Russia is rich holidays and festivals. What do you know about them? What holidays and festivals do you like most of all?

Russia is rich holidays and festivals. What do you know about them? What holidays and festivals do you like most of all?

It is well – known that holidays can be religious and secular, national and local, official and unofficial. In Russia we have seven official holidays and some religious holidays. Some words about each of them. I want to start with the New Year Day. It is my favorite holiday.

January, 1 – New Years Day. The New Year holiday is very popular, especially with children. In every house there is a fir – tree. The present are supposed to be sent by Father Frost and the Snow Maiden. People usually see The New Year in sitting, round a festive table. They are addressing New Year greetings and good wishes to one another. They are raising their glasses filled with sparkling champagne.

January, 7 – Christmas. The Russian Christmas is celebrated on the 7^th of January. This holiday is connected with the wonderful birth of Jesus Christ as it is described in the Holy Bible. On that day more than 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. When Jesus was born, wise men from the East came to woirship him. They gave the child presents – gold, myrrh. That’s why people nowadays try to please their friends and relatives giving them Christmas presents.

One of the Russian holidays is Shrovetide (Maslenitsa). This holiday lasts for a week. Russian people celebrate it at the end of February or at the beginning of March. They say “Good - Bay” to winter during these days. During “Maslenitsa week” we always make pancakes. It is a tradition to make pancakes and eat them with fish, sour cream, caviar, honey, sugar, butter. People prepare fires and burn straw scarecrows of winter. I like this merry old Russian tradition because I like to eat pancakes and I like spring best of all. So, this festival marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring and Lent. During this festival people also sing traditional songs and dance traditional dances or go visiting each other.

February, 23. This holiday is devoted to soldiers and officers and everyone else who ever defended the country or is in the Army. These people are greeted with special cards and given presents. Concerts are also given in their honour. It is Country Defendant’s Day.

March, 8 – Women’s Day. This is the day of paying tribute to women. Men give women flowers and presents, and do all the domestic work around the house and in the kitchen. In some countries this day is called Mother’s Day and is celebrated in spring.

Easter is a very popular holiday in Russia. Easter has no fixed date. It is held on the first Sunday after the date of the first full moon that occurs on or after March, 21. People nowadays greet each other on the Easter day by the words “Christ is risen” and the expected answer is “Hi is risen indeed”. People also paint eggs and give them to one another as a symbol of eternal life.

May, 1. Day of spring and Labour. On this spring day people prefer to go out into the streets and take part in all kinds of outdoor activities.

May, 9. Victory Day. It celebrates the end of the Soviet Union’s participation in World War II in Europe. Parades and processions of veterans are held in big cities. People lay flowers in Moscow’s Park Pobedi and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

June, 12. Russian Independence Day. We celebrate the day when Russia became an independent country the Republic of Russian Federation after the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991. This is an official holiday.

November, 4. Day of Reconciliation and Harmony. For many people it’s just another day – off.

That is nearly all, I can say about Russian holidays.