Sparklers greeting New Year in Moscow's Red Square
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New Year's Eve
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When:
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31 Dec 2007 (annual)
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Where:
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Moscow
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| Costs: |
Free
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New Year's Eve, or Noivy God as it is in Russian, tends to be celebrated amongst family inside homes until midnight. As New Year arrives, people take to the streets and go calling on friends and neighbours, drinking whatever they are offered until dawn arrives (or until they fall over).
In the past few years however, people have been gathering in Red Square to await the tolling of the Saviour clocktower, when they crack open bottles of champagne and cavort with passion. Around the residential parts of Moscow, people dressed as 'Grandfather Frost', or Dyed Moroz, the Russian equivalent of Father Christmas, and his female counterpart, 'The Snow Maiden', or Snegurochka can be spotted in the streets, as they go about bearing good wishes to neighbours and passers by.
If you miss New Year, it is worth noting that many Russians also celebrate the Orthodox New Year or Old New Year on the night of the 13th January.
As the Muscovites say "Snovum Godom!" ("Happy New Year!").
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