Figure 1.--Since the fall of Communism, Russians have begun to openly celebrate Christmas. Interestingly some of the secular aspects of Christmas in the West were in Soviet days associated with other holidays, especially New Years. Thus it will be interesting to see how Christmas evolves in Russia. At the present time it seems primarily religious celebration without all the secular aspects of Western Christmas celebtations.

The celebration of holidays in Russia has been significantly affected by political regimes. Tsarist Russia focused on the celebration of religious festivals such as Easter and Christmas. The Tsar's bithday was probably also celebrated. After the Revolution (1917), the Soviets celebtated New Years, Labor Day, and the Revolution. I am not sure to what extent Comrade Stalin's birthday was celebrated. There were of course major changes in Russian holidys after the Communist Revolution (1917) and likewise after the fall of Communism (1991) there have been changes as well. Today in Russia, New Years continued to be the favorite holiday for children. Authorities are also now promoting the celebration of Christmas. Dates for celebrating holidays can be quite confusing because of the different calendats that have been used in Russia. Important Russian leaders including Peter the Great and Stalin have been involved in calendar reform. Religion of course plays an important part in holiday clebrations. Here the athiest campaign of Soviet Communism has a great impact on Russian holiday celebratons. Hopefully our Russian readers will tell us more about the holiday observations.

Russian Calendars

Dates for celebrating holidays can be quite confusing because of the different calendats that have been used in Russia. Important Russian leaders including Peter the Great and Stalin have been involved in calendar reform. In Tsarist days the Julian calendar was in use. This explains why there are different dates used for the Russian Revolution. The Soviets introduced the Gregorian calendar (1918-23). The Soviets then introduced the five-day Russian Revolutionary calendar (1923-31). Next was a Soviet calendar with a 6 six-day week (1931-40). Then the Soviets returned to the Gregorian calendar with a seven-day week, with Sunday as a rest-day (1940).

Religion and Soviet Russia

Religion of course plays an important part in holiday clebrations. Here the athiest campaign of Soviet Communism has a great impact on Russian holiday celebratons. Soviet attitides toward religion varied over time.

Individual Russian Holidays

The celebration of holidays in Russia has been significantly affected by political regimes. Tsarist Russia focused on the celebration of religious festivals such as Easter and Christmas. The Tsar's bithday was probably also celebrated. After the Revolution (1917), the Soviets celebtated New Years, Labor Day, and the Revolution. I am not sure to what extent Comrade Stalin's birthday was celebrated. There were of course major changes in Russian holidys after the Communist Revolution (1917) and likewise after the fall of Communism (1991) there have been changes as well. Today in Russia, New Years continued to be the favorite holiday for children. Authorities are also now promoting the celebration of Christmas. Most Russian holidays are at We have some basic information on the major Russian holidays. Not all of these are actually public holidays - the Russians have many "holidays" but they don't all mean a day off work!

Created: 4:45 PM 11/27/2005
Last updated: 12:16 PM 10/31/2008