Winter is a festive time of year for Ossetians; thousands are giving their thanks to the House-Spirit these days.  The guardian angel is said to watch over the family and protect it from evil.

Ossetians have believed in supernatural powers since ancient times. Paganism and Christianity are deeply intertwined in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania in North Caucasus. Mysterious traditions are very strong and are passed from one generation to another. 

On Christmas-time evenings in Southern Russia Ossetians continue to perform an ancient ritual.

For the celebration of this holiday every family goes to the market to buy a hen. Today the counters are crammed with poultry. A black hen will be sacrificed to a house-spirit, called Binaty Khisau. It’s a chance for the people to feast. They light a fire and believe the protector of their hearth will force out all the evil from the house.

Various dishes are prepared for the spirit – big pies with different fillings, boiled chicken, plenty of salads and desserts. Northing can be spared for the invisible master of the house. But nobody is allowed to drink alcohol on this day. The family's patriarch proposes the toast with a cup of milk.

After the special toast all the family members leave the room. They switch off the light and leave the door open for the hero of the occasion could come and taste the dishes.