The capital of Russia, Moscow, is already under colorful lights before the upcoming holidays, Christmas and New Year.
Avenues and streets are decorated with luminous decorations and colored on the eve of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Christmas markets and fairs are set up in many parts of the city.
The main streets and squares of the Russian capital are illuminated and decorated so that local residents and tourists can welcome the holidays in the most beautiful environment.
Moscow expects a large number of domestic and foreign tourists during the holidays this year as well.
New Year is also when ‘Grandfather Frost’ (known in Russian as ‘Ded Moroz’ or Дед Мороз) brings presents to children. He is always accompanied by his Granddaughter (Snegurochka). On New Year’s eve 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! Ded Moroz carries a big magic staff. The traditional greeting for Happy New Year is ‘S Novym Godom’.
On New Year’s Eve, a popular and now ‘traditional’ film to watch on TV is called ‘The Irony of Fate’ (Ирония судьбы or Ironiya sudby). It’s also known as ‘Enjoy your Bath’ or ‘With a Light Steam’ and was made in 1975 during the Soviet era and was always shown on Soviet TV on New Year’s Eve. It’s a romantic comedy about a man who drinks too much and gets very lost after having a sauna with some of his friends. The Irony of Fate is also shown on Russian TV on New Year’s Eve. It’s also shown on New Year’s Eve in Belarus.
Christmas in Russia is normally celebrated on January 7th (only a few Catholics might celebrate it on the 25th December). The date is different because the Russian Orthodox Church uses the old ‘Julian’ calendar for religious celebration days. The Orthodox Church also celebrates Advent. But it has fixed dates, starting on 28th November and going to the 6th January, so it’s 40 days long.
The official Christmas and New holidays in Russia last from December 31st to January 10th.
