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Национальные праздники и традиции:
National Holidays and Traditions
New Year -
the 31st of December - the 1st of January
New Year -
the 31st of December - the 1st of January
The biggest holiday in Russia which most people look forward to is the New Year celebrations. For Russians this celebration is similar to how Christmas is celebrated in the West. Unlike most Western New Year celebrations where people meet the New Year with friends, in Russia it is predominately a family occasion. Like the Western Christmas tree, Russian homes will be decorated with a New Year tree. The traditional food is the Russian 'olivie' salad . Like the West has Father Christmas or Santa Claus on Christmas, on New Year's Eve in Russia Dyed Moroz (Grandfather Frost) visits Russian children to hand out presents and treats, often accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka the Snow Maiden. People also give their family, friends and colleagues New Year presents. and most firms hold corporate parties around the New Year.
Orthodox Christmas -
the 7th of January
Orthodox Christmas -
the 7th of January
Since 1991 Orthodox Christmas has been a non-working public holiday in Russia and since 2005 it has been combined with the long New Year holidays. You may be wondering why Christmas falls after the New Year in Russia. The reason is that when the Gregorian Calendar was adopted in 1918, the Russian Orthodox Church retained the Julian Calendar to celebrate holy dates. Christmas predominantly remains just a religious holiday in Russia and Orthodox Christians start celebrating at a midnight service in church on Christmas Eve.
Maslenitsa -
Late February-Late March
Maslenitsa -
Late February-Late March
The Maslenitsa celebrations mark the week during the run up to Lent and so their date depends on the date of Easter.
This Christian celebration has incorporated many features of an earlier Pagan festival which was celebrated at the end of Spring before the adoption of Christianity to say goodbye to winter and to welcome in the summer.
The week-long celebration usually takes place sometime between at the end of February and the end of March.
The holiday is closely associated with pancakes which are known as 'bliny' in Russian.
It is a very popular holiday in Russia with many celebrations held outside even though it is still usually cold.
The celebrations culminate with the burning of a straw dolly which represents winter - an example of the Pagan side of the festival. After Maslenitsa, Lent begins when Orthodox
Russians should observe a strict diet without meat or dairy products. This is a good time for vegetarians to visit Russia as most restaurants will have a special Lent menu.
Cosmonoutics Day -
the 12th of April
Cosmonoutics Day -
the 12th of April
On 12 April 1961 the first manned space flight set off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and successfully orbited the Earth before returning. The man on board was Yuri Gagarin who instantly became a national hero in the Soviet Union. Gagarin became so popular not just because of his daring feat - and if you see the rocket he went up in you can appreciate his courage - but also because the first man in space was and remained a simple down-to-earth man from an ordinary family from the provinces. The anniversary of this historic flight is now celebrated as Cosmonautics Days. It is dedicated to space exploration in general, but of course most of the focus is usually on Gagarin.
Spring and Labour Day -
the 1st of May
Spring and Labour Day -
the 1st of May
Russia celebrates this holiday along with another 141 countries. In Russia it became an official holiday after the October Revolution of 1917. Since then 1 May demonstrations have been held annually all over the country by workers who fly banners with various slogans. After the fall of the Soviet Union such demonstrations stopped but in the 21st century they started to be held once more, but of a more political nature with various political parties of all spectra holding rallies on this day. Although it is far from a political holiday for many and most people still prefer to go to their dacha or otherwise relax on what is usually the first warm and sunny day-off of the year.
Victory Day -
the 9th of May
Victory Day -
the 9th of May
Victory Day is one of the biggest and most spectacular holidays in Russia. The Second World War, or the Great Patriotic War as it is known in Russia, affected practically every Russian family. Today people will recollect how their father, grandfather or great-grandfather reached Berlin, or how a relative was killed in action or perished at the hands of the Nazis. The exact number of Soviet deaths during the war is unknown but it is thought to be over 26 million. Therefore it is no surprise that Victory Day remains an important day here and is commemorated with military parades, fireworks and the laying of flowers on war graves. It is a time for remembrance but also celebration and the remaining veterans put on their medals and walk with pride as the younger generations give them flowers and show their respect. Many also mark the occasion with their families by telling war stories and singing war songs.
