The best Russian festivals and celebrations
The best of Russia’s festivals celebrate the rich Russian culture, religion, and history, alongside a vibrant mix of music, film, theatre, food, and snow festivals.
Traditional Russian festivals celebrate religious occasions such as Easter and Christmas plus historical and political events. Sprinkled in are summer music festivals and events celebrating food, film and theater – and, of course, snow and ice. Here’s an interesting mix of some of the best festivals and celebrations in Russia.
7 January: Russian Orthodox Christmas
Along with other religious celebrations, Christmas was banned in Russia after the 1917 Revolution. Russians could only openly observe Christmas in 1992. The Russian Orthodox church – and almost all Russians – celebrate Christmas (the birth of Jesus) on 7 January. It’s mainly a religious occasion, when families gather together to attend church services on Christmas Eve (6 January). They then go home to feast on a special holy supper, which includes kutia, a porridge with raisins. Some people attend all-night vigils at church; others just go on Christmas morning.
25 January: Tatyana’s Day
Tatyana’s Day is Russian Students Day. When Elizabeth, Empress of Russia signed a decree to establish Moscow State University on 25 January 1755 – the saint’s day of third-century Christian martyr St Tatyana – St Tatyana became the patron saint of students. Most university towns have St Tatyana celebrations, holding balls and choosing the best Tatyana from the students.
January: International Festival of Snow and Ice Sculpture, Krasnoyarsk
The Magic Ice of Siberia is an international competition on the banks of the Yenisei River in Krasnoyarsk. Teams of sculptors, architects, and artists create massive frozen artworks to compete in two categories: snow and ice. Runs 23 February–12 March 2019.
February: Maslenitsa Festival
Seven weeks before Easter are the week-long Maslenitsa festivities – Russia’s pancake week. They combine the pagan tradition of marking the transition from winter to spring with the Christian tradition of feasting before Lent. Each day there are different activities: making Maslenitsa dolls from straw and old clothes, making and eating lots of pancakes (blinis), sledging, playing on seesaws, singing, fistfights, visiting the in-laws, exchanging gifts, feasting, and drinking tea or vodka. The Maslenitsa dolls burn on the final day, and people jump over bonfires.
Celebrations start the night before Easter Sunday. Churches fill with lights and, at dawn, the bells ring out to announce the arrival of Easter. Everyone paints boiled eggs in bright colors and has a traditional feast. Typical Easter foods are round sweet bread as well as Easter cake served with sweetened curds, butter and raisins. Runs 4–10 March 2019.
8 March: International Women’s Day
Symbolizing women’s equality, most people in Russia refer to International Women’s Day just as ‘the eighth of March’. It’s a day for celebrating women’s achievements. People have time off work, workplaces organize celebrations, and everyone gives gifts to the important women in their lives.
April: Moscow International Film Festival
The very first Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF) was in 1935 when the jury was headed up by world-renowned film-maker Sergei Eisenstein (of Battleship Potemkin fame). It became a regular event on the cultural calendar in 1959. More than 200 films from 50 different countries are screened, with the best picture winning the Golden George. The 2019 MIFF takes place from 18–25 April.
March/April: Golden Mask Theater Festival, Moscow
The Golden Mask Theater Festival is an all-Russian theater festival and competition. It covers all genres from drama to modern dance and puppet theater. The Golden Mask festivals takes place in Moscow, with the awards ceremony scheduled for 16 April 2019.
May-July: White Nights Festival, St Petersburg
Due to St Petersburg’s northerly location, the sun never fully sets in St Petersburg between May and mid-June. You can talk a walk at midnight and still see the sun on the horizon. This provides the romantic backdrop for the annual White Nights Festival, an arts festival with music and dance by Russian and international stars. The Mariinsky Theatre has a program of more than 175 operas, ballets, and classical concerts – and locals snap up tickets pretty quickly. There are carnivals, also, the best being in the suburb of Peterhof where actors dress up in historical costume from the time of Peter the Great and re-enact historical events.
9 May: Victory Day
Victory Day celebrates the end of World War II with parades, spectacular fireworks and displays of military strength. The most impressive event is in Moscow’s Red Square, where soldiers, tanks, missiles, and other military equipment are on display on the ground while military planes fly overhead. Military memorials all over Russia are spruced up, and there are displays in museums.
June: Scarlet Sails, St Petersburg
The White Nights Festival culminates with Scarlet Sails, the largest annual public gathering in Russia with more than a million people watching a mock pirate battle on the River Neva, a firework show, and a tall ship with sails the color of blood. The event celebrates the end of the school year. Runs 23–24 June 2019.
