christmas – The Romanov Family

December 22, 2017Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY: FIRST CHRISTMAS AT THE ALEXANDER PALACE

Christmas tree “upstairs” at the Alexander Palace

Since 1904 Christmas holidays were celebrated at the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo. Because the children’s rooms were on the second floor of the palace, on 24 December, the Christmas tree was set up for the first time “upstairs”. That same day, in the evening, the entire family rode to see Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna at Gatchina Palace. There, after vsenoshnaya, they had a general Yolka [Christmas party] downstairs. Around 11 at night, Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna returned to Tsarskoe Selo, where they had “our own Yolka, in Alix’s new room”.

January 10, 2016Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY: ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS. TATIANA ROMANOV. 10 JANUARY, 1916

1917 letter from Tatiana Romanov to Nicholas II:

January 10, 2016Helen Azar 2 Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY: ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS. OLGA ROMANOV – 9 JANUARY, 1913

Grand Duchess Olga Romanov in 1913 — Grand Duchess Olga Romanov. 1913 diary.

From 1913 diary of Olga Romanov:

December 18, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY: LAST IMPERIAL CHRISTMAS BEFORE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

ROMANOV FAMILY: LAST IMPERIAL CHRISTMAS BEFORE THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

1916 was the last full year for the Romanovs as the reigning family of Russia. Tsar Nicholas II would abdicate his throne in March of 1917 and the Russian revolution would end life as the Romanov family knew it.

December 14, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

OLGA ROMANOV: CHRISTMAS CARD, 1906

1906 Christmas card from Olga Romanov to her "Mama", in English. — 1906 Christmas card from Olga Romanov to her “Mama”, in English. Source: GARF

December 9, 2015Helen Azar 1 Comment

ROMANOV FAMILY: CELEBRATING ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS

Along with millions of their Russian Orthodox subjects, this is how the Romanov family celebrated this holiday each year.

CELEBRATING ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS

by George Hawkins

Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia in front of the Romanov family Christmas tree

In the Orthodox Faith, Christmas is one of our most important celebrations. The Feast of the Nativity is one of the twelve Great Feasts of the Church. Over and above the twelve Great Feasts is the Feast of Feasts – Pascha (Easter). In the Orthodox Church, Christmas is sometimes known as the Winter Pascha, showing its importance to the Christian Faith.