Russian culture, holidays and everyday etiquette

Public holidays through the year

On public holidays, offices, banks and many services close or work shorter hours. Plan your paperwork around them.

Date	Holiday	What to know
First days of January	New Year holidays	The main family holiday, followed by several days off
7 January	Orthodox Christmas	A religious holiday, with church services often at night
23 February	Defender of the Fatherland Day	Men and boys receive congratulations
8 March	International Women’s Day	Women receive flowers and small gifts
1 May	Spring and Labour Day	Often the start of the season at the dacha (country house)
9 May	Victory Day	A day of remembrance
12 June	Russia Day	The national holiday, with concerts and events
4 November	Unity Day	A day off in autumn

When a holiday falls on a weekend, the day off usually moves. The government publishes the calendar of days off each year.

New Year and Christmas

New Year is the most important holiday for most Russians. Families decorate a fir tree, Grandfather Frost (Ded Moroz) brings presents, and people stay up to welcome the new year at midnight. Orthodox Christmas follows on 7 January, because the Orthodox Church uses the old Julian calendar. Universities close for the holidays, and winter exams often take place just before or just after them.

Victory Day

On 9 May, Russia remembers the end of the Second World War in Europe, which Russians call the Great Patriotic War. Almost every family lost someone in that war. Many cities usually hold parades and evening fireworks, and people lay flowers at war memorials. Be respectful on this day.

Maslenitsa and Knowledge Day

Maslenitsa is a week of celebration at the end of winter, before Orthodox Lent. People eat pancakes (blini), meet outdoors, and on the last day burn a straw figure that stands for winter. Its dates change every year.

1 September is Knowledge Day, the start of the school and university year. It is not a day off, but schools and universities hold ceremonies, and children bring flowers to their teachers.

Seasons and the White Nights

• Winter brings snow, ice rinks in the parks, skiing and early darkness.
• Spring starts with the thaw: melting snow, puddles and slush.
• Summer is short and warm. People spend as much time as they can outdoors, by rivers and lakes, or at the dacha.
• Autumn begins with “golden autumn” in September, then turns rainy and cold.

In Saint Petersburg, early summer is the time of the White Nights, when the sky stays light even around midnight. At night the bridges over the river open to let ships through. If you live on the other side, check the bridge times before you go out late.

Museums, theatres and concerts

Some of Russia’s museums and theatres are known around the world:

• Saint Petersburg: the Hermitage, the Russian Museum and the Mariinsky Theatre.
• Moscow: the Tretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the Bolshoi Theatre.
• Other cities: most big cities, including Kazan, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk, have an opera and ballet theatre, concert halls and local museums.

A few tips:

• Many museums have lower prices for students. Take your student card and ask at the ticket office.
• Buy theatre tickets on the theatre’s official website or at its box office, not from resellers. Popular performances sell out early.
• Leave your coat at the cloakroom (garderob). It is usually free, and in theatres it is expected.
• People dress neatly for the theatre, but formal clothes are not required.

Everyday etiquette

Russians may smile less at strangers than people in many countries. This is not unfriendliness: people are usually warm once you know them.

• Greetings. Say “Zdravstvuyte” (Здравствуйте) to people you do not know and “Privet” (Привет) to friends. Men usually shake hands. With teachers, officials and older people, use the polite form “vy” and their first name and patronymic, for example Anna Sergeyevna.
• At home. Take your shoes off at the door. Your hosts may offer you slippers. Do not arrive empty-handed: a cake, sweets or fruit make a good gift.
• Flowers. Give an odd number of flowers. Even numbers are for funerals and memorials.
• Punctuality. Be on time for classes, exams and appointments in offices. If you will be late, send a message.
• At the table. Hosts often offer more food several times, and it is polite to try a little. If you do not drink alcohol, simply say so. This is accepted.
• On public transport. Give your seat to older people, pregnant women and parents with small children.

Faith and religious life

Russia is a secular state with freedom of religion, and people of different faiths live side by side.

• Orthodox Christianity is the largest faith. You will see churches in every city.
• Islam has large communities, notably in Tatarstan and the North Caucasus, and there are mosques in Moscow and many other cities.
• Catholic and Protestant churches are found in the big cities.
• There are also Jewish communities, and Buddhist regions such as Buryatia and Kalmykia.

When you visit an Orthodox church, dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. Women usually cover their hair, and men take off their hats. Ask before you take photos, especially during a service. Mosques have similar rules, and you take your shoes off at the entrance.

Your university’s international office or other students can tell you where to find a place of worship or a community from your country.

Your next step

Culture is easier to enjoy when you understand the language. Our Russian courses go from A0 to B1, and our weekly speaking club, free for RusBridge students, lets you practise with native speakers. For more about life in Russia, read our guides to cities and daily life.