A long standing New Years Eve tradition in Red Square is for Russia’s president to deliver an address at midnight. The address is broadcast throughout Russia on television and radio. More Russians will hear this address than any other speech delivered by the President during the year. This makes disrupting the event very attractive to dissidents. That may also explain why attending dissidents were quickly arrested last night.

Police detained dozens of anti-Kremlin activists, including an 82-year-old Soviet dissident dressed as Santa Claus’ female helper, at a New Year’s Eve rally on Moscow’s main shopping street Thursday.

Hundreds of riot police surrounded a Christmas tree in the centre of the city and arrested the opposition activists as they gathered to defend their right to peaceful protest. (Reuters)

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Russian New Year celebrations include a visit from Father Frost, a Russian Santa Claus of sorts.

Meet Father Frost, Russias answer to Santa Claus and the giver of gifts! His image of an old man clad in a red robe, with a white beard and holding a staff, is radically changing. Make a wish and he will try to make it come true.

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As we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to free the world from tyranny, we should also remember a few of history’s lessons. The ultimate defense against tyranny is vigilance, and it’s something that is sorely needed right now in both the US and Russia.

We should also remember that in 1945, Hitler’s tyranny was only defeated by the combined efforts of Russian and the US. It’s doubtful that either nation could have overcome the German forces alone.

We honor those who sacrificed their lives for us to have the opportunity to be free today, We we have a sacred debt it to them to be dilegent custodians of the freedom they gave us.

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Today is Orthodox Easter. This video takes us to one of Russian Orthodox Christianity’s most revered sites for the holiday.

Mark Ames invites us to celebrate the Orthodox Easter in Sergiev Posad! Take a walk around the beautiful old town and visit the amazing cathedrals on Russia Today.

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Kamchatka is one of the wildest places in Russia - an area where fishing still drives the economy and men drive their dogs through the snow. Its a paradise for thrill-seeking tourists and a sanctuary for its animals. This is Kamchatka, