Celebrations and parties at Russia

The parties are one of the best moments in the history of a society, where an entire nation is unified for the celebration of the dates which constitute a particular day, whether religious, patriotic, or sentimental.

On the date of the celebration, in addition to the customs, and the company of family, friends, and all those visitors, it is possible to enjoy the delicacies typical of Russia and delicious.

On the eve of a celebration, the color, the music, the gifts, and smiles, are clearly visible elements in each one of the faces, homes, and streets of every city in Russia.

These occasions generate the desire to be surrounded by the people who love you and the Russian Bride you love and toast for happiness and respect the traditions.

The most important celebrations and parties in Russia are the following ones:

 

Feast of the Svyatki

This is the name that Russian people call to the twelve days that anticipate the religious feast of the baptism of Christ.

According to this tradition, people visit and walk through sacred sites, make donations to poor people, visit disabled persons, and buy gifts for friends and family. The custom of making gifts is related to the events of the Holy night when the three wise kings gave gifts to Jesus. In the popular interpretation “The Svyatki” is associated with the prediction of the future, the Cartomancy, and many other winter enjoyments for young people. However, it is a pagan festival. During this period, it was not advisable to work at night. According to this tradition, Russian people believed that on the first day of the feast, dead souls return to the Earth.

This event is flooded by special rituals, such as the belief that to achieve happiness in their houses, the Russians were advised about spreading fresh water from the spring in their home. It was a custom of the Russian peasants to cover the floor of their houses with straw and enter their livestock into the home to give them bread as food. This was done believing that guaranteed the fertility of their animals.

The old new year is celebrated on the night of January 13 (time ago this date corresponded to the new year, according to the old Russian Calendar).
The most common drink for this celebration is champagne and each drink means the joys and sorrows of the past year. In old times was traditional that young people visit the neighboring houses, for sweets or money, as a small present for some cheerful songs and an omen of good wishes. In this way young people go back home with happiness and full of gifts to enjoy with the family.

 

Old New Year

The old new year is celebrated on the night of January 13 (time ago this date corresponded to the new year, according to the old Russian Calendar).

The most common drink for this celebration is champagne and each drink means the joys and sorrows of the past year. In old times was traditional that young people visit the neighboring houses, for sweets or money, as a small present for some cheerful songs and an omen of good wishes. In this way young people go back home with happiness and full of gifts to enjoy with the family.

 

The Day Of The Defender Of The Fatherland

This party emerged in the year 1918 the day of the founding of the Red Army and the Soviet Navy. Today the party pays tribute to all those who defend Russia, giving their lives for a peaceful life.

Why is it celebrated on February 23? On February 23, 1918 was one of the key dates in the history of the Organization of the Red Army. On that day the Soviet Government proclaimed the mobilization of the population by the Decree, “the Socialist fatherland is in danger” (the revolutionary Government refused to pay the illegitimate debts of the Tsars) so obviously, the creditor countries, “owners” of the debt of the Tsarist period immediately broke in hostilities so the Bolsheviks had to deal with aggression from the outside countries at the same time carrying out the civil war.

People have one more reason to congratulate living combatants and commemorate the heroes of past struggles. It is a popular Festival and holiday for those who make it the militancy.

Also, this day is known as the day of the man in general when women show their respect for the male workforce and make gifts to the most beloved people: fathers, sons, brothers, and boyfriends.

Where are the main areas of celebrations? Monuments of granite in tribute to the heroic cities are installed along the walls of the Kremlin in Moscow. In the year 2006 another honorary title was given: The Gloria military city. It is granted to the Russian cities where, during the great patriotic war, in the course of bitter battles, defenders of the fatherland had shown courage, strength and collective heroism.
In every place of Russia, at home, at work, at school, congratulations, to all who made, makes or will make military service are heard everywhere

 

Saint Valentine with your Russian Bride

Most countries of the world celebrate in February since 18 centuries ago, the feast of all lovers. In many countries, this feast is called the day of lovers or the Lovers Days while in other countries like the United States is known as Saint Valentine’s Day.
This celebration has finally come to Russia and stay forever.

The beginning of this celebration is because the Roman Emperor Claudius II, experienced a lack of soldiers for his army, and laid the responsibility for this problem on the tradition of marriage. Just for this reason, Emperor Claudius banned weddings. But the hearts of lovers do not know the word impediment. So Bishop Valentine ignored the prohibition of the Emperor and married secretly the couple. Claudius II discovered this and ordered the execution of Valentine. Since then, February 14 (the day of the death of St. Valentine’s) is considered by all the lovers of the World as Saint Valentine’s day.

Russian youth enjoy this feast because whoever loves does not lose the opportunity to demonstrate once more his feeling towards his partner.

 

The International Women’s Day

It is celebrated on March 8 in the whole world. This day has appeared as the main stage in the fight of women for the equality of their rights in many fields (political, economic, and social). The first time that was celebrated in Russia was in the year 1913 in the city of Saint Petersburg.

March 8 is officially a day of holiday in Russia. What woman wants on this day? They want love, health, money, and good friends; be happy as a mother, always loved as wives, and appreciated as a specialist in their careers. Have wrinkles because of her laugh and tears because of happiness. It is customary in Russia to give bouquets of tulips to women and girls.

 

The Feast of spring and Labor

In 1889 the International Congress of the Socialist Party in Paris proclaimed May 1 as the day of the international solidarity of workers. During the Soviet era, was the party expected by all inhabitants. The workers perform parades by the avenues with balloons and red flags.
Now in Russia, a range of left-wing political parties and trade unions of workers use this fest to declare their rights and keep fighting for an increase in salary and other benefits.

