The end of the year Christmas season gives you a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the Russian “New Year's wonders”. A trip to Moscow or St. Petersburg will allow you to discover the unique Russian winter, as well as the traditions of this period in Russia. The New Year is the main holiday for Russians, around the date of December 31, efforts and conversations are concentrated many months before that day arrives. Less significant is Christmas: note that here it is celebrated on January 6 according to Orthodox tradition.
Millions of tourists visit Kazan Kremlin every year, a world heritage site in Russia. Known for showcasing vibrant and rich Russian culture, Kazan is branded as the third capital of Russia. If you want to witness the ancient architectural beauty of Russia then walk through the lanes of Moscow or visit the cathedrals and royal gardens of St. Petersburg. When you are passing by St. Petersburg it would not be fair to not visit the Hermitage Museum that sometimes showcases rare exhibitions highlighting Russian culture.
New Year: December 31
Orthodox Christmas: January 6
Russians celebrate these dates in reverse order to Catholic countries. And even compared to other Orthodox churches.
The Russian New Year has been celebrated from the night of December 31 to January 1 since the time of Peter the Great. Previously, the New Year was celebrated in March or September. And only under Soviet rule, the New Year completely replaced Christmas, which was banned in 1929.
Officially, the New Year became a holiday in 1935, featuring the traditional attributes: Ded Moroz and his granddaughter and assistant, Snegurochka, as well as a Christmas tree and gifts underneath (taken from Christmas, but translated into secular canon). Since 1947, January 1 has been declared a day off. And then gradually the holidays in Russia expanded until about January 10.
The New Year in Russia is a family holiday. Families welcome it at the festive table. The table should be covered in abundance: appetizers, Russian champagne, salads (Olivier or Russian salad), herring “pod shuboi”, mandarins, etc.
After the memories of the previous year, everyone turns on the television, where exactly at midnight they show the bells of the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin across the country and wait until the clock strikes 12 chimes. At this moment, everyone clinks glasses and wishes each other a happy new year. Television continues to be an important part of New Year's rituals. Old Russian comedies, Irony of Fate, and Carnival Night are seen.
Russians are very superstitious, so entering the new year is surrounded by numerous rituals. The New Year is usually celebrated with new clothes so that throughout the coming year it is released. All debts must be paid before the new year, otherwise, you will be in debt for the entire year to come.
It is not necessary to sleep that night, otherwise, the year will be difficult and boring (children can sleep). The table should be abundant, with a wide variety of drinks - this is how a fruitful and profitable next year is guaranteed.
If the dishes break, they must be thrown away. Also, all mirrors and glass must be clean.
In Russia, Christmas is still a purely religious holiday. After the fall of the USSR, Christmas came back to people's lives, attracting thousands of parishioners to Christmas mass on the night of January 6-7. The Russian Orthodox Church is based on the Julian calendar: the Gregorian calendar was introduced in Russia by the Bolsheviks who persecuted the church. For this reason, the church subsequently refused to change to this calendar, unlike other Orthodox churches in the world.
The main Christmas ceremony takes place in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, conducted by the Patriarch in the presence of the country's leaders and many parishioners.
If you want to attend the Christmas ceremony on January 6, you will find many churches in every neighborhood of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The main mass in St. Petersburg takes place in the Kazan Cathedral and begins at approximately 11:30 p.m. Alexander Nevsky Monastery is a further option from the center, but at the same time more authentic.
If you want to avoid large crowds, it is best to look for a church that is not in the center.
Decorating the Christmas tree is an important part of the festive atmosphere. And this is a very old Russian tradition.
Decorating the tree itself is a special ritual. Russians associate it with childhood. There are still craftsmen who make Christmas tree ornaments by hand. If you want to buy an original souvenir from Russia after traveling in winter, think about Christmas tree decorations, as they can be a good option!
Life does not stop in Russia even at a temperature of -20 degrees. On the contrary, it is an opportunity to discover all the joys of Russian frosts. The only rule is to bundle up.
Ice skating on one of the outdoor ice rinks. This is one of the advantages of the cold: outdoor skating rinks are open in many parks in Moscow and St. Petersburg. You can rent the skates right there (look for the sign-in Russian “Rent”). You can also have a mulled wine and enjoy! One of the main skating rinks in the country is located directly on Red Square.
Stroll through the frozen center and warm yourself up with hot chocolate. Low temperatures do not mean that it is impossible to walk, on the contrary, the lower the temperature, the more sun and blue skies, beautiful colors illuminate Moscow and St. Petersburg from a new perspective, covered with snow that absorbs the noise of the streets (the streets are much quieter than in summer. Because of the snow!). And of course, an unforgettable pleasure is to warm up after such a walk with hot chocolate!
Appreciate New Year's Street Decoration: They don't skimp on the budget for New Year's decorations in the city center. the Ville de Souzdal in hiverThe lighting and the many decorations are really impressive. In Moscow, during the period from January 1-3, there are many concerts, Christmas fairs, and Tverskaya Street turns into a pedestrian street.
Discover a Russian village. In winter, the Russian people are a particular world: you can go from any city, both in terms of tourism and with an individual route. There will be many winter activities available to you: snowmobiling, sledding, horse carriages, skiing, and the Russian sauna!
There is a lot to do in Russia in winter - we can say that this is a totally different country compared to the summer period.