Christmas Eve: Waiting for the First Star

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Source: Official website of the State –

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On January 6, the eve of the main Christian holiday, one of the most mysterious and spiritual days of the year arrives – Christmas Eve.

What is "sochivo"?

The name of the holiday comes from the traditional dish served on this day, sochivo – grains of wheat, rye, and oats soaked in water with the addition of honey, poppy seeds, and dried or fresh fruit.

"You can't see the first star"

Christmas Eve is the last and strictest day of the forty-day fast, when only one meal is allowed and only after the first star appears in the sky.

Historically, this tradition stems from the long service held on this day, which ended only in the evening, when the stars were already shining in the sky. The monks were allowed to eat only after this, to gain strength before the nighttime liturgy.

In addition, the first star in the sky is a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem, the appearance of which informed the Magi about the birth of Jesus Christ.

Festive table

For the festive dinner, 12 Lenten dishes are prepared—one for each apostle. The main dish is sochivo, with which the meal begins.

Also on the table are borscht, porridge, fish dishes, vegetable salads and stews, mushrooms, pickles, boiled and baked flour products, legume dishes, uzvar (a fermented drink) and dessert, which is usually baked apples with honey and nuts.

Fortune telling and carols

Beyond strict church traditions, Christmas Eve is surrounded by a mystical aura and is closely associated with folk fortune-telling. It was believed that on this night, the boundary between worlds becomes thinner, allowing one to glimpse the future. Unmarried girls were especially active in fortune-telling: they would throw a shoe or felt boot, pour wax, study shadows, burn threads, look in mirrors, and much more.

Christmas Eve marks the beginning of the season of caroling—visiting friends and singing songs that wish well-being to the hosts and glorify Christ and the Virgin Mary. The singers are greeted with refreshments and a small gift, and refusing is considered a grave sin and a bad omen. Caroling continues throughout the week of Christmas, from Christmas Eve to Epiphany.

Advertising and literature

The older generation may remember the phrase "you can't eat until the first star" from a popular commercial from the late 1990s, directed by Timur Bekmambetov and based on a true story. Once, during a Christmas dinner at Catherine II's palace, the empress noticed that all the guests were eating except Alexander Suvorov. When asked about his abstinence, the military commander replied that it was Lent and "you can't eat until the first star, we're waiting, sir." Catherine then ordered that he be presented with a star-shaped medal, and Suvorov joined the meal.

Literary works, such as Nikolai Gogol's story "The Night Before Christmas" from the cycle "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka," will also help you get into the spirit of Christmas Eve in Rus'.

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: January 6, 2026.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

In 2025, Shenzhen exported goods worth 6.87 billion yuan via China-Europe railway routes.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

SHENZHEN, January 6 (Xinhua) — By the end of 2025, the sub-provincial city of Shenzhen, in Guangdong Province, exported goods worth 6.87 billion yuan (approximately $981 million) via China-Europe rail freight routes, according to data released by the local customs service on Monday. This figure is a 40 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Another cargo train recently departed Shenzhen's Pinghunan National Logistics Hub, bound for Vorsino Station on the Moscow Railway. The train is carrying 565 tons of goods produced in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including everyday items such as women's chevrolet boots, massage devices, and electronic gadgets that meet market demand in Russia.

As a reminder, Shenzhen was one of the first special economic zones established by the Chinese government after the announcement of reform and opening-up. Over time, it has developed into a high-tech and innovation city known as "China's Silicon Valley," a national logistics hub, and a financial center of national significance. Furthermore, it is positioned as a central city in the economically rapidly developing Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Over the past five years—from August 18, 2020, when the first China-Europe international rail freight train departed from Shenzhen, to August 18, 2025—a total of 878 China-Europe trains have departed from Shenzhen's Pinghunan National Logistics Hub, carrying over 85,000 standard containers of cargo with a total value of US$3 billion. The annual freight volume has grown in value for five consecutive years.

At the same time, the number of China-Europe freight routes originating from Shenzhen has grown from the initial single route to 27, covering 47 countries and regions worldwide, including Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Russia. These include, in addition to traditional routes such as Shenzhen-Małaszewicze (Poland), Shenzhen-Duisburg (Germany), and Shenzhen-Budapest (Hungary), the recently launched direct Shenzhen-Moscow route via the Ereenhot checkpoint (on the Chinese-Mongolian border) and a logistics channel using the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TCITR).

Currently, the China-Europe rail freight service from Shenzhen serves more than 7,000 enterprises that export mainly goods produced in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, such as consumer electronics, electronic gadgets, household goods, and footwear.

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A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Japan's Shimane Prefecture.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Tokyo, January 6 (Xinhua) — A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Shimane Prefecture in western Japan on Tuesday. No tsunami warning was issued, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported.

