Every country in the world has its Every country in the world has its own national festivals. However, own national festivals. However, there are also festivals which are there are also festivals which are common almost for all countries, common almost for all countries, forfor example, the New Year, the example, the New Year, the first day of every year. In Russia it first day of every year. In Russia it is the most popular festivals, but is the most popular festivals, but in the West Christmas is more in the West Christmas is more important. important.

New Year’s New Year’s DayDay

New Year’s DayNew Year’s Day The New Year is a family party. It The New Year is a family party. It

starts already in the eve, on the starts already in the eve, on the 31st December. People prepare a 31st December. People prepare a

festive dinner, with unusual dishes festive dinner, with unusual dishes and a lot of sweets. Some years and a lot of sweets. Some years ago a tradition appeared to put ago a tradition appeared to put

dishes on the festival board liking dishes on the festival board liking by the animal which will rule the by the animal which will rule the

next year according to the Chinese next year according to the Chinese calendar. For example, for the little calendar. For example, for the little

monkey one must put bananas. monkey one must put bananas. Well, the New Year Party begins Well, the New Year Party begins with the festival banquet. Lights with the festival banquet. Lights are burning in the decorated fir-are burning in the decorated fir-

tree. At midnight people tree. At midnight people congratulate each other to the New congratulate each other to the New

Year and drink champagne. Then Year and drink champagne. Then people watch TV or go for a walk. people watch TV or go for a walk.

EasterEaster

The moral lessons given us by JesusThe moral lessons given us by Jesus CelebratingCelebrating Easter, seeing Easter, seeing the the happyhappy faces faces of of people people

around, around, hearing hearing the the joyfuljoyful announcements announcements “Christ is risen”, “Christ is risen”, and, and, on on the the whole, enjoiningwhole, enjoining these these God-blessedGod-blessed sunny sunny springspring days, let days, let us us pause pause for for a momenta moment and and ponder ponder on on some some ofof the the moral moral lessons lessons given given us us by Jesus. We by Jesus. We well well know know thatthat Christianity Christianity is is ethical ethical throughthrough and and through, through, but but strange strange asas it it maymay seem, seem, the the moral moral teachingteaching of of ChristChrist himselfhimself is not very is not very circumstantial. Oncircumstantial. On the the contrary, contrary, He He appearsappears rather rather terse terse on on these matters,these matters, and and it it is in is in His His deeds, not words, that deeds, not words, that thethe larger larger part part ofof His mission His mission found found itsits expression. As expression. As a a person, withperson, with all all His His inclinationsinclinations and and intentions, He intentions, He doesdoes not not seem seem to to bebe a a determined determined moralmoral reformer, reformer, not not toto speak speak ofof a a revolutionary; and revolutionary; and he he was was not not inin the least the least a a scholar scholar or or a a man man of of letters. He letters. He wrote wrote nothing. He nothing. He mowed quietly mowed quietly andand slowly slowly along along the the highways highways and and amongamong the the villages villages of Galilee of Galilee and and Judea Judea and and spoke spoke to to people people not not about about any any intricate problems intricate problems of of humanhuman existence, orexistence, or theology, or theology, or the the mysteries mysteries of of life life and and death, death, butbut about about things things which which belonged belonged to to the realm the realm ofof daily daily life; life; and and the words he chose for that were the words the words he chose for that were the words of of common common men, not those men, not those of of a a professor of ethics. Heprofessor of ethics. He summed summed up up His His “theology” in“theology” in an amazingly an amazingly short short and and simplesimple phrase “God is phrase “God is love” ; and love” ; and meeting people He meeting people He very very oftenoften did did not not teach teach them, as them, as He He actually actually did did fromfrom time time to time, to time, butbut offered offered themthem a a ready ready sympathy and understanding, evensympathy and understanding, even to the to the degraded degraded and and the the outcast. To outcast. To them them He He spokespoke in in thethe language language of tolerance of tolerance and and benevolence, forgivenessbenevolence, forgiveness and and mercy. Thatmercy. That was was His His love – andlove – and that that waswas the the beginning beginning ofof the the moralmoral revolution revolution that transformed that transformed the the world. world.

When is the Easter?When is the Easter? The greatest Christian festival of the year is The greatest Christian festival of the year is

Easter. It is either in March or in April, and Easter. It is either in March or in April, and millions of people joyously observe Christ's millions of people joyously observe Christ's

resurrection. This holy day never comes resurrection. This holy day never comes before March 22 or after April 25. When is before March 22 or after April 25. When is an Easter? That, of course, is celebrated on an Easter? That, of course, is celebrated on

the first Sunday after the paschal moon, the first Sunday after the paschal moon, which is the first full moon that occurs on or which is the first full moon that occurs on or next after the vernal equinox, March, 21st. next after the vernal equinox, March, 21st.

So all you need to do is look at the sky? So all you need to do is look at the sky? Afraid not. For the moon in question is not Afraid not. For the moon in question is not the real moon, but a hypothetical moon. the real moon, but a hypothetical moon.

This one goes round the earth one month in This one goes round the earth one month in 29 days, the next in 30 days, though with 29 days, the next in 30 days, though with certain modifications to make the date of certain modifications to make the date of

both the real and fictional full moons both the real and fictional full moons coincide as nearly as possible. It yields a coincide as nearly as possible. It yields a

date for Easter that can be as early as date for Easter that can be as early as March 22nd and as late as April 25th. March 22nd and as late as April 25th.

