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Merry Christmas or...

Russians are orthodox. In terms of Christmas celebration it basically means that they don’t have it on 24th. Russian Christmas is on January 7th and celebrated less than a New Year.
If you wonder why… It’s all because of the soviet times when government tried to erase all traces of religion and religious celebrations.

What to say: Happy New Year! (Schastlivogo Novogo Goda! S Novym Godom!)
When: 1st of January
What to drink: Champaign
What to eat: Olivier salad (potato, eggs, onions, pickles, green pea, sausage, mayonnaise)
Movies for December 31: S legkim parom (I cannot translate exactly, a specific phrase what you say to someone after banya, romantic movie), Ivan Vasilievich menyaet professiyu (Ivan Vasilievich change profession, a comedy)
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