According to him, the earthquake occurred at 10:18 local time in eastern Shimane Prefecture. The hypocenter was located at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers. In the hardest-hit areas of Shimane and Tottori Prefectures, the magnitude of the tremors was 5 on the seven-point scale used in Japan.

The epicenter of the tremors was recorded at a point with coordinates 35.3 degrees north latitude and 133.2 degrees east longitude. –0–

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Zootopia 2 has become the highest-grossing foreign film in China, surpassing Avengers: Endgame.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, January 6 (Xinhua) — The animated film "Zootopia 2" has become the highest-grossing foreign film in Chinese history, surpassing the previous record held by the superhero film "Avengers: Endgame," according to data released Tuesday by Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan.

According to Maoyan statistics, the animated sequel had earned 4.251 billion yuan (about $606 million) domestically as of Tuesday morning, surpassing the 2019 superhero blockbuster's 4.250 billion yuan.

The data also showed that Zootopia 2's total box office revenue in Chinese cinemas accounts for approximately 36 percent of the film's global box office, far exceeding its share of North American box office revenue and firmly cementing China's position as the sequel's largest market worldwide.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Israel launched further airstrikes against Lebanon.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday said it struck Hezbollah and Hamas targets in Lebanon, citing "continued violations of the ceasefire."

An earlier IDF statement said targets would be in four villages: Anan and Kfarhatta in southern Lebanon, and El-Manara and Ain al-Tina near the country's eastern border.

The Israeli military called on residents of certain buildings in these towns to evacuate, saying they were being used by Hamas and Hezbollah.

The Lebanese National News Agency confirmed airstrikes in the aforementioned areas, reporting that four houses were destroyed and nearby homes, cars, and shops were severely damaged. One shell failed to explode, blocking a road in one village.

A Lebanese security source told Xinhua that Israeli jets carried out 10 airstrikes in four areas, noting that one of the targets in El Manara was the home of Hamas leader Sharhabeel al-Sayed, who was killed in an Israeli strike in 2024.

Since November 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States and France has been in effect between Hezbollah and Israel.

Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli army has been carrying out sporadic strikes on Lebanon, claiming they are aimed at eliminating "threats" from Hezbollah. –0–

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31 people died in the sinking of a boat carrying migrants off the coast of Gambia.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Banjul, January 6 (Xinhua) — An overloaded vessel capsized off the coast of Gambia on New Year's Eve, and the bodies of 31 victims have been recovered so far, the local Immigration Department announced on Monday.

The vessel, carrying around 200 undocumented migrants, departed late on December 31 from Gambian North Coast in an attempt to illegally reach Spain's Canary Islands, a press release said.

It was reported that shortly after departure, the vessel struck an underwater sandbank and capsized. After receiving a distress signal, the Gambian Navy launched a search and rescue operation with the support of local fishing vessels.

As of Sunday, 15 bodies had been recovered in Gambia and 16 in neighboring Senegal. Many remain missing, presumed dead, the department noted. A total of 102 people had been rescued, 23 of whom were hospitalized.

Gambian President Adama Barrow promised to launch a "full investigation" into the incident, noting that those responsible would be held accountable in accordance with the law.

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N. Maduro pleaded not guilty in a US court /more details/

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appeared in court for the first time in New York on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges brought by the United States.

"I'm innocent, I'm not guilty," Maduro declared in court, adding that he was "kidnapped" from his home in Caracas and remains president of Venezuela. This was reported by media outlets present in the courtroom.

N. Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, also declared her complete innocence in court.

The next hearing in N. Maduro's case is scheduled for March 17.

Protesters gathered in front of the courthouse chanted slogans and held banners reading "Free Maduro," "No war with Venezuela," and "USA, hands off Venezuela."

On the morning of January 3, US forces attacked and shelled Caracas and other parts of Venezuela. They forcibly captured Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were then taken into custody in New York.

The American operation shocked the international community, triggering a steady stream of condemnation and serious concerns around the world.

On Saturday, protests against the actions of the Donald Trump administration took place in more than 100 US cities, including Washington, Boston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and Miami. Demonstrators demanded that authorities release Nicolas Maduro.

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The Danish Prime Minister called Donald Trump's statements on Greenland "unacceptable pressure"

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

OSLO, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) — Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed claims that the United States needs Greenland, condemning his remarks as "unacceptable pressure" on the autonomous territory.

"Unfortunately, I think the American president should be taken seriously when he says he wants Greenland," she said in an interview with local television station DR. The head of government emphasized that both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly rejected any idea of the island becoming part of the United States.

When asked what would happen if the United States used force against another NATO member, she replied, "If the US attacked another NATO country, everything would stop." Frederiksen added that she could not speak for US actions, but "there is full support from Europe that borders must be respected."

