WORKING HOURS OF ORGANIZATIONS

	Banks	Offices	Shops
Weekdays	10a.m.–6 p.m.	9.30a.m.-6 p.m.	10a.m.-7p.m.
Lunchtime	1p.m.-2p.m. 2p.m.-3p.m.	1p.m.-2p.m.	1p.m.-2p.m.
Saturdays	9a.m.-2p.m.	Varies	10a.m.-6p.m.
Sundays	Closed	Closed	10a.m.-6p.m. Closed

OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS

1 January. New Year's Day - the most cheerful and grandiose holiday in Russia. The holiday is being celebrated on the night from the 31st of December to the 1st of January. It is very similar to Catholic Christmas and usually is celebrated with a family. People cook gorgeous festive dinner, invite relatives, present gifts to each other, sing songs and dance. At 12 o'clock, when the New Year starts, everybody drinks champagne listening to the chimes (in Red Square or on TV) and make wishes for the coming year. Then the celebration continue with fireworks and the masquerade on the main square in the center of the town under a big New Year tree. This is a special time for children. They are waiting for Father Frost ("Ded Moroz", closely related to Santa Claus) and Snow Maiden ("Snegurachka", his granddaughter) to bring them presents.

7 January. Orthodox Christmas. The Orthodox Church still follows the old calendar (Julian), which differs from the Gregorian - European by 13 days. On this day churches throughout the country hold services. People visit their relatives or invite guests. Young girls begin two-week fortune-telling hoping to see their future husband. This period from 7 till 19th of January is called "Sviatki" (Saints). In the old days it was time of masquerades and sviatochny balls. At night people did not sleep, they went from a house to the house glorifying the Christ and koljadovali (sang koljadki -Russian Christmas carols) for sweets and other entertainments. The ceremony includes wishing of wealth and happiness for everybody.

23 February. The Day of the Defenders of the Motherland. It is Men's Day as every man in our country is a potential defender. On this day women present gifts to their sons, husbands, fathers and brothers.

8 March. International Women's Day. All men try to do something pleasant for their daughters, wives, mothers and beloved ones on this day. They present them flowers (usually mimosas, tulips and roses), gifts and shower with compliments. They are also supposed to do all the housework (if only for a day it becomes their duty).

1, 2 May. Spring and Labor Day. The 1st of May is the traditional holiday of spring. Even though no longer celebrated on a same grand scale as it was during Soviet times, this event retains the festive nature, with colorful parade through Moscow's Red Square and St.Petersburg's Palace Square. Most of the people prefer to spend these days just relaxing, going for picnics, meeting with friends and occupying themselves with their gardens in countryside.

9 May. Victory Day. Flowers and wreaths are placed on soldier tombs on this day, to commemorate those who died in World War II. Parades are held at war memorials such as the Piskaryovskoye Cemetery in St.Petersburg. Veterans put on their full uniform and all military rewards. The finale of the celebration is a spectacular display of firework over the river or the central square of the city.

12 June. Independence Day. It is Russia's newest holiday, which commemorates the adoption in 1991 of the "Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Federation". An official holiday with fireworks in the evening.

7 November. Day of Accord and Reconciliation. A traditional holiday for nearly 75 years in honor of the Anniversary of the October Revolution (according to the old calendar, the revolution took place on Oct 25). It's still an official holiday (day off) in Russia though the name has been changed.

12 December. Constitution Day. On this day in 1993 the main law of Russian Federation was authorized on results of a national referendum.

FESTIVALS, SPECIAL EVENTS

13 January. Old New Year's Day. It comes from the 13 days difference between the Old Russian and European calendars as well. Since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1918 Russia has been celebrating two New Year's holidays. On this day people do not exchange gifts but they just visit and invite each other for a holiday dinner.

25 January. Tatyana's Day. It is the date of the foundation of the Moscow State University and the czarina Katherina the Great turned this day into students' day. This is the end of the exam session for students so it is a merry holiday for them. Also it is the angel's day for all the girls with the name Tatiana.

14 February. St.Valentine's Day is now celebrated in Russia like everywhere in the world with the giving flowers, Valentine cards and other gifts between couples in love.

1 April. The Day of Laugh (Fools' Day). It is a merry day, playing tricks and jests are in the order of things. All information coming from TV screens and newspapers cause distrust and smiles because it is a day of fun. The motto of this day: "Pervaye aprelya - nikamu nye veryu" - "Do not trust anybody on 1 April").

Last Saturday of May. Unveiling of fountains (at Petergof (Petrodvorets)). Big concert program with participation of brass band, ensembles of classical music, ballroom dances, soloists of an opera and ballet. Ceremonial launch of fountains.

27 May. Founding of St.Petersburg Day. The city celebrates with special concerts, theater performances and fireworks.

Early June. Peterburgskiy Pivnoy Festival (St.Petersburg Beer Festival). This event begins with a parade down Nevsky prospect and ends with a fireworks display, throughout the city center.