Russia Day -
the 12th of June
Russia Day -
the 12th of June
Russia Day is a relatively young holiday, officially celebrated only since 1992. It was on this day that the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia was adopted, effectively independence from the Soviet Union. According to an RPORC poll, this holiday is celebrated by 54 percent of the country's population; for the rest, it usually means a beautiful long weekend in summer.
National Unity Day -
the 4th of November
National Unity Day -
the 4th of November
This is the newest holiday for Russians, celebrated since 2005. The official anniversary of the 1917 October Revolution had been commemorated on November 7.
The history of National Unity Day is connected with the Time of Troubles and the Polish intervention in 1612. The heroes of the tale, Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky (a monument to them stands on Red Square), headed a people’s militia and liberated the lands of Rus from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Conveniently, it happened in early November.
Национальная одежда:
National Dress
Rubakha
Rubakha, or sorochka, was the name for a man’s shirt. They were made of linen or cotton, could be collarless and, more often than not, had a "skewed collar". The collar and trim of the shirt were often embroidered with beautiful patterns.
Lapti
Lapti - this famous Russian footwear was woven from birch bark, and was tied around the foot with string, and worn over the onuchi.
Valenki
Valenki - were (and still are) winter boots made of sheep’s wool felt.
Kaftan
Kaftan - this piece of outer clothing for the cold season came in different lengths and was made from different fabrics. Kaftans for the warm season were called zipuns. Winter kaftans were called kozhukhs.
Sarafan
Sarafan - was a long sleeveless dress and was the basic element of the female costume. Both the rubakha shirt and the sarafan had to be belted. Women often wore necklaces or beads over their sarafans.
Headgear
Headgear - came in many types because social decorum dictated that married women always covered their heads and hid their hair. When going out they’d put on a kokoshnik - a headdress stiffened above the forehead. Almost every region had its own kokoshnik design - crest-shaped or cylindrical.
Dushegreya
Dushegreya - was a short special-occasion jacket worn over outer garments. There was a great variety of designs and fabrics.
Rubakha
Rubakha - when worn by women, this shirt essentially served as underwear. Women's shirts were always floor-length. Even if the designs were hidden underneath, it was believed that they afforded protection against the evil eye.
Национальные игрушки:
National Toys
Nevalyashka
The first Russian tumblers appeared on fairs in the beginning of 19th century as the figures of clowns, merchants, girls on the ball. The idea of a toy is very simple: it's a person who never falls and always returns to the same position. The tumbler became very popular because of her unusual device and those joyful emotions that she gives to children.
Yula
It is one more toy that uses the principle of equilibrium. To be true, the spinner immediately falls, being in a stationary position and in order to drop it "in action" - you have to make efforts. Initially the spinner was made from pumpkin crumbs, wax plates. Only later the basis of the spinner was a skin, a tree, a birch bark, a felt.
Rocking horse
Rocking horses have existed in Russia since antiquity. Sometimes rocking horses turned into real works of art. For example, the horse for the future king of Paul I according to the order of Catherine II was differed by a comfortable leather saddle with a deep bend, it was equipped with real horseshoes and stirrups.
Pogremushka
The rattles have already been in Ancient Rus as toys for the youngest. But it was not their only application: it was also believed that the rattle is a peculiar amulet, whose noise frightened dark forces. They were made from wood, vines, birch bark and other materials.
Soldiers
It is interesting that this famous toy has been delighted to the Russian emperors. Peter I, a lover of everything that was new and foreign, collected soldiers: he had a large collection of miniature artillery with tin artillerymen. He was surpassed by Peter III, who had an entire office dedicated to this passion.With their help, he fought battles and studied military affairs.
Russian folk doll:
Matreshka
Our distant ancestors made such dolls to defend themselves: they used them as amulets. Dolls could not only protect from evil, but also gave happiness and wealth. There was a huge variety of dolls. They signified a great importance to people, they were kept and guarded, and on the wedding day they transferred.
Kaleidoscope
The kaleidoscope has appeared in Russia during the peak of romanticism, when to similar mysterious things related with a great thrill. Now such a thing may seem maybe too simple (although the inventors are still improving the design), but when this optical toy only has appeared, it was perceived as a small miracle. Even a story exists about how one rich person ordered an unusual kaleidoscope in which instead of glass there were jewel stones. Most likely the case is unit, but very significant.
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