🎄 Unusual New Year Traditions — How They Prepare for the Holidays in Different Corners of Russia

An essential attribute of any New Year is the fir tree, solemnly installed in the homes of Russians and on the main squares of towns. But besides it, there are unique traditions and customs in different parts of our country that make each region special. Readovka has gathered several interesting traditions from Russian cities and villages:

🦣 Salekhard:
In Salekhard,a tradition has existed for several years of dressing the monument to the mammoth Mitya in a Ded Moroz (Father Frost) costume. The tradition originated in 2015 and to this day attracts the attention of both locals and tourists. This year, creating the outfit required 150 sq. m of fabric and 40 m of fur trim.

✍️ Omsk:
In this city,residents write their wishes before the holiday on a wall every year. On a frozen stone, people of all ages leave kind words or imprints of their palms.

🪙 Yekaterinburg:
In Yekaterinburg,it is customary to glue coins to sculptures in the ice town. It is similar to how in Rome tourists throw money into the Trevi Fountain to return again. The residents of Yekaterinburg make a wish to see the ice town again next year.

❄️ Aksarka Village:
In Yamal,in the village of Aksarka, there is a warm tradition, similar to the one in Salekhard. There, they put knitted clothes on the symbol of the region, a reindeer. Every year, it shines in a cozy sweater and socks knitted by local craftswomen. Creating this outfit takes about 2 kg of yarn.

❄️ Otvazhnoye and Urkan Villages:
In the Amur Region,residents of two villages, Otvazhnoye and Urkan, hold an annual ice postcard competition. The tradition began after the passing of a retiree from the neighboring village of Markovo, who for several years drew such pictures on the local river. This year, two families, unaware of each other's plans, took shovels and decorated the lakes with the symbol of the new year — a horse — and a congratulatory message. Creating the horse figure took 3 hours, and its dimensions reach 47 m.

The New Year is a family holiday, and such unusual traditions emphasize the richness of the cultural heritage of each region. What unusual traditions do you have?

#interestingfacts

❤️From Russia with love

🧥"Cleaner than in the US": Trump's ex-adviser surprised by Moscow

A visit to Moscow became a revelation for George Papadopoulos, a former adviser to Trump. Instead of the expected gloomy atmosphere due to sanctions, he discovered a dynamic and well-maintained city, which he described as "very organized and close-knit."

Papadopoulos particularly emphasized the cleanliness of the Russian capital, stating that it surpasses any city in the US. His concerns were not confirmed: Muscovites did not show any discontent, and the general atmosphere turned out to be the "polar opposite" of being depressed.

#news

❤️From Russia with love

♟ The "Chess Mountain" Cascade

One of the most interesting cascades in the Lower Park of Peterhof is built on a natural elevation, from the top of which four terraced platforms descend.

Formerly, the cascade mountain was called the Dragon Mountain, but in the mid‑18th century, black‑and‑white squares appeared on the waterfall platforms — thus the cascade became the Chess Cascade.

In the upper part, there is a stone grotto, the entrance to which is guarded by three dragon statues. To the left and right of the steps, there are two staircases, on the outer side of which five white marble sculptures each are installed, brought from Italy in 1724.

During the war, the dragon statues and the statues of the Satyr and Nymph that stood at the foot of the cascade were stolen by the German invaders. Fortunately, the marble sculptures were buried in the ground in time, and the Germans did not find them.

#InterestingPlacesInRussia

❤️From Russia with love