New Year is a special holiday in the Russian tradition. Even Peter I ordered to celebrate the New Year on January 1, having fun and drinking. Since then, people have sacredly honor the covenant of the first Russian emperor and enjoy drinking, having a snack, and rejoicing.
But the real heyday of the New Year celebrations fell on Soviet times. Before the October Revolution, the main winter holiday was the Nativity of Christ. The Bolsheviks, who hated religion, banned the celebration of Christmas, decorating the Christmas tree and everything related to the holiday. After Lenin's death, the attitude towards pre-revolutionary traditions became a little softer, and it was allowed to decorate the Christmas tree, but not for Christmas, but for the New Year.
By the time of the collapse of the USSR, special New Year traditions had already developed, which included, in addition to decorating the Christmas tree and a festive dinner, many traditions such as watching the film "Irony of Fate or Enjoy Your Bath", congratulations from the head of state, family cooking of Olivier salad in one configuration or another, herring under a fur coat and sandwiches with caviar, the indispensable cotton "Soviet Champagne" to the chimes. In addition, the Russian tradition of celebrating the New Year is inconceivable without the launch of firecrackers, firecrackers, fireworks, telephone calls with congratulations to relatives and friends, which is why old telephone networks often "fell" in small towns.
If there are children in the house, artists are often called for them, disguised as Santa Claus and Snegurochka, whom it is considered good form to properly treat, not heeding the protests of the unfortunate. During the visit of Santa Claus and his granddaughters, children read a rhyme or sing a song, after which they are presented with a gift previously purchased by their parents, which the bearded wizard takes out of his bag.
The Russian traditions of celebrating the New Year have taken root among all peoples inhabiting Russia, regardless of nationality and religion. Thus, many Jews from Russia who have immigrated to Israel still celebrate their favorite winter holiday, opening a bottle of champagne to the chimes. Emigrants from Russia all over the world dress up as Grandfather Frost, sing "A Christmas tree was born in the forest", and in the morning after the holiday they watch "Winter in Prostokvashino" with their children.
