Aldan's Catholic parish blends cultures in unique Christmas traditions
The Catholic community in Aldan, Yakutia, is preparing for Christmas with traditions shaped by its diverse congregation. Father Peter Lorenz, a priest from the Salesians of Don Bosco order, has described how the small but active parish blends customs from different cultures. Advent, the four-week period before Christmas, is marked by spiritual reflection and shared activities like wreath-making and baking. Advent serves as the heart of the Christmas season for Catholics in Aldan. The community gathers to craft Advent wreaths from green branches, each decorated with four candles—one lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. These workshops bring together parishioners from varied backgrounds, including ethnic Russians, Koreans, Ukrainians, Armenians, Yakuts, and Evenks.
The parish also bakes Christmas cookies as part of its preparations. Many traditions, such as decorating the Christmas tree, trace back to Western Catholic Christianity. However, local customs have been influenced by the priests, most of whom come from Slovakia. Christmas Eve remains the most significant celebration. The evening begins with a festive Mass, followed by a family dinner where Christmas wafers are shared and gifts exchanged. Father Lorenz, who has lived in Yakutia for nine years and served as vicar in Aldan since summer 2025, noted that even Muslims in the area have contributed to church repairs, reflecting the community’s unity. Unlike some Orthodox Christians, Yakutia’s Catholics follow the Gregorian calendar, celebrating Christmas on December 25.
The Advent and Christmas traditions in Aldan highlight the parish’s multicultural identity. From crafting wreaths to sharing meals, the celebrations bring together people of different ethnicities and faiths. The community’s preparations reflect both its deep-rooted Catholic practices and the local influences that shape its observance.