 

The Victory Day

This Day commemorates the victory of the Soviet people over the German Nazi.

This celebration takes place when the spring is at its peak, with the apple trees covered with white, the Spring Sun lights up the streets and the city is dressed for the celebration.

The Red Square has become the main venue of the celebration. At 10 a.m. in the morning begins the military parade of the Russian army. The President of Russia takes the Crown of flowers to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Russian people tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives to defend the country and remember all the victims of World War II. Russia has lost more than 20 million people in this horrible war. Every year there are fewer witnesses of these tragic events. The coming generation will get the suggestions of their grandparents to maintain peace and never again war.

 

The Day of the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Russian Federation

It is one of the youngest country festivals. June 12, 1990, marks a crucial stage in the independence of the Russian Federation because this day approved the Declaration of national sovereignty. From this point begins the period of the establishment of the new structure of the State, which is based on the principles of federalism. The new Russia builds a civil, democratic society where every inhabitant is essential to the nation.

The Russians learn to take advantage of the story. They did not idealize the past, nor reject the traditions and roots.

 

The Carnival

It is a Russian pagan feast, symbolizing the end of winter and the arrival of spring. In Russian, the Carnival is translated as “Maslenitsa”. This feast is celebrated at the end of February – the beginning of March (in pagan times the Russia New Year was celebrated in March).
The celebrations are accompanied by many popular games, costume parties (masquerade parties), and abundant food. One of the ancient traditions of Russia is the preparation of flakes that are called “blintz” and have a round shape, which symbolized the God of the Sun in the Pagan tradition. The carnival is not just a party, is also the name of a popular doll of straw dressed with a skillet with flakes (“blintz”). First people have fun with the wrist and then bury or dismiss her by burning her.
The “maslenitsa” precedes the lent and takes seven days. Each day has its special name:
The first day is called “the encounter” – celebrates the arrival of the Carnival.
The second day is called “the game”, where the games start: young people put on costumes and go home singing songs and collecting sweets.
The third day is called “the sweet tooth”, because people eat many sweets.
The fourth day is called “big Thursday” which is the most joyful and “insatiable” weekday.
The fifth day is called “the night of the mother”- where Russian guys say: “is when my dad goes to the grandmother’s House to enjoy the blinis”.
The sixth day is called “visits” – all parents are visited, spending a long time eating and talking.
The seventh day is called “the day of pardon”.

 

Day of the Innocents (Day of the Joke or April fool’s Day)

There are several origins of this festival known as the day of the innocent or the day of the joke and April Fool Day: some believe that the foundations of this celebration have gone in ancient Rome, while others believe in India or Ireland. It is not known for certain when this festival has been brought to Russia, some people say that the first time it was celebrated was during the period of Peter the great. Only we can say that this celebration is no official celebration.
However, in several kinds of literature of Russian writers at the end of the century XVIII appear phrases related to the jokes for April 1: One famous phrase “the Tsar said to a man: yesterday a storm has demolished my Palace.” the man scares a lot: “I did not know? Is it true?-the Tsar laughs and says: Hey, today is April 1, day of the joke”.

Jokes and happiness always go together with the life of the people of a country, making it more cheerful and fun. According to studies carried out by experts, 70% of Russians are willing to make a joke with friends and acquaintances this day. It is common to wait for the shenanigans of students, businessmen with important positions, and even senior government officials. On this day every Russian makes a joke. Even there are very hard jokes, for example in April 2009 a group of students placed explosives in the monument of Lenin in Saint Petersburg, which caused damage (a hole) to the monument.

It is also common at this time to play a popular Russian card game called “The madman”. It is usual television programs and events dedicated to this day.

This Festival is celebrated in Hispanic countries on December 28 under the name of the day of the innocents.

 

The Feast of Ivan Kupala

It is one of the most popular and important pagan festivals. This event is related to water, fire, and the vegetable world, and it is celebrated on June 22 at the same time as the solstice. This celebration it is often carried out with many people, as the tradition requires the participation of every person during the ceremony.

The essence of this celebration is the mysterious marriage between the gods Yarila and Mokoshi (which represent heaven and Earth, the Sun and the Moon, and fire and water). The wedding ends with the burning wheel (which symbolizes the male principle) descending from a high slope into the water (a symbol of the female principle). In addition, it is chosen a birch, and next to this birch is placed a doll called Koleda.

There is a rite in this celebration where Russian girls make wreaths and throw them into the water. If one of the crowns does not follow the current and goes to the banks of the river, then the girl, who has thrown this crown will marry soon. The fern is a symbol of this celebration. According to the tradition, only once a year the fern grows a crimson color. If at night you approach this plant flourishing like a candle, then the plant will tell your future.

 

The Day of Reconciliation and Concord (Before the Revolution Day)

More than 80 years ago on the night of November 7 Lenin dispatched his men to capture the Winter Palace. The impotence of the Government of the Tsar made Lenin the head of the armed insurrection, which in the future would be called the great October socialist revolution.

The day of reconciliation and consistency (is what the government call this party, falls on the anniversary of the great October socialist revolution) assigned to the Russian people to forgive errors and differences from the past. Today when this party is celebrated the rich and poor have to follow the path of reconciliation, for a social pact.

 

The Day of the Constitution of the Russian Federation

On 12 December it is the celebration of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The Basic Law of the country was approved in 1993. This law, promotes higher values the freedom, justice, equality, and political pluralism, and also recognizes and protects the rights and freedoms of the inhabitants of the country.

 

 

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