RUSSIAN WINTER FESTIVAL

December 31 New Year`s Eve.

JANUARY1 New Year`s Day7 Christmas

13 Old New Year`s Eve

19 Epiphany

Late FEBRUARY- early MARCH

Shrovetide (Farewell-to-Winter Festival)

Christmas-tideChristmas-tide is the period from

January 7 till January 19 (the Epiphany).It was established by the Church in honour of the birth and baptism of Jesus Christ. At the period people used to walk wearing fancy costumes and singing songs, they went from house to house giving and receiving gifts and treats.

Shrovetide Shrovetide is the last Sunday before the Lent (Великий

пост) that proceeds Easter. It is celebrated as the Farewell-to-Winter Festival. On the day people have fun. Eating pancake on the day is a pagan tradition. It is connected with glorifying the sun : pancakes are oval as the sun. Father Frost and Spring the Beauty are the main characters of the festival. In some regions people burn the figure of the Winter.