Russian fans
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Hello Friends! busy times here - our weather's turning colder. So many leaves to rake. Our next holiday is Thanksgiving.
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Hello !!!!!! I've heard that in some states was very snowy..... I can tell that we actually have the winter weather now in Khabarovsk - it was snowy fro a couple of days and it's -7 C now almost for thee whole days. And the next holidays will be only in december- since 31 st and till 10 january- winter holidays- and then after exams i'll have winter vacations since 1st february and untill 14 or 15=)))))
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Lucky you, I too would like to snow this winter. Walked the dog an hour, the weather is warm, +25 C, already tired, we want snow.
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Oldrocker:
Lucky you, I too would like to snow this winter. Walked the dog an hour, the weather is warm, +25 C, already tired, we want snow.
I wand to have the weather like you have in your city/town- because it's very frosty in Khabarovsk now -15C in the morning and in the evening - and in day time - its very windy- although we have sunny weather same time
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We had snow on Thanksgiving. Way too early for snow here. Starting to decorate for Crimble.
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GYPSYGIRL:
We had snow on Thanksgiving. Way too early for snow here. Starting to decorate for Crimble.
we had rain, then we had snow again rain -and now it's snowing forthe 4th day and the temperature in Khabarovsk is awful- -18C in the day and at night, as you understood, thats very frosty and windy and as a result there are big gridlocks on the streets. Although there is one good point- just a litle bit time and New Year is coming!!!!!!
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Can you tell us of any Russian Christmas celebrations or traditions?
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GYPSYGIRL:
Can you tell us of any Russian Christmas celebrations or traditions?
Of course! 1) i think all the Russians will agree with me that New Year- is our favorite holiday (i think our NY is a lisle bit close to X-mass in USA, UK and etc and same time not because we celebrate our X-mass on the 7th January and it's more religious holiday) 2) New Year is a family holiday. We prepared a lot for that- beginnin' from the gifts and till the food makin'( that's a very special thing) 3) Actually it depends on the family - but there are some dishes that are always (or mostly) existin' on the holiday table (mostly of them are from the soviet time)? i.e. - Salad "Olivier" -Herring under the "fur coat" (sound funny, isn't it?) - Salad "Mimosa" (and other dishes- if you're interested how to prepare them i may write) 4) New Year is always associated with the smell of tangerines (again from the soviet time) and fir-needle 5) all the family decorates the X-mass tree (this is all begins almost since23-24th December) (I think we are the same as you) although I?m not a little girl, I?ll be 20 in a couple of moths, but I love this process and now I?m waitin? for that with the big desire=))))) 6) There are some films and melodies on TV and etc that are always connected with the NY (I also may write ?em(plus summary some of them and even links to them, if you are interested) 7) by the 24.00 preparing Champagne and say happy new year when the clocks are beatin? 00.00. Besides we are all listenin? to our president with the celebration and etc. Then all the fun begins. There are lot?s of fireworks on the streets, dances and etc. In common all the night we?re having fun. There are a lot of entertainment for children and adults- snow hills, skating and etc. In Khabarovsk, i.e we also have on our main The Lenin central square-exhibition every year of ice shapes ? that?s very amazing, esp. at night when it?s back lighted with different colors- I?ll make a photos and download it here- it?s worth watchin? 9) Besides everything depends on the snow- because there were couples of years when there were no snow at all by the January( in 2001 i.e in Khabarovsk 1st snow fell only on the 1st January), or there were a little snow like 2006 and etc. And as you may understand when there?s no snow ? the mood is not so good. 10) NY holiday?s begins from 29 or 30th December and lasts till 8-10th January (depends on the year) ( for the students that?s also a good time to prepare for the winter session- to pass the exams- because in mostly of the Universities students pass their exams after 14-15th January- and I can tell you that?s really enough) 11) I don?t know how to explain the next thing- but I?ll try. I mean the strange holiday as you may know is Old New Year- which is celebrated on the night b/w 13 and 14th January. Old New Year - is a rare historical phenomenon, an additional holiday, which turned out as a result of changing era. This is partly due to the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church continues to celebrate all holidays with the Julian calendar. Until 1918 Russia lived with that Julian?s calendar, and after 1918 with Gregorian (the difference b/w them are 13 days). So Tradition to celebrate Old New Year came after 1918, when Russia introduced a new calendar. And it means that old new year is a new year, but old style. And this strange tradition is still with us. 12) After 14th January it?s a time to remove the X-mass tree (but sometimes it?s stay;s until the end of January-only just because?.. and some reasons) 13) NY it?s a good time to spend it with friends and family. I think it?s more emotional and etc 14) I think it?s not enough to tell in one message ?bout all the things- I think I just must to write the book=))))) And even in this case that?s not be enough to tell about everything- because it needs to feel, it needs to celebrate NY in Russia and I can tell you even more- maybe to live couple of years in Russia=) P.S. Would you, please, write about X-mass and New Year traditions? P.P.S if I didn?t mentioned smth or you have questions ? please ask=)
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Alice, THANK YOU! You are amazing to have taken the time to post all this! Our town's firefighters drive Santa in a fire truck with sirens blasting, a week before Christmas. Everyone comes out to wave at Santa, even the grown-ups. We decorate our home outdoors with a huge statues of Santa & a Penguin that light up. We also have a Snowman made of bells & a Gingerbread Man hanging on the shepherd's hook in the small flower bed at the front of our house, along with bows on our fence * a huge wreath on the front door. At the side door, we have big gold jingle bells on a velvet & faux fur banner. And on our front lawn a huge inflatable polar bear. Indoors we have our Christmas tree (all of our cats enjoy sleeping on the velvet skirt under the tree!), our stockings are hung up over the fireplace & all of our pets' stockings are hung up around the doorway between our living & dining rooms. I also hang a ribbon with all the Christmas cards we've received around the window. And our front windows are decorated with gel clings. There are more Christmas decorations through out our home. On Christmas Eve, our town still has people going around singing Christmas carols. Very lovely. And the churches in our town have different things on Christmas Eve - one has a candle light service and another has a living Nativity. And our stockings each have the traditional apple, orange & nuts, with a variety of stocking stuffers and candy canes. Another tradition is baking Christmas cookies & gingerbread men. And from a week before Christmas right thru 12th Night, there is always Egg Nog to drink. We also enjoy marzipan stollen (which is German), when we can find it in stores.
