations are not signs of assimilation as often thought, but a tradition reflecting the secular Russian Christmas holiday (with the actual Christian Orthodox Christmas celebrated by Russian Christians in the beginning of January).

Upon emigrating to the United States and Israel, many secular Russian Jews abandoned the Novogodnaya Yolka, to distance themselves from its Christian meaning, while others continue to have the tree in their homes as a sign of Novi God.

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