Святочные гадания, the orthodox festivities

Святки. As we know, many of the religious festivities take roots from pagan ones, that cross generations coming to our times. Although the orthodox Christmas is a recent celebration in Russia, due to religious limitations during communist times, there are some rituals that are preserved specially in villages and towns. Святочные гадания is one of them. During the period of time that goes from the Christmas day to the three kings day, the young girls gather and play several fortune teller games, most of them aiming to know who will be their future husband. The most famous is throwing the shoe through the gate singing. Who will get the biggest distance will be the first one to get ma rried. You can find these games here.