Easter EggsEaster Eggs

Wherever Easter is celebrated, there Easter Wherever Easter is celebrated, there Easter eggs are usually to be found. In their modern eggs are usually to be found. In their modern

form, they are frequently artificial, mere form, they are frequently artificial, mere imitations of the real thing, made of chocolate or imitations of the real thing, made of chocolate or marzipan or sugar, or of two pieces of coloured marzipan or sugar, or of two pieces of coloured

and decorated cardboard fitted together to make and decorated cardboard fitted together to make an eggs-shaped case containing some small gift. an eggs-shaped case containing some small gift. These are the Easter eggs of commerce, which These are the Easter eggs of commerce, which now appear in shop-windows almost as soon as, now appear in shop-windows almost as soon as, and sometimes even before, Ash Wednesday is and sometimes even before, Ash Wednesday is past, and by so doing lose much of their original past, and by so doing lose much of their original festival significance. This is a real egg, hard-festival significance. This is a real egg, hard-

boiled, died in bright colors, and sometimes boiled, died in bright colors, and sometimes elaborately decorated. In still appears upon elaborately decorated. In still appears upon

countless breakfast-tables on Eater Day, or is countless breakfast-tables on Eater Day, or is hidden about the house and garden for the hidden about the house and garden for the

children to find.children to find.

The birthday of Jesus is the most joyous holiday in the Christian The birthday of Jesus is the most joyous holiday in the Christian

calendar. We remember the angels' songs of peace on earth, calendar. We remember the angels' songs of peace on earth, good will toward men - a message that was to bring new hope good will toward men - a message that was to bring new hope

and set a new goal for much of mankind. Christmas was not and set a new goal for much of mankind. Christmas was not always observed at the same time, since there was no record of always observed at the same time, since there was no record of the actual date of Jesus' birth. In Russia Christmas is celebrated the actual date of Jesus' birth. In Russia Christmas is celebrated on the 7th Decemberon the 7th December.. Each year in the Christian calendar dates Each year in the Christian calendar dates from the year in which Jesus was then believed to have been from the year in which Jesus was then believed to have been born.born. In Russian Christmas is not only a religious festival but a In Russian Christmas is not only a religious festival but a

time for fun - a time for attending parties, for acting in plays, for time for fun - a time for attending parties, for acting in plays, for singing carols and gay Christmas songs. Christians exchange singing carols and gay Christmas songs. Christians exchange gifts, in memory of the ones the Wise Men brought the Baby gifts, in memory of the ones the Wise Men brought the Baby

Jesus, though in some countries children must wait until the New Jesus, though in some countries children must wait until the New Year for their presents. Christmas is a festive season, when both Year for their presents. Christmas is a festive season, when both children and adults are filled with anticipation and excitement. children and adults are filled with anticipation and excitement. Families are busy putting up decorations. Wreaths of holly and Families are busy putting up decorations. Wreaths of holly and evergreen reassembled and placed about the houses. Fur-trees evergreen reassembled and placed about the houses. Fur-trees

are chosen and decorated with sparklingare chosen and decorated with sparkling garlands and wood garlands and wood ornaments. Christmas trees are a heritage from Germany. One ornaments. Christmas trees are a heritage from Germany. One

story tellsstory tells how Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant how Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation, looked up on his way home fromReformation, looked up on his way home from church one starlit church one starlit Christmas Eve, saw the stars gleaming through the branches of Christmas Eve, saw the stars gleaming through the branches of an evergreenan evergreen tree, and was inspired to light such a tree indoors tree, and was inspired to light such a tree indoors

with candles for his children. Whether or notwith candles for his children. Whether or not that is the true that is the true explanation, it is certain that Christmas trees have long been a explanation, it is certain that Christmas trees have long been a

part of the Germanpart of the German celebration - a custom that gradually celebration - a custom that gradually spread to other countries.spread to other countries.

8th 8th MarchMarch

There are in Russia other family There are in Russia other family parties, for example, 8th March, or parties, for example, 8th March, or

the day of Women. Historically the day of Women. Historically seen, that was a political festival in seen, that was a political festival in

honor of the German women's honor of the German women's communists Clara Zetkin and communists Clara Zetkin and

Rosa Luxembourg. Then, however, Rosa Luxembourg. Then, however, the festival changed into a the festival changed into a

marvelous day when all men marvelous day when all men congratulate their dear women and congratulate their dear women and

give them presents and flowers. give them presents and flowers.

23rd of February23rd of February

There is also the day of Men, or the There is also the day of Men, or the day of the Defenders of the Fatherland, day of the Defenders of the Fatherland, if we call it officially. It is celebrated on if we call it officially. It is celebrated on the 23rd of February. The President the 23rd of February. The President made recently this day work-free. made recently this day work-free.

Some holidays in Russia are dedicated Some holidays in Russia are dedicated to different historical events, for to different historical events, for example, Day of Victory (9thexample, Day of Victory (9th May), Day May), Day of Independence Russia (12th June), of Independence Russia (12th June), Day of Constitution (12th December). Day of Constitution (12th December). In addition, different professional In addition, different professional festivals are celebrated in Russia , like festivals are celebrated in Russia , like day of the Doctors or day of day of the Doctors or day of Paratroopers. Paratroopers.

My favourite holiday isMy favourite holiday is New Year’s Day New Year’s Day