June: Ivan Kupala Night
This is a summer solstice celebration related to John the Baptist (Ivan means ‘John’ and kupala is related to a Slavic word for ‘bathing’) and 23–24 June in the Julian calendar is used by the Orthodox church. Girls wear flower or herb wreaths on their heads, and in the evening the wreaths are decorated with burning candles and set afloat; the girl whose wreath travels the farthest will have the happiest year ahead, and the candle that burns the longest means a long life. People light bonfires and jump over them for good luck. Some seek a special flowering fern said to direct the finder towards treasure. There are fireworks, of course.
June: Taste of Moscow
Each year a selection of Moscow’s top restaurants opens their doors for three days of masterclasses and tasting sessions, open to all the family (there’s usually a special entertainment zone with a children’s menu). There are also zones for different types of food, drink, and music to create a party atmosphere. Around 200 different masterclasses are on offer, for both Russian and international foods. The 2019 Taste of Moscow takes place 27–30 June.
June: Wild Mint Folk Festival
This large, open-air world folk music festival takes place in the Ethnomir complex in Moscow every summer. Over several days, Russian and international musicians perform a variety of folk-based genres – afro-beat, ethno-jazz, raga, Russian folk – and there are also food stalls, markets, and body and soul workshops. The 2019 festival will take place 28–30 June.
July: Nashestvie, Moscow
This big, open-air rock festival focuses on Russian rock bands. Nashestvie is organized by Russian rock station Nashe Radio (the station responsible for Russian’s major rock music chart ‘Chart Dozen’). The festival’s name means ‘invasion’ in Russian but many people call the festival the ‘Russian Woodstock’. It’s a good place to see both established and up-and-coming musicians from around Russia and neighboring states. The 2019 festival takes place 5–7 July.
August: Afisha Picnic, Moscow
This may just be a one-day event but it’s one of the oldest and best-known music festivals in Russia. It’s held in the grounds of Kolomenskoye, a former Tsar’s estate on the banks of the Moscow River. It attracts big Russian and international names such as the Kaiser Chiefs, Courtney Love, Jamiroquai and Madness. The 2019 Afisha Picnic festival takes place on 3 August.
Early November: Day of Accord and Reconciliation, Moscow
There’s a big parade in Red Square and many other events, usually around the Kremlin, to celebrate the communist revolution in 1917/1918.
Mid-December to mid-January: Russian Winter Festival
All Russian cities have Winter Festivals celebrating the best of Russian culture, but the biggest and best is in Moscow. This is a huge annual event with activities all around the city, which is decked with thousands of fairy lights. In Izmailovo Park you can also watch performances of folk songs and dances, ice skate, sled or take a ride in one of the three-horse sleighs called troikas. Gorky Park is famous for its magnificent ice sculptures. In Revolution Square you can buy crafts, eat warm pancakes or bagels spread with jam or honey, listen to a balalaika concert or watch a fashion show.
December/January: New Year
As Christmas was banned for many years in Russia, many of the Christmas traditions were diverted to the New Year celebrations on New Years’ Eve on 31 December. People now decorate New Year trees instead of Christmas trees and Ded Moroz (Father Frost), accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), delivers presents instead of Father Christmas. Families enjoy feasts, listen to the President’s New Year Speech and the Kremlin clock strikes midnight. Many Russians also celebrate a second New Year on 13–14 January or Old New Year, a tradition dating back to the old Julian calendar. Concerts, carnivals and street fairs – and a large ice rink in Red Square – are part of the fun.
Throughout the year: Chekhov International Theater Festival, Moscow and beyond
Established in 1992 and named in honor of Russia’s most famous playwright and author, Anton Chekhov, the annual Chekhov International Theater Festival brings together theater companies from all over the world as well as Russia. There are also joint productions. Performances are primarily in Moscow but there are sometimes shows that tour other major cities such as St Petersburg and into the regions.
8 Festivals In Russia To Be A Part Of In 2021 That Are Otherworldly Extravaganzas
It is actually very true that if you want to get the real taste of a lands culture, then you will need to visit that place during the festival season. Russia is not an exception in this manner. Many travelers prefer to visit `this place during the famous festivals in Russia. From music festivals in Russia to national festivals in Russia, each and every event are attended by millions of people irrespective of nationalities or religion. Be a part of these celebrations in 2021.
Top 8 Festivals In Russia
Each and every country has numerous festivals to celebrate. The festivals in the given list below mention Russia festivals 2021. Have a look.
