Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 6th, in accordance with the old Julian calendar. Although I’m not religious, I was very excited to attend my friends Fyodor and Lawrence’s party, which was loosely based around Eastern European traditions.
Babushka jams on an accordion!
Sorrel showed up in a Ukrainian costume! She’s awesome!
Our host, Fyodor Pavlov!
Fyodor actually is Russian and we often converse in our native language. He and his husband Lawrence are both very talented artists. I’m already dreaming up a collaboration!
Samovar
A samovar is a Russian-style kettle which originally had coals inside to keep the water hot. The modern version has a cord and is plugged in. Those round things hanging around it are baranki - lightly sweetened dried bread – and are considered to be very Russian. :)
More photos on Flickr!
Oh my gosh, that looks way too fun. And you look AMAZING, so awesome. I love your outfit and the makeup (and the accordion!). What is that wonderful lipcolor you’re sporting, deere??
Doe Deere Reply:
January 11, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Centrifuchsia over Airborne Unicorn!
Zanthia Reply:
January 11, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Mixing your own lipsticks from your own lipsticks, lol! I love it!!
I agree, I just love your outfit!
If you ever come to Paris, do try to get Sorrel’s (the girl in the Ukrainian costume) contact info, there’s nobody like her to show you a good time here! And her costume parties are always fabulous!
That looks like so much fun! I’ve loved traditional Russian culture and clothing for a long time, and that Ukrainian costume is gorgeous! I’m loving the photo of you jammin’ on the accordion! Too funny!
Love your outfit. I love the whole eastern European gypsy look. Reminds me a lot of Lily Cole’s fashion in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus which I saw last night. Awesome movie if you haven’t watched it yet.
Doe Deere Reply:
January 11, 2010 at 5:45 pm
I can’t wait to watch that movie, actually! What a fantastic way to start a year!
Lily Reply:
January 11, 2010 at 6:19 pm
I loved that movie! And Lily Cole looks like you :)
Disposable Darling Reply:
January 12, 2010 at 11:18 pm
I loved it!
http://disposabledarling.com/blog/2010/01/12/victorian-porcelain-dolls-and-the-imaginarium/
OOOH that sound like so much fun. I miss my Italian Christmas’ at my grandparents house as a kid. Only my grandfather is Italian but his mother from Italy taught my grandma to cook.
I’d love to celebrate old Gaelic Druid winter holiday traditions one year. They sound so fascinating and it would be great since I’m 1/4 Irish and 1/8 Scottish.
I love how you stay in touch with your roots. The samovar is very pretty.
Looks awesome!
Can I just say that Fyodor Pavlov is really good looking?
Ha ha, I should totally take the photo of you in your Babushka costume to my next psych appointment and show my psych. He grew up in Russia and goes back there a lot (okay, he goes back for conferences mainly, I think). He’d totally get a kick out of it.
the photos are so beautiful and interesting! I melted when I saw the little teacup in the last one.
and totally random, Sorrel is a dark red bulb that grows on trees here in Trinidad. you peel the “petals” off and steep them in boiling water until you get an equally scarlet drink! it tastes lovely when you make it and sweeten it right. coincidentally Sorrel is most popular here at Christmastime! so I thought “what are the odds? :)” when I saw that your friend’s name was Sorrel :D
You look awesome! And please tell me you actually know how to play an accordion. (If not, you’re still amazing.)
Ksusha, these photos are wonderful! I am glad you had a good time – we loved hosting you chez nous!
You look gorgeous! And I love the photographs, they are very vintage-looking. [:
Natalie Reply:
January 12, 2010 at 2:15 am
I realized I forgot to ask: how did you take these?
The kerchief and glasses remind me of my Grandma and other relatives. I have a Ukrainian and Norwegian background (among other things) though.
wow the lippy looks amazing! Is that the mermaid eyeshadow? It’s an amazing combo!
Когда снега укроют землю,
И Рождество наступит вновь,
Бокал за счастье поднимите,
За мир, за дружбу, за любовь!
И чтоб без горя и сомнений
Прожить Вам много светлых дней!
Сберечь уют, покой семейный
И уважение друзей!
Happy Christmas :)
Hey Doe!
Check this out! I came across this and instantly thought of you. How adorable!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36524823
Oh, I love this :) So sweet, I think it’s very important to do those little celebrations which are typical for your homeland, especially when you’re living far away from it :) <3 5* for your babushka costume, so fun – my grandma has glasses just like the ones you wore :))
Please tell me someday we can both dress up as babyshkas and have tea together with some cyxarekees hahah!
I love your heritage. Mine is so diluted I go with whatever is “American” but long for something richer.
P.S. NYX has these darling cupcake glosses for around 3 bucks…they instantly made me think of you. Ebay has em!
I love those round things, they’re so good. I’d go back to Russia just for them if i could <3
Wow, that looks like a really wicked party!