New Year and Christmas celebration in Russia

It is not a secret that Russian people make quite a big celebration on New Year’s Eve. We do even have extra long holidays (around 8 days after the New Year’s Eve). Many of Russians prefer to celebrate with a family or close friends. As a tradition each house is decorated with a Christmas tree and a table served by typical delicious food.  Dinner usually starts late on December 31st. Traditional meals include Russian salad, herring and sparkling wine. A pre-recorded speech of the president appears on TV, listing the achievements of the past year,  around 11.55pm (23:55) local time in each of Russia’s time zones. Many people watch his speech and raise a toast to the chiming of the Kremlin clock. The Russian national anthem begins at midnight and people congratulate each other and exchange presents. Some people go out to make a snowman or light fireworks in their backyards.

New Year is also known for 'Grandfather Frost’ (Ded Moroz), who brings presents to children. He is always accompanied by his Grandaughter (Snegurochka). A couple of days before New Year's eve in all Kindergartens children hold hands, make a circle around the Christmas tree and call for Snegurochka or Ded Moroz. When they appear the star and other lights on the Christmas tree light up!

The next holiday Russians celebrate 7th of January - Orthodox Christmas. Why the Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January the 7th? This is simply due to a difference in calendars. The majority of the Orthodox churches worldwide use the Julian calendar and have not adopted the Gregorian calendar.

On this day It is common to congratulate all each other, but still not so typical to give a present. It's still a quieter and smaller holiday in Russia after the big New Year celebrations. The New Year is the big time for spending lots of money and eating and drinking lots. Christmas is much more religious and private. 

One more , but not officially-recognized, holiday is celebrated  on 14th of January. It calls Old New Year. Sounds like a paradox :-) Old New Year marks the changing of the year according to the old Julian calendar, instead of the Gregorian calendar that the world officially uses today.

Though the Gregorian calendar was established by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, Russia did not adopt it for official purposes until after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1918. During the existence of the Soviet Union, and its suppression of religion, the holiday was almost entirely abandoned. Old New Year is a more relaxed time when Russians celebrate as they please. Some see it as a nostalgic holiday and spend it at large family gatherings where they eat and sing carols. Others see it as simply another reason to go out and party with their friends and colleagues, especially if it falls during a weeknight.