Language/Russian/Culture/National-Holidays

Russian → Culture → 0 to A1 Course → National Holidays

As a Russian language teacher with 20 years of experience, I believe that learning about a country's culture is just as important as learning its language. In this lesson, we will explore some of the most important national holidays in Russia, including their significance and how they are celebrated.

New Year's Day (Новый Год)

New Year's Day is one of the most important holidays in Russia, celebrated on January 1st. While New Year's Day is celebrated around the world, it holds a special significance in Russia, where it is considered the most important holiday of the year.

On New Year's Eve, it is common for families to gather together, watch the president's New Year's address on TV, and enjoy a festive meal together. At midnight, they will often drink champagne and watch fireworks displays. In some regions of Russia, it is also traditional to celebrate the "Old New Year" on January 13th, according to the Julian calendar which was used before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar.

Here are some key vocabulary words related to New Year's Day:

Russian	Pronunciation	English
Новый Год	noh-vyy got	New Year's Day
праздник	prazd-neek	holiday
праздновать	prazd-no-vat'	to celebrate
подарок	pa-da-rok	gift

Victory Day (День Победы)

Victory Day is celebrated on May 9th and marks the anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945, which ended World War II in Europe. Victory Day is a major holiday in Russia, where it is celebrated with military parades, fireworks, and ceremonies honoring the nation's veterans.

On Victory Day, it is common for people to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow and other cities. In addition to the military parades, many Russians hold family gatherings, where they honor their relatives who fought in the war.

Here are some key vocabulary words related to Victory Day:

Russian	Pronunciation	English
День Победы	dyen' pah-bee-dy	Victory Day
война	voyna	war
солдат	sol-dat	soldier
парад	pa-rad	parade

International Women's Day (Международный женский день)

International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th and is a public holiday in Russia. It is a day to celebrate women and their achievements, and to promote gender equality.

On this day, it is common for men to give flowers and small gifts to the women in their lives, such as their wives, mothers, and daughters. Women also often receive greetings and congratulations from their colleagues and friends.

Here are some key vocabulary words related to International Women's Day:

Russian	Pronunciation	English
Международный женский день	mezhdunarodny zhensky dyen'	International Women's Day
женщина	zhensh-china	woman
равенство	ra-venst-va	equality
подарок	pa-da-rok	gift

I encourage my students to learn about the cultural significance of national holidays in the countries whose languages they are studying. Understanding a country's culture and traditions can help to deepen your appreciation for its language and people.

Table of Contents - Russian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Cyrillic Alphabet
• Pronunciation Rules

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Basic Phrases and Greetings

• Greetings and Introductions
• Everyday Phrases

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Nouns and Gender

• Noun Gender
• Plurals

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-10
• Telling Time

  ---

Cases and Prepositions

• Nominative Case
• Prepositional Case

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships and Marital Status

  ---

Verbs and Conjugation

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Dining Out

  ---

Russian Traditions and Holidays

• National Holidays
• Traditional Celebrations

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives

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Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Hobbies
• Entertainment

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Russian Literature and Arts

• Famous Writers
• Russian Art and Music

Related Lessons

• Russian Literature
• Traditional Celebrations
• Icons and Churches
• Matryoshka Doll
• Russian Folk Traditions
• Russia Historical Events
• Famous Writers
• Visual Arts : Paintings
• Why Learn Russian
• Dance

Sources

• Russian Culture Holidays in Russia
• Understanding Russian Culture: Holidays and Traditions
• Russian Events and Holidays - Language and Culture Studies