Russian winter festivals’ guide.

Project by Kyarimova Malika,

Sorokina Uliana,

Titshenko Anastasia

8а

School #2097

Moscow

Russian winter is rich in festivals. We want to tell you about Russian winter festivals.

The first in our list is New Year. New Year is one of the most famous Russian festivals. This day is always connected with people and dreams. It is a pleasant moment to get presents on the New Year’s Eve

Also on the New Year’s Eve in the famous places New Year’s trees are put. These trees are very beautiful. They are decorated with beautiful balls, coloured lights, toys and a big star on the top.

On the New Year’s night people believe in dreams come true. On the New Year’s Eve every member of the family does his or her deals. Mum makes the gala dinner. Father goes shopping. Children decorate the New Year’s tree. At 12 o’clock all members of the family gather around the table. On the New Year everybody is happy.

Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. For millions of Christians throughout the world it is the happiest and the busiest time of the year.

. Many Christians celebrate Christmas from January 7 till January 19. People decorate their flats with different decorations. It’s a sacred festival and orthodox believers gather in the churches. They listen to prayers from the Bible. At Christmas people tell fortunes, eat pancakes. And some people swim in the hole in the ice. For Christians around the world the light Christmas holiday has a warm, touching character.

Another winter festival is Maslenitza. This holiday is associated with the winter’s leaving and the spring’s

beginning

It lasts from Monday till Sunday. On these days people eat pancakes, cheesecakes. While Maslenitsa the fair, in which free pancakes are handed out , is held. People light fireworks. People stand in the khorovod and sing Russian folk songs. The festival always ends in burning a straw man. Maslenitza begins after the Lent. It is the strictest and long fast, it lasts 7 weeks.

St. Valentine’s Day is one of the international holidays and now holiday in Russia.

St. Valentine’s Day is the second largest card-sending holiday of the year.

On this day many people make a declaration of love and propose marriage. If they have already found the love, they remind about love and give presents to each other. The symbol of this holiday is a valentine. Most people send «valentines». Valentines can be anonymous. Valentines can be heart-shaped. People buy valentines or make them themselves. I love this holiday because it gives people happiness. For sweethearts this holiday is another way to show their love.