Russian Christmas and New Year (we have two of each)
Merry Christmas! - С Рождеством! (With Christmas!)
Happy New year! - С Новым годом! (With the New year!)
New year is the favorite Russian holiday.
During Soviet times, most people only celebrated the coming of the New year.
On the 31st of December we would party all night long (we still do).
In January, on the 13th, Russians celebrate the beginning of the year again.
It's the new year's eve according to the old Russian calendar and we call it "The old new year".
This holiday has existed in Russia before 1918 when a new calendar was introduced,
but Russians are fanatically faithful to their traditions.
The holiday season in Russia begins around the 30th of December
and ends around the 14th of January.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russians began celebrating
the Russian Orthodox Christmas on the 7th of January and
some Russians celebrate the Catholic Christmas in the end of December as well (we don't want to miss out on anything).
All these make four big occasions for Russians to party in December and January.
Isn't it great?
We don't have Santa Clause.
Instead we have Grandpa Frost and Snowgirl (his granddaughter).
In Russia, they take care of all presents.
Grandpa Frost and Snowgirl - Дед Мороз и Снегурочка
These are the real ones
The Russian New year's table with some traditional items:
"The Winter salad" (in front) and "The Herring under a fur coat" (the purple dish)
A few more traditional Russian New year's items:
Soviet Champagne & Moscow chocolate "Alyonka" (bought in SF)
champagne - шампанское, chocolate - шоколад
Sweet PS: The girl on the chocolate looks exactly like my younger sister when she was little.
