Project Russian winter festivals guide Aleksandra Pulyakh 2013

Project Russian winter festivals guide” “ Aleksandra Pulyakh 2013

New year’s Day Since 1919 the New year's holiday in Russia has been celebrated in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Since 2005 in Russia from 1 to 5 January the New year holidays were installed. The main traditions of the New year’s Day are Olivier salad, Grandfather Frost, the Snow maiden, the tree decorated with toys and chimes at 12 o’clock.

“Old New year” The “Old New year” is the New year’s holiday celebrated according to the Julian calendar (now in the night from the 13 to the 14 of January). In fact, it is the historical echo of the chronologycal change. The best known and popular in Russia, it is also celebrated in Serbia, Switzerland some other countries. It is also celebrated by the people who could not celebrate the New year’s Day on January, 1.

Christmas - one of the main Christian holidays, was established in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ by the virgin Mary. . The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Xmas on 7 January according to the Julian calendar. In Orthodoxy it is included into number of the twelve feasts.

The Motherland Defender’s Day Today it is one of the few days in the calendar when the strong half of humanity is legally entitled to receive women’s congratulations, gratitude, and, of course, presents. It is considered, that on February 23, 1918, the Red Guard won the regular troops of Kaiser Germany for the 1 st time near Pskov and Narva. It became the «Birthday of the Red Army» . February, 23