There are many winter holidays in Russia.
We don’t celebrate the western Christmas, but recently many people(young people) congratulate each other, because we like the western Christmas spirit^^
The celebration of the New Year is a one of major events in Russia. At 31 December we install and decorate New Year tree( the same tree as Christmas tree).Very beautiful New Year tree also is installed and decorated at schools, children gardens, big shopping center, and the biggest ones at the central squares. The New Year is a great holiday for Russian children. There are many concerts and performance for children called Elka(the same as the New Year tree). At that concerts children meet Father Frost( Russian Santa equivalent, but he is not Santa, he is Frost, Father or frankly, Grandfather Frost) and Snow Maiden(Father Frost’s granddaughter was maiden of snow) and Father Frost helpers – animal from forests(rabbits, foxes, birds, etc.) Children go around the New Year tree, sing New Year songs, play games, etc. Father Frost and Snow Maiden present children with the gifts. It’s a very good time of the year for musician and actors, who take a part at New Year concerts for children or working as Father Frost or Snow Maiden. Many parents pay them. for visiting their children by that New Year characters. And children believe that it is a real Father Frost and a real Santa. Also 1 January children find other present from Father Frost under the New Year tree.
Then I was a kid. I didn’t believe in Father Frost, though my parents and granny want me to believe in him. Btw, many children put their high boots under the New Year tree to receive presents from Father Frost^^
And so did I.
And not only at 31 December but every day in January^^’Although I didn’t believe in Father Frost. But I believe in my parents who put small present in boots every day. They thought it was funny.
And one day I found something under the tree, my Granny sad:
That dress was sewed by Snow Maid and was brought to you by foxy (note: Father Frost helper)
I: Duh. I don’t believe in Father Frost and co. I know you bought it for me.
I was only 3-4 years old. ^^’’’’’ Not very cute…
Well…
The New Year is a family celebration, with a dinner tables. Traditional dishes for the New Year table are salads. Such “olivie” and “seledka pod shuboi”… and also you can find Champaign, vodka, hard roe, mandarins and chocolate candies.At five minutes to twelve the president of Russia delivers a speech ‘Dear Russians, it was a hard year but together we overcame difficulties… etc.’ most of the people watch the president's speech on TV. And while the Kremlin clock counts down the final seconds of the year people make wishes.
How to make a New Year wish:You should take a small peace of paper and write your wish on it. After set it on fire and threw in a glass of Champaign and drink it. It’s a Russian tradition but I’ve never done it^^’ And even don’t want to try it, though people believe that the wishes definitely come true.
A lot of people also have parties at work.
New Year is greeted by large fireworks and all nigth firworks. It's a very noisy nigth in Russia.
Russian Christmas falls on 7 January, because Russian Church follows the Julian calendar. And also we celebrate the Old New Year and Chinese New Year. They are not public holidays but we love them, too.
