New Year in Russia is day of sharing love and happiness with one another. This time of the year brings lots of fun and festivities, meeting old friends and acquaintances and eating good food. Tourists visiting the country during the New Year in Russia will become spellbound looking at the myriad beauty of the country and partying all day and night.
New Year in Russia follows the Gregorian calendar and is celebrated on 1st of January of every year. The country earlier used to celebrate the New Year in September month. Czar Peter, the Great, abolished this practice. In the year 1699, a decree passed and January 1st was declared New Year. Since then, all the Russians celebrate this day with family and all across the country is a public holiday.
Russians follows a set of specific New Year traditions. The most common New Year symbol in the country is the New Year's Tree. Known as Novogodnaya Yolka, this tree is decorated with a bright shining star in the top. Sweets and chocolates hang from its various branches.
Another widely followed tradition is the coming of Father Frost or Ded Moroz with its grand daughters, Snegurochka or the snow girl. Children receive New Year gifts and sweets that are placed under the New Year trees. Children sing melodious songs to make Father Frost and Snegurochka happy.
All the family unites during this period and share extravagant dinner with free flowing champagne and background music. Delicious meals include traditional cuisine comprising of meat, green peas, pickles, mayonnaise, onion, carrots and potatoes. Fortune telling is another fascinating tradition in the country. All the fellow citizens hear the New Year address by the nation head, the President of Russia.
New Year is a winter vacation in all parts of Russia. All the schools and other educational institutions remain closed from 1st January till January 13th. Hotels, dance clubs and discotheques are all packed with people during this time of the year. The New Year festivities end on January 13th. This day in the country celebrates as the Old-Style New Year. Russians celebrates this day to usher the start of the year following the Julian calendar.
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