Many shoppers in Sitka experienced “starring” – a way to celebrate the Christmas spirit and reminisce about the departed – for the first time.

The Alaska Commercial Company (ACC) Lakeside Sitka helps bring people together to celebrate their unique culture. 

While most people who celebrate Christmas do so on December 25, some people in Alaska recognize the holiday on January 7 as they follow the Julian calendar and the Orthodox faith. This tradition was brought to the state by the Russian missionaries and a Ukrainian bishop during the 1700s.

The weeklong celebration includes Christmas caroling, starring, and blessings. This is the perfect time for families to bond and reflect on their year. They come together and make “stars of Bethlehem” out of wood, crepe paper and tassels. Children also get to take part, with boys acting as “Star Child” and girls reciting biblical readings.

ACC Lakeside Sitka Branch Manager Vince Winter – who first invited Slaviq carolers into his store in Aniak back in 2015 – expressed his motivation in preserving the tradition.

“Upon my transfer to Sitka, I found out there is a strong Russian Orthodox presence here, however the carolers had never been invited to any business, much less a location such as large as the ACC Lakeside. The carolers from St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral, led by Father Ishmael, added us to his rotation of homes to carol and came in at 5pm on January 9th. They were warmly welcomed by staff and shoppers alike.”

ACC Lakeside Sitka strongly believes that educating community members about their own culture is key to running a successful business, and hopes to continue this initiative in the coming years.