D. Trump said in a phone interview with The Atlantic magazine on Sunday that the United States "absolutely" needs Greenland.

In response, Frederiksen said on Sunday that the United States has no right to annex Greenland. She called on Washington to stop threatening its close ally and the people of Greenland.

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Since its launch in 2018, the total passenger traffic through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has exceeded 100 million person-times.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

GUANGZHOU, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) — The total passenger volume through the Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge since its opening in October 2018 has exceeded 100 million as of Jan. 6, 2026, marking a new milestone in the development of integration processes in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"Traveling between Guangdong and Hong Kong used to require several transfers and take a long time. Now, I can go directly to my Hong Kong clients' offices. Doing business has become much easier," says Chen Zhaochan, a Guangdong resident and auto parts dealer.

The 55-kilometer bridge connects two special administrative regions—Hong Kong and Macao—and the city of Zhuhai (Guangdong Province), all located in southern China. As the world's longest sea-going tunnel-bridge, it significantly reduces travel time between Hong Kong and Zhuhai, as well as between Hong Kong and Macao, from three hours to approximately 45 minutes.

According to the bridge's border control point, it took more than five years to reach 50 million passenger traffic, but after just one year and eight months, that figure has already doubled.

Since 2018, residents of Hong Kong and Macao have crossed the Zhuhai Port 58.7 million times, accounting for 58.7 percent of the total passenger traffic. In 2025, 18 million bridge crossings by residents of the two special administrative regions were recorded, an increase of almost 300 percent compared to 2019.

"We're happy with the restaurants, shops, accommodations, and medical care here. My family and friends in Hong Kong also come to visit us. My life has expanded," said Hong Kong resident Ho Chi-hung, who and his wife bought an apartment and settled in Zhongshan City in Guangdong Province.

In addition to local residents, amid the boom in travel within China and the introduction of 240-hour visa-free transit, the number of foreign travelers choosing to travel through the Zhuhai Port on the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge, as it is directly connected to Hong Kong International Airport, is growing. In 2025, foreigners cleared border control there 569,000 times, a 28.7 percent increase from the previous year.

The growing passenger traffic on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has demonstrated the deepening economic and social integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

In 2024, the region, which accounts for less than 1 percent of China's total land area and 6 percent of the country's population, had a GRP of 14.79 trillion yuan (about $2.11 trillion), or one-ninth of the country's GDP, surpassing the New York Bay Area and San Francisco Bay Area. -0-

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China to see record number of ice and snow tourism enterprises in 2025

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

HARBIN, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) — China's ice and snow tourism is entering a "new stage of sustainable prosperity," with a record 14,075 enterprises employed in the sector by the end of 2025, according to data released Monday by the China Academy of Tourism (CAT).

A report published by the CAT at the 2026 Ice and Snow Tourism Development Forum in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province, northeast China, stated that the sector is expanding thanks to a surge in innovative tourism products, including ice sculpture, ice and snow photography, and themed travel across China. Iconic sites such as the Great World of Ice and Snow in Harbin and the Changbai Mountain Ski Resort have played a key role in driving this growth.

KAT researcher Han Yuanjun emphasized that such innovations support the high demand for ice and snow tourism. A recent survey by the academy found that 74.8 percent of respondents planned to participate in related activities during the 2025-2026 winter season, and 50.5 percent intended to travel long distances as part of ice and snow tourism.

He noted that consumer spending is shifting from typical "hard expenses" such as transportation and accommodation to more "soft expenses" such as entertainment, cultural and technological experiences, reflecting the change in both the quality and structure of winter tourism in China.

The report also notes growing demand for indoor ice and snow activities: by 2025, China's southern regions will invest 30 billion yuan in this sector, or 30 percent of the total investment. Related indoor complexes have become a key investment area, stimulating year-round tourism demand.

Liu Huaxiang, a researcher at the CAT and associate professor at Hangzhou Normal University, emphasized that China has developed a comprehensive industrial chain based on ice and snow tourism, covering such areas as culture, sports, and equipment manufacturing.

Domestic products such as skis, snowboards and wax trucks are expanding their global presence through cross-border e-commerce, opening up new opportunities for international cooperation and industrial growth, she said.

China has positioned the ice and snow economy as a key driver of development and consumption, and its size is expected to reach 1.2 trillion yuan by 2027 and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030.

At the recent Central Economic Work Conference, Chinese authorities emphasized efforts to "expand the supply of high-quality goods and services," and experts expect the tourism market to become even more vibrant this winter.

On Monday, the 42nd International Ice and Snow Festival opened at the Great World of Ice and Snow in Harbin, the world's largest ice and snow theme park and a major tourist attraction in the city.

During the recent three-day New Year holiday, Harbin welcomed more than 4.1 million tourists, who spent a total of 5.56 billion yuan, according to city authorities.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.