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Alice, THANK YOU! You are amazing to have taken the time to post all this!
I always liked to write more that to tell smth=)))))
GYPSYGIRL:
We decorate our home outdoors with a huge statues of Santa & a Penguin that light up. We also have a Snowman made of bells & a Gingerbread Man hanging on the shepherd's hook in the small flower bed at the front of our house, along with bows on our fence * a huge wreath on the front door. At the side door, we have big gold jingle bells on a velvet & faux fur banner. And on our front lawn a huge inflatable polar bear.
I've always liked this tradition! I've seen on a TV that some families even had competitions- which house outside will looks better. P.S. Thanks for a such interesting answer=) P.P.S. how long d'u have x-mass holidays? and how d'u celebrate NEW YEAR?
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merry christmas and happy new year, and listen "always" paul of course, reynald from france.
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reynald:
merry christmas and happy new year, and listen "always" paul of course, reynald from france.
Merci beaucoup! Je vous souhaite également un Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année! Je souhaite également que les plus beaux rêves deviennent réalité Alice=)
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[size=16]С Рождеством Христовым ! Joyeux Noël ! Feliz Navidad ! Merry Christmas !....
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Christmas holidays are generally from Dec. 24th thru Jan. 1st. However, growing up, my family celebrated the holidays right up to Jan. 6th. We called this "little Christmas" or the Epiphany". Growing up in a Polish/Italian home, my mother would have Oplatek Wafers (traditional Polish white wafers) for whoever happened celebrate Christmas with us. My father would tell the story of LaBefana & he would have Pandolce or Panettone (both are Italian fruitcakes) for those who visited us. These are different from the traditional American & English fruitcakes. I'm not fond of any of these. My family & I still carry on filling Xmas stockings with an apple, an orange & nuts & then fill the rest of them with the usual stocking stuffers. Even all of our pets have Christmas stockings with their names on them & they all get presents too!
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Thank U very much! Now i wish everybody happy New Year! In Khabarovsk we'll have it in 1h and 13 min!
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We celebrated New Year's Eve last night at home. Popped open a bottle of champagne & actually made it past midnight without falling asleep in front of the telly. Our kid was also allowed to stay up to see in the New Year & said he could hear tonz of fireworks going off.
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Oh, i;m sorry i didn't response for a long time- thats a long story. 'Cause in january and february i've passed my exams in Academy. Couple of days Before my first exam i was in hospital ( since 9th and till 12 jan.) - had some troubles with my liver. So that exam which should be 1st i;ve passed only on 14th february- and so it means i didn't have holidays at all. Because we had the exam period since 16th jan and till 31 st jan. and the holidays should be since 1st feb and till 15th feb. So all the holidays i've prepare for this exam (international commerce) and i've passed it well- i got 5 . So we have a new semester now (since 16th feb) and i've celebrated my 20th birthday on the 21st feb.=) Now i;m waitin' for the beatle things to come-i've oredered through internet beatle bag, cup, earrings and 2 badges=))))) Also all russian fans are waitin that Ringo will give his concert in Russia- because he announced in first in his list on his official web-site- but there's still no news or data and city where it happens, although there some news 'bout other countries. Ringo gave the only concert in 1998- so we are waiting for him very much!!!!!
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CONGRATS! Passing your exams is wonderful, Alice. you are waaay too young to have liver problems. What holiday, besides Easter, will you be celebrating next?
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Thank U very much=) Well, we had 23rd february - this is one of the main national holidays - a Defender day of the Motherland then since 28th feb. and till 6th march we will have a Pancake week (or Maslenitsa- like we call it) 8th march - that'll be another national holiday- International Women day if you want i can tell you about them more- from the history and till the ways we are celebrating it)
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Oh, i miss one important thing- today we will choose almost in an hour- the symbol forour winter Olympic games in Sochi 2014 P.S. Hope dolphin will be the winner=)))))