The Russian Orthodox Diocese of Alaska follows the Julian calendar, which places Christmas on January 7, approximately two weeks after the widely observed December 25 date. For many Alaska Native families with deep Orthodox roots going back to the mission established on Kodiak Island in the late 1700s, this timing is not a delay, it’s tradition.

Spruce Island sits just off Kodiak, separated by a slender strait that once gave Ouzinkie  its name, “uzen kii,” the narrows. Families there learn the tides like kin, reading currents the way others read the morning news. In spring, elders taught where the greens come first, in summer, smokehouses carried stories as salmon hung above slow fires. When the earth shook in 1964, and waves turned harbors into hazards, neighbors climbed together and returned together, rebuilding not only docks and...

The Christmas season can be magical, but it can also become overwhelming with endless obligations and expectations. Here are five strategies to help you create a truly wonderful holiday experience this year. 1. Start a Meaningful Tradition Whether it’s baking cookies on a specific evening, watching a favorite movie together, or volunteering at a local charity, having a tradition gives you something special to look forward to each year. The best traditions aren’t elaborate, they’re simply...