Seasons Greetings 2009 Year
Winter holidays are very close and the tradition that I have followed for the past few years is to send my seasons greetings to all my former, current and future clients and friends. With the current global economic crisis, the second half of the year was quite intense and stressful for many people across the world and I hope that the next year 2009 will bring us more positive news with stability, peace, prosperity and happiness in our lives!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, your relatives and friends!
This week I was with several of my repeat clients who currently work in Moscow or had a short business trip here just before the holiday. My clients told me that at the end of a the year they are very tired and dreaming about returning home and meeting relatives and friends. As usual, the last month of a year goes faster than the others as people try to finish up their business or household tasks, buy gifts to be ready for the upcoming holidays, or to meet their family and friends. Of course, in the big cities such as Moscow, during this month there are terrible traffic jams on the roads and long lines at the stores with crowds everywhere. People are rushing and a bit nervous to finish their shopping and plans for the holidays. For many people in the world, the winter holidays are the favorite time of the year.
In different countries there are various traditions and customs for Christmas and New Year's Eve. From the request of one of my former clients (currently a very good and close friend), I will share with you how we celebrate New Year's in Russia. If you are wondering why I am first telling you about New Year's Eve and not about the most beloved holiday of Christmas (December 25th), the answer is simple enough and with my pictures that I took for you recently you will find out the reason as you read about our traditions: part I The most favorite holiday in Russia, part II Celebrations of New Year's Eve in Russia.
So now that you understand why we still prefer New Year's Eve vs. Christmas I think it is time to share some common traditions about how most people celebrate New Year's in Russia. The New Year holiday is very popular, especially with children who are impatiently waiting for presents that are supposed to be sent by Grandfather Frost.They can find these gifts carefully hidden in a special bag under the New Year's tree than can be a real or artificial tree. The New Year's tree is ornately decorated with garlands, tinsel, various ornaments and colored lights. Near the tree you can find wooden, plastic or fabric figures of Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter "Snegurochka" or the Snow Maiden. About an hour before New Year's, families and friends gather around a festively decorated table filled with assorted salads, hot meat or fish dishes, and alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. We give thanks to God for everything good that has happened in the past year. After seeing off the old year, we listen to a speech by our President. All people with goodness in their hearts make a personal wish or New Year's resolution while listening to the clock on the Savior's Tower of the Moscow Kremlin (our Big Ben) chime 12 times. Then we drink champagne and wish everybody a happy New Year with good health, prosperity, love, peace, and happiness. Also, in the first minutes of New Year's, it is the time to exchange gifts. The Russian women like to continue to drink champagne (the classical drink for this holiday) or switch to wine. For the men it is more common to drink the more strong alcoholic drinks such as vodka or Armenian cognac. Of course, it can depend on personal taste and the situation. Children drink juices or lemonade. The traditional New Year's cuisine can include pies stuffed with meat, potatoes or cabbage, mashed potatoes with chicken, meat in aspic, salads such as "Olivie" (well known as "Winter" salad) and "Herring under fur" are the favorite ones. I think that the recipe and details must be the theme of another piece! I will ask my wife to post a few recipes that are for the holidays.
During New Year's Eve it is very popular to go out with the children at night to watch the fireworks, throw snowballs, make snowmen, or just have fun and feel the fresh air after the heavy meals and drinks. Of course it is more pleasant to do so when it is truly winter weather outside of about -10 or -15C and a lot of snow! It is a pity that possibly because of the global warming in the last several years the New Year's in Moscow has been almost without snow. Yesterday, on December 22nd, there was no snow in the city even with temperatures below zero (-7 to -10 C), but this morning, when I was woke up at 6:00 AM, all grounds were covered with snow and a light snowfall was going almost the whole day. So, after seeing off my wife this morning to a closest railway station, I decided to repeat the yesterday’s photo-session and went to the area of the Red Square again. At first I wanted to repeat the yesterday’s shot in front of the State Historical museum, but they started to assemble quite big stage there and were a lot of trucks around, so the choice was the most famous square in Russia because of I came a bit late (8:30 am) and it is already started a day light.
On this picture you can see how the Red Square looks at the end of 2008 covered with a thin lawer of snow. From the left side of New Year's tree is a skate rink on the square (to put the skate rink on the Red Square is became tradition from 2005), so I hope that you liked my composition here - Christmas tree from the left, St. Basil's - in the central part (of course :-)) and Lenin's Tomb with the Savior’s Tower of Moscow Kremlin from the right.
PS: During the last two shootings at early mornings on December 22 and 23 I took several more interesting pictures for you and will try to upload it to this news with short comments till December 25. Visit my website from time to time and stay in touch!
New Year's Eve, celebrations in Russia, customs, traditions
page: 1
#1Chrissie Gabbitas Date: 24.12.2008
A beautiful photo, Arthur. Very atmospheric light - almost makes me wish we were visiting now instead of in June.
#2Lou Rose Date: 27.12.2008
Arthur, these are wonderful photos and a great history store of the Russian holidays. How can I ever forget how you got us out of trouble with the airport people when we lost our airline tickets back to Stokholm? You were a life saver. I thought we would end up in the golug. Happy New Year to you and your family. Lou Rose
#3Virginia Mannino Date: 06.01.2009
HI GUYS! Arthur, your pictures are amazing (as usual) such talent. I love your information and stories too. You are such a plus for the Russian people a wonderful represenative. You & your wife did so much for me (a complete stranger from the U.S.) to help me get my Russian cats! I learned so much about Russia through your eyes, I love to tell my friends about you and Russia.
Happy 2009 to your and your family!
Kisses,
Virginia & Alex Mannino
Gainesville, Georgia USA
PS: The internet is wonderful, we can see what REALLY is going on in other parts of the world & meet wonderful people!
page: 1
Note: These Moscow Photos are to help you familiarize yourself with Moscow's Sightseeing and my services. The photos in my albums are protected by international copyright law. You may keep my photos in your personal albums or, you may use these images as personal wallpaper on your computer, but, they are not for distribution (commercial or non-profit). If you would like to buy a specific photo, feel free to make your request via E-mail. I do hope you enjoy my work as photographer. Many of these photos were taken during excursions with my clients. You can find my pictures in Internet under nickname "ArtLook" (short from Arthur Lookyanov) at the follow websites:
Moscow, Russia 
Contact Info: Arthur Lookyanov