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Russian Holidays

When should one give gifts in Russia?

While gifts can be given at any time and for any reason, there are certain days when they are somewhat expected from people who one is close to.
Here are some examples:

New Years: This is one of the most important celebrations in Russia and it has taken on an added significance in the past century because during Communist times, Russians were only allowed to celebrate the 31st of December and not Christmas. Gift and flower-giving are deeply associated with this holiday.

Birthdays: In Russia birthdays can be a big affair and can even last for several days. People are known to go out of their town or city with friends and have big parties with lots of presents and champagne. In Russian culture though a birthday gift does not have to be expensive...it is just the thought that counts.

Women's Day: A Public Holiday and a very important day in the Russian calendar. On this day, women just relax at home and the men present them with different gifts and look after them. Forget about giving a gift to the woman in your life on this day and you will probably find yourself in an unrecoverable situation.

Valentines Day: Due to TV and internet this holiday has gained quite a lot of popularity over the past five years or so. As a result, Russian women do now expect romantic gestures on this day and it is celebrated almost identically as in the West.

List of National Holidays:

New Year - January 1
Orthodox Christmas - January 7
Old New Year - January 13, holiday in memory of Old Calendar
Student Day ( Tatyana's Day ) - January 25 - popular!
Holiday of lovers-St. Valentine's Day - February 14
Pancake Day - February 27
Women's Day - March 8, A National Holiday and Very Popular!
Fool Day (the Day of laughter) - April 1
Orthodox Easter - two weeks after Catholic Easter
The Holiday of Spring and Labor - May 1
Victory Day - May 9
The International Day of Children Defendence - June 1
Independence Day - June 12
The Day of Knowledge - September 1
The International Day of Peace - September 1
Teacher's Day - October 5
The Constitution Day - December 12

Name Days (Angel's Days)

JANUARY

Ulyana - Jan 3
Anastasia - Jan 4
Evgenia - Jan 6
Klavdia - Jan 6
Lidia - Jan 19
Maria - Jan 19
Tatyana - Jan 25, celebrated like Students' Day, very popular among
students
Nina -Jan 27
Ksenia -Jan 31

FEBRUARY

Inna - Feb 2
Anastasia - Feb 4
Ksenia - Feb 6
Maria - Feb 8
Anna - Feb 16
Maria - Feb 19
Valentina, Anna - Feb 23
Svetlana - Feb

MARCH

Marina, Kira - March 12
Antonina - March 14
Galina - March 23
Maria - March 31

APRIL

Svetlana - Apr 2
Larissa - Apr 7
Alla, Anna - Apr 8
Maria - Apr 14
Tamara - Apr 28
Irina - Apr 29

MAY

Tamara - May 2
Alexandra - May 6
Elizaveta - May 7
Irina - May 14
Varvara - May 19
Alexandra, Julia, Faina - May 31

JUNE

Julia - June 16
Valeria, Maria - Jun 20
Maria June 22
Alexandra, Antonina - June 23

JULY

Angelina - July 14
Anna - July 18
Olga, Elena - July 24
Valentina, Alevtina - July 29
Marina, Margarita - July 30

AUGUST

Maria - Aug 4
Darya -Aug 17

SEPTEMBER

Natalia - Sep 8
Elizaveta, Raisa - Sep 18
Ludmila - Sep 29
Vera, Nadezhda, Lubov - Sep 30

OCTOBER

Veronica - Oct 17
Taisia - Oct 21
Zinaida - Oct 29

NOVEMBER

Anastasia - Nov 11
Alexander - Nov 19

DECEMBER

Ekaterina - Dec 7
Varvara - Dec 17
Anna - Dec 22
Angelina - Dec 23
Marina - Dec 29

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Russian Holidays