12 Days of Christmas with Caryn Moya Block

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For our third day of the 12 Days of Christmas, please welcome Caryn Moya Block to the blog 🙂

 

Christmas Lycan Style

By Caryn Moya Block

You would never guess how much research I do for my series, The Siberian Volkov Romance Series. Most would assume that since I write about “Werewolves” I could justify writing as much fantasy as I wished.

However, I want my world grounded in reality as much as possible. So when I decided to write “A Siberian Werewolf Christmas” I needed to research how Christmas is celebrated in Russia.

First of all Christmas in Russia is most widely celebrated on January 7, according to the Orthodox calendar. New Year’s Day, January 1st, precedes the Russian Christmas and is celebrated as a more important holiday. Being suppressed by the communist government for over seventy years, Christmas, like other religious festivals, did not have any special importance in Russia. Christmas was in fact replaced by the “Festival of Winter” in those times.

Ded Moroz is the Russian equivalent of our Santa Claus. The literal translation of the name would be “Old Man Frost”, although the name is often translated as “Father Frost” in light of the modern usage of “ded” to refer to a grandfather. Ded Moroz is said to bring presents to children, however, unlike the secretive Santa Claus, the gifts are often delivered “in person”, at New Year’s Eve Parties or New Year’s Day celebrations. He is normally accompanied by “Snegurochka” or “Snow Maiden” who is his granddaughter.

Also, according to legend, Baboushka, is an old woman who set out to visit Baby Jesus with some gifts, and still visits each house during Christmas leaving gifts for good children. Which one a family chooses as their tradition is unknown.

My Lycans are hidden away in Siberia and so I needed to research the regional differences. In the Sakha Republic “Chys Khan” is known as the master of cold, accompanied by the snow maiden “Khaarchana”.

Finally, there is the fact that Lycans, like the native peoples of the Sakha Republic, are Shamanic in how they view the world. So I included the pagan tradition of burning a “Yule Log” to the story.

I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit of the cultural differences that went into making “A Siberian Werewolf Christmas”. For your enjoyment, I also wrote a Lycan 12 Days of Christmas Carol. If you are familiar with my series, the lyrics will have a special meaning.

12 Days of Christmas Lycan Style

On the First day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a mating bond attached to my heart.

On the Second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: two twin girls.

On the Third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Three cozy dens.

On the Fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Four Lada-Nivas.

On the Fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Five Asena Blessings.

On the Sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Six pack members mated.

On the Seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Seven young pups playing.

On the Eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Eight English pack members.

On the Ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Nine cakes of Pryaniki.

On the Tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Ten bowls of Kutya.

On the Eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Eleven Pork Steaks.

On the Twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Twelve Christmas Wishes.

 

Finally, to win a 12 days of Christmas Charm Bracelet, A paperback copy of “A Siberian Werewolf Christmas”, a wolf Christmas ornament and swag pack. Answer the following question: What is your favorite Christmas tradition and why?

 

A Siberian Werewolf Christmas

Margaret Brady knows she must be out of her mind to go to Siberia for Christmas. But her intuition won’t let her turn down the invitation of her best friend, Violet Volkov. When she meets the good looking Vyacheslav Putyatinov, she knows just what she wants for Christmas.

 

Vyacheslav “Slava” Putyatinov thinks any human woman coming to the Siberian Lycan village will be trouble. But one unmated could be a disaster. When he is put in charge of the American siren he finds trouble can lead to desire.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/ejxHxkowBiY

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/siberian-werewolf-christmas/id744693804?mt=11&uo=4

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GFU6MWE

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Siberian-Werewolf-Christmas-Romance-ebook/dp/B00GFU6MWE

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-siberian-werewolf-christmas-caryn-moya-block/1117318101?ean=2940148875826&itm=1&usri=2940148875826

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/374608

About the Author:

Caryn Moya Block burst onto the paranormal romance scene with her debut e-book Alpha’s Mate in January of 2012. She was named one of the “Top 50 Indie Authors for April 2012” from E-Reader Reviews, and won the “Global E-book Awards for 2012” in contemporary romance.  Caryn loves romantic movies and stories that end “Happily Ever After.” She is an avid reader and writer who currently resides in the Virginia Piedmont. Her pack consists of her husband of over thirty years, two grown sons, a beautiful daughter in law, and granddaughter, one cat, one turtle, and four Shetland Sheepdogs. She suffers from “Multiple Sheltie Syndrome”, because one is never enough. She has been intrigued with the paranormal since seeing her first ghost at three years of age. She would love to hear from you at CarynMoyaBlock@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

13 Replies to “12 Days of Christmas with Caryn Moya Block”

  1. Love the Siberian Volkov wolves.
    Just had to say that first.

    We light candles for all of our loved ones that are no longer with us. This has been a tradition for as long as I can remember.

    Merry Christmas
    &
    Happy Holidays

  2. I was raised in a multicultral family. My mother is Korean and my father is of Polish descent. I married a man from the Philipines and we have two daughters. So I guess we are making up traditions as we go. the most prevalent seems to be food though. We express our love by cooking up a storm and spending time with our love ones while eating throughout the day!

  3. I enjoy your Volkov Werewolf stories very much. They are especially appealing to me because my Grandfather was born in Russia (over one hundred years ago!) and I feel a connection. My favorite Christmas tradition is making magic happen for the little kids. When my children were small it was emotional to see their wonder and delight on Christmas morning.

      1. Its always the youngest that make the biggest difference. I always remember when Santa comes and gives everyone a gift how we all fake the excitement for the kids.

  4. we don’t really have a tradition, but me and m oldest would stay up late on Christmas eve to wrap the younger ones present so that when they woke up they would believe santa was the one who brought their presents. I love the Siberian wolves . Happy Holidays and have a very Happy New Year

  5. My parents are divorced, so on Christmas Eve I spend the night with my moms family. We go to a relatives house and exchange gift. Then where I live Santa(my old sports coach) and the elf comes around on the firetruck and visits the houses. The kids get a kick out of it and how Santa will reprimand them for their behavior through out the year. It is a nice time to see everyone and catch up. We usually go to the Christmas Eve mass together too. On Christmas Day I go to my fathers families house and we all exchange gifts and talk about what we missed out on during the year. The most special part about Christmas for me is every year all my friends from grammar school get together and go see the tree in Rockafellar Center.

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