What Holidays Do You Celebrate?

[Tueuse de Vampires]

It's complicated. My family is not religious, so although we did have Christmas, it was really just about the presents, nothing religious. And well, now that my brother and I are both grown up and out of the house even that is dying out. Apparently, this year my Mom and my bro already arranged some deal that we won't have presents. So, yea, no Christmas really. Can't say I'm sad about it, it's not really my cup of tea anyway.

There's another 'holiday' you could say we celebrate at least occasionally. The Russian New Year (Eve). It's different from the German/English/American/whatever one in that it's like more than just the average New Year (Eve), it's a combination of a lot of popular holidays. Well, first you got the usual New Year's stuff. Then, you also get presents, which you could see as a CHristmas replacement because Russians don't have Christmas in December (there is something in January, but not a lot of people celebrate it...since Russia (in the Soviet Union) was officially religiousless holidays like this died out. And these days most people still don't see the need for it, which I can understand, none of them even grew up with it. So yeah, it's not widely celebrated). Also, it's common to dress up, so it even has elements of Karneval (do they have that in the english speaking world?). Because it's so much this is like THE Russian holiday, the party of the year. I really like it, but we don't do it every year. The years we did do it we were either in Russia or had visitors/visited people who knew about it (not necessarily Russians, sometimes also old college mates of my parents. But since they all studied in Russia, they all know the Russian traditions).
So I voted 'other' btw.

 

[Blayke]

In a way we celebrate
"Chrismakuhh"

Because my cousins other half is Jewish.
And we have a BIG family celebration

 

[Tueuse de Vampires]

There's another 'holiday' you could say we celebrate at least occasionally. The Russian New Year (Eve). It's different from the German/English/American/whatever one in that it's like more than just the average New Year (Eve), it's a combination of a lot of popular holidays. Well, first you got the usual New Year's stuff. Then, you also get presents, which you could see as a CHristmas replacement because Russians don't have Christmas in December (there is something in January, but not a lot of people celebrate it...since Russia (in the Soviet Union) was officially religiousless holidays like this died out. And these days most people still don't see the need for it, which I can understand, none of them even grew up with it. So yeah, it's not widely celebrated). Also, it's common to dress up, so it even has elements of Karneval (do they have that in the english speaking world?). Because it's so much this is like THE Russian holiday, the party of the year. I really like it, but we don't do it every year. The years we did do it we were either in Russia or had visitors/visited people who knew about it (not necessarily Russians, sometimes also old college mates of my parents. But since they all studied in Russia, they all know the Russian traditions).
So I voted 'other' btw.

Writing in the decoration thread I just realized I missed some stuff about the Russian New Year's. Well you also have a tree, with usually lots of candy and tinsel on it. Which is nice because when the holiday is over you get to eat all the candy 😀
And, for children, there is this subpart of New Year's called Jolka (traditionally celebrated everywhere from kindergarten to school, to all the kids from your parents company etc), where children pretty much say poems, sing songs, watch some themed theater play and then get loads of candy for it. When I was 7 and we were in Russia I remember how we went to tons of these Jolka things and each time got SO MUCH candy out of it. Seriously. You people wouldn't believe how much candy they give away in Russia around that time of the year.
And, something pretty crucial, there is a Russian equivalent to Santa Claus called Ded Moros (literal translation 'father frost') and he has a female helper called Snegorotshka. I added an image to visualize things a bit better for you.

I probably still missed some stuff, but those where just some very crucial additions I wanted to make. Seems like nobody else celebrates this holiday (well nobody i know from the Boards is Russian), so I wanna do a good job explaining it 🙂

 

[Karol]

I´m not a christian at ALL, but I love Christmas *_*
I mean, everybody is happy, I have an excuse to spend money like a crazy person, there are blinking lights, cute songs, sales everywhere, hope, people doing charity... and all the family party, food food and laughs. Ah, good food, a really really good food and another excuse to eat a lot xD And gifts *_* it´s soooo cool to send gifts to everybody you now, give chocolates to the clerks you like, that girl in the bakery that always say "good morning" to you *_*

love love christmas *_*

Ah, btw, nah, I don´t believe in Jesus, and stars falling, ressurection day and yada yada. I just like the mood. That´s what Christmas is all about, for me! ^^