How to Celebrate New Year's Eve Like a Russian
New Year’s Eve is the biggest and most beloved holiday in Russia, celebrated with grand traditions, festive feasts, and plenty of superstitions. While many countries celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks and parties, Russians take it to a whole new level, making it the most significant holiday of the year. If you want to ring in the New Year like a Russian, you’ll need to embrace festive meals, heartfelt toasts, Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), and some unique traditionsthat make this holiday so special.
Unlike in many Western countries, where Christmas holds the most importance, in Russia, New Year’s Eve is the highlight of the holiday season. This tradition dates back to the Soviet era, when religious celebrations were discouraged, and New Year's took on the role of the biggest winter holiday. Even after the fall of the USSR, this tradition remained deeply ingrained in Russian culture. Today, Russians celebrate New Year's Eve with family, friends, and an elaborate feast that lasts well past midnight.
For Russians, New Year's Eve represents a fresh start, and they believe that how you celebrate the holiday will determine your fortune for the rest of the year. This is why preparations begin weeks in advance, with people decorating their homes, buying gifts, and planning elaborate meals. There’s also a strong emphasis on making peace and clearing debts before the New Year arrives—an old tradition meant to ensure good luck and harmony.
Another key aspect of Russian New Year's Eve celebrations is superstition. Many Russians follow rituals such as writing a wish on paper, burning it, and drinking the ashes in champagne before midnight. Others believe that wearing the right colors (based on the Chinese zodiac) can bring prosperity, while avoiding bad omens—like breaking a dish or encountering a black cat—ensures good fortune.
New Year's Eve in Russia is also a time for sentimentality and reflection. Families gather to watch the Russian president’s annual speech, followed by the chiming of the Kremlin clock, marking the start of the New Year. Champagne is poured, toasts are made, and fireworks light up the sky, creating a magical and emotional moment that every Russian cherishes.
At Polyglottist Language Academy, we believe that learning about cultural traditions enhances your language-learning experience. If you’re interested in Russian language and culture, our Russian classes in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Oakland will help you dive deeper into Russian customs while improving your language skills.
1. The Importance of New Year's Eve in Russia
For many Russians, New Year’s Eve is more important than Christmas. Under the Soviet Union, religious celebrations were discouraged, so New Year’s took the place of Christmas as the main winter holiday. Even after the fall of the USSR, this tradition remained, making New Year's the most widely celebrated holiday in Russia.
New Year’s is a holiday that unites all generations. Families gather, children stay up late, and even those who live abroad or far from home make an effort to return for this special occasion. Streets are filled with holiday cheer, and every household is filled with the sounds of laughter, clinking glasses, and festive music.
Unlike Christmas, which is often seen as a quiet, spiritual holiday in Russia, New Year's Eve is about joy, socializing, and indulgence. It is a day of optimism, when people wish each other success, health, and happiness for the year ahead. Personal and heartfelt toasts are a key part of the evening, where people take the time to reflect on the past year and express hopes for the future.
Even beyond Russia, countries with historical ties to the Soviet Union—such as Belarus or Kazakhstan—celebrate New Year’s in a similar way, showing the lasting cultural influence of this holiday in the region.
2. New Year’s Preparations: How Russians Get Ready for the Big Night
Decorating the New Year’s Tree (Ёлка)
In Russia, Christmas trees are actually New Year’s trees. Russians decorate them with colorful ornaments, tinsel, and lights, and they often put a Soviet-style red star on top instead of an angel. The Ёлка (Yolka) remains the centerpiece of holiday decorations, staying up well into January. Unlike in Western countries where the tree may be taken down after Christmas, in Russia, the tree stays decorated until at least the Old New Year (January 14th), an additional celebration still observed by many.
Families often have traditions related to decorating the tree, such as playing old Soviet New Year’s songs, watching holiday movies, or unwrapping small presents early. Children leave letters for Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) under the tree, hoping for gifts on New Year’s morning.
Cleaning the House and Settling Debts
A major part of Russian New Year’s preparation is cleaning the house and getting rid of bad energy. Russians believe that entering the New Year with a clean home and no lingering debts brings good luck. It’s also common to resolve disputes with friends or family before the New Year begins.
This practice isn’t just about tidying up—it symbolizes starting fresh and leaving negativity behind. Many Russians take the time to declutter, donate old belongings, and refresh their living space before the celebrations begin. It’s also believed that by paying off any debts or loans before December 31st, you ensure financial stability in the coming year.
Buying and Wrapping Gifts
In Russia, New Year's Eve is when people exchange gifts, not Christmas. Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) and his granddaughter, Snegurochka (the Snow Maiden), bring presents to children. Adults also exchange thoughtful gifts, often accompanied by personalized toasts.
Unlike the Western tradition of wrapping presents days in advance, many Russians wrap gifts on New Year’s Eve itself. This creates a sense of excitement and spontaneity. Gifts often include luxury chocolates, perfumes, books, and symbolic items that reflect the recipient’s aspirations for the New Year.
3. The Russian New Year’s Feast: A Table Full of Traditions
Must-Have New Year’s Dishes
A Russian New Year’s Eve table is overflowing with food, as an abundant feast is believed to bring prosperity in the coming year. Here are some classic dishes:
Olivier Salad (Салат Оливье) – Russia’s most famous salad, made with potatoes, eggs, pickles, peas, and mayonnaise. It is a dish that no Russian New Year’s table is complete without, and every family has their own slight variation of the recipe.
Herring Under a Fur Coat (Селёдка под шубой) – A layered salad with herring, potatoes, carrots, beets, and mayonnaise. The dish gets its name because the beets provide a bright pink “coat” covering the other layers. It’s a true Soviet-era tradition that remains a favorite today.
Mandarins – Essential for a festive atmosphere, mandarins are associated with New Year’s in Russia due to their historical significance during Soviet times when citrus fruits were rare and considered a holiday treat.
Champagne and Soviet Sparkling Wine (Советское шампанское) – No Russian New Year’s Eve is complete without a midnight toast with bubbly. Russians traditionally drink Soviet sparkling wine, a remnant of the USSR that remains a New Year’s staple.
Caviar and Blini (Икра и блины) – Russian caviar served with thin pancakes is a holiday delicacy. For many families, red and black caviar symbolize prosperity and luxury.
Every household also has its own traditional dishes, with some families preparing baked meats, pickled vegetables, and elaborate homemade desserts. The abundance of food ensures that the celebration continues into January 1st and even beyond.
The Midnight Toast
As the clock approaches midnight, Russians fill their glasses and prepare for the most important toast of the year. The president of Russia delivers a televised New Year’s speech, and as soon as the Kremlin clock strikes midnight, people toast to the New Year and set off fireworks.
The toasts on New Year’s Eve are more than just a casual “cheers.” Russians take their toasts seriously, offering long and heartfelt speeches about the past year, their hopes for the future, and well-wishes to friends and family. Each toast is deeply personal, often accompanied by laughter, nostalgia, or even tears.
4. Unique Russian New Year’s Traditions
Writing Down Your Wish and Burning It
One famous Russian tradition involves writing a wish on a piece of paper, burning it, and dropping the ashes into your champagne glass. You must then drink the champagne before 12:01 AM for your wish to come true. This ritual is believed to have magical properties, and many people swear by its effectiveness.
Dressing for the New Year’s Zodiac
Russians believe that wearing the right colors and styles according to the Chinese Zodiac of the upcoming year brings good luck. Fashion choices for New Year's Eve are often influenced by these superstitions. For example, if the coming year is associated with the Tiger, people may wear bold prints and strong colors to honor the animal.
Watching Soviet New Year’s Movies
A must-do for many Russians on New Year’s Eve is watching classic Soviet movies, such as:
The Irony of Fate (Ирония судьбы) – A romantic comedy about mistaken identity on New Year’s Eve that every Russian knows by heart.
Carnival Night (Карнавальная ночь) – A classic Soviet New Year’s musical comedy filled with songs, humor, and holiday spirit.
Gentlemen of Fortune (Джентльмены удачи) – A Soviet crime comedy often aired on TV during the holidays, bringing families together for a nostalgic laugh.
These films have become a cultural phenomenon, and watching them has become just as important as the New Year’s Eve feast itself.
How Learning Russian Helps You Experience New Year’s Like a Native
If you truly want to celebrate New Year’s Eve like a Russian, learning the language is essential. Many of the traditions, toasts, and cultural references that make this holiday so special are deeply embedded in the Russian language. Understanding Russian will help you:
Follow traditional New Year’s toasts and make your own heartfelt wishes in Russian.
Understand classic Soviet holiday movies and their cultural significance.
Read Russian New Year’s greetings and traditions in their original form.
Join in New Year’s superstitions and rituals, knowing their deeper meanings.
Engage with native Russian speakers and participate in authentic celebrations.
At Polyglottist Language Academy, our Russian courses provide a comprehensive cultural and linguistic experience, so you don’t just learn words—you learn the culture, traditions, and history behind them.
👉 Sign up for our Russian classes today! and celebrate the next New Year’s Eve like a true Russian!
More Russian Culture and Language Resources
Want to explore more about Russian traditions, language, and culture? Check out these related blog articles:
Understanding Russian Holidays: What Makes Them Unique? – Learn about Russia’s most important celebrations.
How to Pronounce Russian Words Like a Native – Improve your Russian accent for a more authentic experience.
The Role of Soviet Cinema in Russian Culture – Discover classic Soviet films that remain popular today.
Russian Superstitions You Should Know Before Visiting – Avoid bad luck by learning common Russian beliefs.
How to Order Food in Russian Without Mistakes – Master restaurant etiquette for an authentic dining experience.
Russian Toasts and Drinking Traditions Explained – Learn how to make the perfect toast at any Russian celebration.
By learning Russian language and culture, you’ll be ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve like a true Russian! 🎉🇷🇺