Russian Holidays

New Year’s Day is a family holiday for many Russians. Dinner usually starts late on December 31. Traditional meals include Russian salad, herring and sparkling wine. A pre-recorded address by the country’s president appears on TV, listing the achievements of the past year, at 11.55pm local time in each of Russia’s time zones. Many people watch his address and raise a toast to the chiming of the Kremlin clock. The Russian national anthem begins at midnight and people congratulate each other and exchange presents. Some people go out to make a snowman or light fire crackers in their backyards.
A decorated fir tree, Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter Snegurochka are the common symbols of New Year’s Day in Russia. Russians get ten days off of work and school for New Years Week.

New Years Day

новый год день