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Show RUSSIA LAND OF HOLIDAYS Almost Innumerable Occasions When All Work Is Suspended and Time Spent in Pleasure. Russian people observe rigorously all religious holidays five at Christmas, Christ-mas, ten at Easter, three at Carnival, and almost every week one extra day, when an anniversary of some saint Is celebrated. On these days everything is closed, and nobody works. The six weeks of fasting preceding Easter are strictly observed by everybody, and the more devout d-o not even eat eggs or drink milk, and do not use sugar, because be-cause It is refined with blood. The last three days of Holy week are still more respected, for no food at all is consumed. For Easter Sunday, very large cakes, sometimes three or four feet high, are cooked with beautiful ornaments on the top, nnd eggs skillfully skill-fully painted. Both cakes and eggs, with other eatables, are brought on Easter eve near the church and placed all about on the ground. After the midnight mass a procession of priests and choirs comes out and walks around the church, blessing all the food, which Is arranged before them as In a market. Easter Sunday and the two following follow-ing days are dedicated to paying vis-Its. vis-Its. Every man calls upon his acquaintances. ac-quaintances. Visitors are obliged to eat and drink wherever they happen to go, otherwise they will offend the host. |