NEW YEAR’S MANUAL:

Simple steps on how to celebrate it in Russia!

For each person winter festive season is especially precious and magical. People all over the world enjoy getting together with the family, sharing the memories of the year ending and maybe someone discuss where to learn Russian language next year:) For some countries this holiday is not in the list of let’s-celebrate-it-loud holidays but every country has some certain traditions connected to December 31. In Denmark people place the piles of broken dishes in front of the friend’s door as a symbol of friendship. Chinese people tend to paint the front doors in red to attract happiness and fortune. The Dutch way of celebrating this holiday reminds the full-scale party and swimming in the North Sea next morning. So what about Russians?

Step 1. Prepare yourself for hours of cooking

The 31 of December is a working day all over the country. But! It is shorter than an ordinary one: people finish all the tasks (or leave them till better days in new year) one our earlier and here they could be divided into two groups. Some people have everything ready: they’ve done all shopping a week ago to beat the rush, know exactly how many guests they are going to have. But others start running there and back in attempts to find the missing ingredients or trying to decide on the better place to spend the night. But what is common for all is the fact that they spend so much time in the kitchen making salads and sophisticated delicacies while watching Soviet movies.

Step 2. Watch the Russian President’s speech and eat your wish!

Anyways all of them find themselves in front of big plates with ОЛИВЬЕ and glasses filled with champagne around 11.45. And the celebration starts! Never ever forget to say goodbye to the ending year and don’t you dare miss the President’s speech! Make a wish (or write it down on a piece of paper, then burn it, then put the ash into your glass and drink! 100% the dream will come true). See the flash lights? Grab your friends and get out of the house to enjoy colorful fireworks. Russian people usually don’t tighten the purse strings when it comes to fireworks. Jump into the snow and make a snowman, sing a song around the Christmas tree and say something pleasant to  all the strangers you meet. And remember – you are not allowed to sleep!

Step 3. Be ready to entertain yourself for 8-10 days

Yes, even your boss takes a rest for that long. Take a tour to the residence of Дед Мороз (Russian Father Christmas, Santa, Jack Frost) or join the crowds at street festivals, invite all the relatives and go to a deer farm. Leave some time for writing down your New Year resolutions. Skiing and ice skating, snowball fighting, dog racing… Be creative and make something amazing! However hard you may try it’s basically impossible to hide from that total festivity!

Step 4. Sign up for a special New Year program at Enjoy Russian!

If you decide to learn Russian starting with the 11 December you have a unique chance to become a part of this huge holiday through Russian traditional food cooking classes, making toys, banya with snow-bathing, festive theater performances and many many other activities! Or feel free to choose individual course and come whenever you want!