1. The New Year
This is one of the most important festivals in Russia, as it is celebrated respectively throughout the nation. If you are planning to visit Russia during New Years then you must be present at Red Square for the amazing fireworks that happening at night. During this time you will feel the festive mood at every inch of the place with parties, feasts and open-air festivals in various parks where you can sing and dance as you like it.
Date: December 31st and January 1st
2. Orthodox Christmas
In Russia, it is not like any other country, where the end of festivals come during the new year. In fact, it is a kind of start to the upcoming Christmas festivals. In Russia, you must know that Christmas comes on January 7 and the time in between you can witness the place getting decked up with utmost beauty. Each and every bridge, park, public places decorated with beautiful lighting. So you better plan your holiday in Russia during this time has no one should miss this for the world. Although it is celebrated at a different time, the spirit of Christmas women’s very much alive within Russia. So if you are planning to visit his country during January, you can celebrate Christmas a second time after celebrating it on 25th of December.
Date: 7th Jan 2021
3. Maslenitsa Festival
This festival is also called pancake festival, for the whole week, it is pancakes everywhere. Basically, this festival celebrates the farewell of winter and the dawn of spring. If you visit Russia during this time you will face carnival-like celebrations going on everywhere for an entire week. It marks the last few days consuming milk and eggs. That is why it is friendship cakes which are referred by all during the week. So if you are planning to visit then you can eat many fresh pancakes and also witness the burning session of a straw structure which they call ‘Lady Maslenitsa’.
Date: happens sometime in February or at the beginning of March.
4. Reindeer Herder’s Festival
This one on the list is one of the most famous winter festivals in Russia. This is a location which you cannot witness while staying in the cities like Moscow or St Petersburg. For this, you will have to reach the remote areas of the country where Nenetes of Yamal still prefers a lot the herding of the reindeer. Basically, this is an endeavor for saving the unique occupation of herding the Reindeer. During the occasion, you can spot many races and also skiing with the help of the reindeer. It is a festival which is enjoyed by the students from outside of the country. You can also join the small activities going on to cheer up people. You will also find mouth-watering snacks which are made from the meat of Reindeer.
Date: By the end of March
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5. Russian Orthodox Easter Week
Is a festival that bears the mark of tradition in Russia. The observation of Easter according to the Russian calendar is quite different from the rest of the world. During this time the rituals related to Easter like those of Palm Sundays, are maintained devotedly by the Russians. This is the best time for deserts and if you end up being in Russia during this period you can also no taste that.
Date: 2nd May 2021
6. Moscow Golden Mask Festival
This festival includes a lot of time, almost two months when you will see many artistic activities around. This festival seems like a worship of the ancient art of drama. During this whole time in many places, you will get to see various performances all opera and ballads happening. Also when you form in drama and dance are also showcased within these performances. If your vacation to Russia is scheduled during this time then you will also be able to see the honorable award ceremonies happening on the very last day of this festival.
Date: mainly observed during the time of March and April.
7. Victory Day
This is basically a festival which includes a lot of Patriotic sentiments while remembering the victory of Soviet Union after a tremendous fight with the Nazi power. It is also broadly celebrated by the military unit of Russia. This is the reason why you will get to see a lot of fireworks, parades by the military and many more. The whole military unit does a lot of hard work to showcase their discipline, other segments include the showcasing of many war tanks and missiles. So you will feel the emotion of patriotism while watching the Russian military marching down on the street of Red Square.
Date: 9th May
8. St Petersburg White Nights Festival
The time you will spend in St Petersburg should be between May and July because of this enriching festival which makes the vacation of every tourist a memorable one. It is quite amusing to realize that during this period of time. During this time not only that you will get to see top class Russian performers giving their best performances in various theatres. The Mariinsky Theatre deserves a special mention for their arrangements of 175 ballads and operas. Also in every corner of the performers who spend the night entertaining the passer-by. White Nights festival is actually celebrated with the purpose of making music art and dance a part of their culture.
Date: happens within the month of May and August.
From the article above you can an idea some of the famous festivals in Russia. Apart from the cultural festival, the film festival in Russia has gained a worldwide platform. So if you are going to visit Russia, get ready for the amazing roller coaster ride where you will not only see a beautiful country but also will get indulged in its culture.
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Ekta believes that unless you are not riding on a wave you are not living at all. She is a foodie and loves binge-watching Game of Thrones. When she’s not living her dream you can find her in the kitchen cooking.
