• Russian Orthodox: Рождество (Christmas) & Пасха (Easter)

• Навруз (Persian New Year) - originally Zoroastrian, now celebrated in Turkic and Persian communities (primarily among Muslim populations)

• Muslim: Курбан-байрам (Eid al-Adha) & Ураза-байрам (Eid al-Fitr)

• Buddhist: Tsagaan Sar (Mongolian Lunar New Year) and Zul (New Year's Day)

• Jewish: Еврейская Пасха (Passover) & Йом-Кипур (Yom Kippur)

Svyatki is a festive period of time from December 24 to January 6. It was traditionally associated with pagan rituals celebrating the solstice and the beginning of a new solar year. It's now associated with the Christian tradition, spanning the 12 days from the feast of the nativity of Christ to the feast of the Epiphany. During Svyatki, children and teenagers walk from house to house singing carols/kolyadki. They greet people, and are given candy and small amounts of money. People typically wear festive clothes and go caroling in costumes, scarves, and animal masks (specifically bear and goat characters). Fortune-telling is also a significant part of the celebrations, particularly for girls and young women.

Here is a link with more information and also video clips of songs:

https://www.gw2ru.com/arts/3539-kolyadki-song-at-christmas

Link: https://www.expresstorussia.com/experience-russia/victory-day-may-9th.html

Масленица is Russia’s annual, week-long spring festival, held the week before Lent (in March of February) similar to Western traditions like Mardi Gras or Carnival. I chose this festival because I recognize the name Масленица from my heritage speaker childhood and was curious to learn what it meant; I also find the concept of spring festivals very useful and lacking in American culture. To me, the end of winter is the real new year.

Масленица, though now an Orthodox holiday, still carries with it ancient Slavic traditions and was originally celebrated on the vernal equinox. The origin of the name Масленица is related to the Russian word for butter or oil, hinting at the importance of блины (Russian ‘pancakes’) to the festival. Блины are absolutely everywhere during the holiday, being given to friends and family constantly. In the Slavic tradition, a блина’s circular form was considered sacred and a protection from evil, connecting to other traditions like decorating a cartwheel or doing a circular dance. Every day of Масленица has its own unique traditions.

Масленица’s signature and climactic tradition is the burning of ‘Lady Масленица,’ a remainder of Pagan tradition. She is built of straw and brightly clothed, representing Масленица itself and the fertility of the coming spring. The end of Масленица is an opportunity to leave frustrations and grudges behind in the winter or thrown into the fire before the cleanse of Lent. Her ashes were traditionally buried in the fields around the town in order to help fertilize them. Other traditions include select organized fistfights and, in some cases, Roma dancing bears - a symbol of Russia.

Further reading, including the daily list of activities:

https://russiapedia.rt.com/of-russian-origin/maslenitsa/,

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/03/14/174097702/its-russian-mardi-gras-bring-on-the-pancakes-and-butter

To celebrate Tatyana's day, there are large gatherings at Moscow University, while at other academic institutions anybody is allowed to enter and see the classrooms and libraries. Additionally, free entry to various museums and institutions is granted to people named Tatyana on this day.

For students' day, graduates and students hold a large folk celebration that includes music, dancing, and a lot of drinking. Per Anton Chekhov, students "drank everything except the Moscow River, and that only because it froze." Many superstitions are associated with Students' Day, such as going to church and praying to the Saint Tatiana prior to drinking in order to ensure that future studies will go well.

Explore further here: https://en.iz.ru/en/1825751/alena-svetunkova/january-25-tatianas-day-and-students-day-how-holidays-are-connected-customs-and-omens

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-christmas-new-near-traditions-food-customs/31010307.html

Cosmonautics Day, celebrated on April 12th, commemorates the first human spaceflight. Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth for 108 minutes aboard the Vostok 1 in 1961. This day celebrates the achievement of space exploration in the Soviet Union as a source of national pride.

In Russia, Cosmonautics Day includes concerts, exhibitions, and memorials dedicated to the Soviet Union's cosmonautics achievements and aerospace industry. The holiday is also known as the 'World Space party' or 'Yuri's Night'.

Here is a link to more information:

https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-spaceflight-day

For more photos on the St. Petersburg celebration last year:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202404/1310666.shtml

While it is observed in many countries across the globe, it is not formally established as a holiday in the U.S., even though some of its earliest forms originated there. International Women’s Day emerged around the turn of the 20^th century out of the suffragist movement and within a few years, several countries adopted their own versions of it, such as Denmark in 1911 and Russia in 1922 to commemorate the women who played a vital role in the Revolution of 1917. In 1975, the United Nations officially recognized International Women’s Day and in 1977, established March 8^th as a designated holiday.

In many countries, including Russia, it is customary to celebrate by giving flowers and small gifts. In some countries such as the U.S, there are public rallies and marches in support of women’s rights.

Here is a useful link to the IWD official page which provides a detailed historical timeline:

https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Timeline

I chose this holiday because it felt different from other religious holidays, most of which I already have a general understanding of. Navruz stood out to me, as it didn’t seem like the other Muslim holidays I’m familiar with.

Navruz is primarily celebrated by people of Iranian and Turkic descent, but it isn’t rooted in Islamic customs. In fact, it predates the spread of Islam in the region. While most who celebrate it today may be Muslim, the holiday itself has no religious connection to Islam.

One of the main traditions is thoroughly cleaning the area and our surroundings, and the settlement of debts. The acts are symbolic of welcoming a “new day” and the arrival of spring.

A unique part of the celebration involves preparing seven symbolic dishes (which vary by region). These dishes are offerings to ancestors, seeking their blessings for the coming year. Visiting and cleaning ancestors’ graves is also common during this time.

Overall, Navruz is about leaving behind the old and embracing the new, with the hope of ushering in a fertile and prosperous year. https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/bst-tashkent/news/2025/02/25/guide-to-navruz

The Old New Year is on the 14th of January.

Activities: Typically, people celebrate with parties that include music and food. A round of absolution and forgiveness of last year's wrongs. Preparation for the new year, including cleaning the house and cleaning yourself up. Since 1941, it has been tradition for the president to give a speech every year, and many people tune in to hear it.

Source/ further information: https://nationaltoday.com/novy-god-russian-new-year/

While this article is in Russian, it has some interesting information. https://www.culture.ru/s/vopros/staryi-ng/