New Year is almost here! It's time to say “С новым годом!” (pronounce it "s nó-vym gó-dam") Happy New Year!. Do you want to know how Russian celebrate Christmas? Then read this and find out what happens in Russia in the days between the end of December and January 14^th… it’s Russian Christmas time! 

Let’s start with December 24^th… just a normal day 

What was that? Russians don’t celebrate Christmas or what? Yes, they do celebrate Christmas, only they do it on a different day. The short explanation is that in the 16^th century a new calendar was created (the Gregorian calendar) to substitute the old one that had been used since the times of the Roman Empire (the Julian calendar). This calendar change created a small chaos, because all countries adopted the new calendar simultaneously.

Countries around the world adopted this new calendar little by little and that caused some “movement” in the dates. December 25^th according to the old calendar was January 7^th according the new one. When the Russian government adopted the Gregorian calendar (in 1918) the Russian Church decided not to do it. In other words, the Russian government and The Russian Orthodox Church don't use the same calendar. That’s why nowadays December the 24th is just a normal day in Russia. 

Christmas tree on the Red Square

January 1^st: It’s New Year, so start burning wishes! 

Apart from saying “с новым годом” to everyone you meet, there’s a nice New Year’s tradition that will bring you good luck. It goes like this: when the bells start announcing the New Year, during those few seconds, you have to write down a wish in a piece of paper, burn it, take the ashes, put them in a cup (with champagne, wine, beer,…) and drink it up! All that in a few seconds. Like in every tradition, it doesn’t matter whether your wish will come true or not, you just have to do it. So, if you are in Russia, burn a wish! 

And who brings presents to children? 

Good question. Because if you are in Russian by January the 1st chances are the you won't see any present around, even if you've behaved very well the whole year. There must be an explanation to all this! 

During Soviet Union times, religious celebrations weren't officially observed. However, people still wanted to keep traditions. That’s why they came up with the idea (which was an old a pagan tradition) of an old man bringing toys to children. So basically Russia has its own Santa Claus called Дед Мороз (Grandfather Frost), who comes with his granddaughter Снегурочка (Снег in Russian means “snow”). If you behave during the year, you’ll get a present from Grandfather Frost. But not on December 25^th. You’ll get your present a few days later…

"Have you been a good boy?" Putin with Grandfather Frost/AFP

January 7^th: Christmas day in Russia 

You’ve heard it. Christmas in Russian happens on January the 7^th. It’s all because of this issue with moving from Julian to Gregorian calendar and with the fact the Russian Orthodox Church uses a different calendar. Anyway the day may be different but traditions are the same Christmas traditions we're familiar with:  meeting the family, a big dinner,… and, of course, presents (brought Grandfather Frost). 

Now let's stop a second and think about this: If Christmas in Russia is on January, and Christmas everywhere else happens one week before New Year… does it mean that Russians celebrate New Year twice? The answer is a big yes. 

January 14^th: Old New Year. Yet another reason to celebrate 

As you can see, we are talking about a smart country, full of smart people. Russians celebrate the New Year according to both calendars. First they celebrate the New New Year on January the 1st. And two weeks afterwards they celebrate the Old New Year, because the January  1st according to the Julian Calendar happens on January 14^th (according to the Gregorian calendar). And there you go: a new celebration. Truth is, December 31^st is when the big celebration happens. The Old New Year is nothing very special, although some family gatherings happen.

We have read about Russian Christmas traditions. What else do you know about it dishes Russians eat in Christmas ? What celebrations/traditions/superstitions take place these days?