Christmas in Slovenia, besides being rich with tradition, is also great for travelers. Old Town Ljubljana drips with Christmas lights and the Ljubljana Christmas Market provides an opportunity for everyone to sample Slovenian Christmas foods, purchase crafts, and view performances. Live nativity scenes, like the one at Franciscan Church on Prešeren Square, recall Christ's birth in the manger. Sample potica, a traditional, nut- or seed-filled bread if you can, or try the recipe for yourself when you get back home.
Christmas Lights in Ljubljana photo credit: CC by Gandalfar
The Christmas season officially opened this weekend in Vilnius, with the lighting of the Christmas tree and the opening of Town Hall Square's very first Christmas Market. The Vilnius Christmas Market features a temporary coffee museum. Another tree on Cathedral Square is live and decorated with Lithuanian straw ornaments, which are a part of Lithuania's Christmas traditions.
A photo gallery of the tree lighting ceremony at the Vilnius Christmas Market can be viewed at Alfa.lt
Christmas Lights on Gediminas Avenue, Vilnius photo credit: CC by eugenijusr
The Russian New Year is an event important to Russian culture. Celebrated for decades in lieu of Christmas, the New Year is an amalgamation of both holidays in some respects. The New Year's tree, like the one here pictured in Moscow, takes the place of the Christmas tree and Ded Moroz visits children with presents. Fireworks displays are viewed in the brisk Russian winter air, champagne and vodka are drunk, and people attend dinners, parties, and concerts.
A lesser-known aspect of the Russian New Year is the practice of celebrating a second New Year - the Old New Year - on January 14th. This date coincides with the New Year of the Gregorian calendar, which is observed for religious holidays and was discarded for general purposes in favor of the Julian calendar used today.
Read more: The Russian New Year
The Russian New Year is imbued with romance and magic. Vicki Boykis' description says it best:
It's a time when anything is possible, when all the wishes you make can come true, and when you can truly, truly start over. It is a time when many Russian fairy tales take place and when magic abounds in the snow-covered pine woods and the Nutcracker comes out of his casing. (What's the Deal with the Russian New Year Tree?)
So if you're looking for a new start, think about how the Russians celebrate the New Year. Resolve to travel, connect with old friends overseas, research your family history in Eastern Europe, take a culture class, or learn a new language. Start now: raise your glass and say "С Новым годом!" (Not sure how? Listen to the Russian pronunciation of this common holiday greeting at Listen 2 Russian).
More Russian Culture Monday
Russian New Year's Tree in Moscow photo credit: CC by chudo.sveta
Many people consider St. Petersburg Russia's most beautiful city, and proposed plans to build a modern tower in the historic center has made headlines, caused protests, and propelled UNESCO to take action over this Russian World Heritage Site. Now a referendum will be held by Russian officials to gain a greater understanding about how residents feel about having the tower - which will dwarf surrounding buildings by hundreds of feet - built on this location. The proposed tower breaks with a tradition dating back to the time of Peter the Great, who said that no building in St. Petersburg could be taller than the Peter and Paul Fortress. While rigid height limitations for buildings may be considered impractical for a city like St. Petersburg, the tower's modern design (photo) would dominate the city's skyline if built. The tower is supposed to house Gazprom offices.