21, June - 11, July. White Nights Festival. While the sun hardly sets, many musical concerts, theatrical performances, street events, fireworks and other celebrations take place throughout Moscow, St Petersburg and the Golden Ring area.

Last week of June. Festival-festivaley (Festival of Festivals) International film festival, film demonstrations in the cinemas throughout the city.

End of June. Tsarskoe Selo Carnival (at Pushkin (Tsarskoe Selo)). A traditional Tsarskoselsky Carnival in Pushkin (15mi/25km from St.Petersburg) gathering annually more than a million of Russian and foreign participants from Great Britain, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Poland, the USA and Finland. Big Carnival Parade, king and queen elections, exhibitions, different competitions, music and firework shows take place on this day.

Last Sunday of July. Navy Day In St.Petersburg, the fleet of Leningradsky naval base is displayed about the city. Performances and concerts are arranged on the Tip of the Basil Island and on the Palace Square.

1 September. Day of Knowledge. It's the beginning of a school year for both school pupils and University students. Trim dressed children go to schools with flowers for teachers. Usually there is a ceremonial line with a school bell tinkling and class meetings before the lessons start.

8 September. Siege of Leningrad Day. This day marks the end of the 900-day siege of former Leningrad during World War II and includes special ceremonies at the Piskarovskoye Cemetery.

Mid-September. Festival of Fountains (at Petergof (Petrodvorets)). Harmony of the exquisite classical music, fascinate light effects, water-show, fantastic fireworks and graceful ballet dancers soaring on a background of the Big Cascade of Peterhof.

FOLK HOLIDAYS

1st week of March. Maslenitsa ("Blinyi" Day - Pancake Day). This holiday stems from the Pagan tradition of making bliny (pancakes) to honor the coming of spring; blini, served with homemade jams, honey, caviar, fresh cream and butter, represent the sun. Every day of the week during Maslenitsa has its special name and special rites, ex: on Friday all sons-in-law have to visit their mothers-in-law. The culminations of the holiday are Sunday festivals in the major cities' squares and parks with the burning of a big doll of straw, snowball fighting, sledging and dancing.

April 20-25. (changes each year according to the Orthodox calendar) Paskha (Orthodox Easter). It is a big religious holiday. Easter cakes and paskhas (rich mixture of sweetened curds, butter and raisins) are baked on this day. People paint eggs in different bright colors and present them to friends and relatives as an Easter salutation. The traditional greeting, if translated from Russian, says: "Khristos voskres!" ("Christ has arisen!") and the answer is: "Voistinu voskrese!" ("He has truly arisen!").

Sunday following Easter. Red Hill. This day is considered to be the best for wedding ceremonies. Traditionally, it was associated with spring welcoming ceremonies.

24 June. Ivan Kupala's Day. (European analogue - Holiday of St. John the Baptist) It is an old Eastern Slav holiday of the summer solstice. This holiday is connected with the mass bathing and all that related to water. According to the popular belief one must not sleep as evil spirits play tricks at this night. Witches, wizards, mermaids injure with all their power. Formerly young people swam in rivers till late at night, danced, sank flower wreathes with lighted candles to river. Those who were going to marry jumped over the fire together and if their hands don't unclasp, it considered that they would be together. Some of these traditions are still preserved so don't be surprised if you get wet on this day.

7 weeks after Easter. Troitsa (the Trinity) On Troitsa the houses were usually decorated with fresh green branches. The maiden's clothes were put on young birch-trees and songs and dances round the birch-trees took place. The garlands made of birch branches and flowers were put into water for fortune telling. This holiday is considered to be the main Memorial Day when people visit the cemeteries and observe funeral rites.

August 14, 19, 29 Honey Spas/Apple Spas/Nut Spas It is the celebration of a wealthy harvest of fruit, honey and nuts.

PUBLIC CUSTOMS
Russians usually shake hands when meeting someone but this concerns men for the most part. Women just nod and smile or kiss a cheek when meet close friends. In case of formal presentation like everywhere in the world there is a courteous tradition to kiss woman's hand.

Russians are very hospitable and there is a good tradition to blow round frequently. You should bring a gift if you are invited for a family dinner. It can be a bottle of wine, some sweet stuff, cake, flowers (odd number only; even is accepted for funerals). You should take off your shoes upon the entry to an apartment (most likely you'll be given the slippers - "tapochki"). It is almost undoubtedly that you'll be given an object you have been delighted with during your visit so be careful in your fits. If you decide to make a present to your Russian friend probably you will need to offer it a few times as there is a tradition (or politeness) in Russia to refuse three times before accept a gift.

It is essential to give a place to oldsters and women with children in the public transport. In the church women have to tie a scarf or shawl on their heads and wear a long skirt. Men have to bare the heads.

Russians are quite superstitious people (even if they don't want to acknowledge this). Thus, for example:

At first sight, Russians may appear to be cold and always rushing, pushing, rarely smile but if you know them a little better you will see that in private they are warm, loving and have extremely close relationships with friends and family. This is the side of Russians.

The "real" Russia is filled with people who are open, friendly and generous to a fault right from the minute they meet you.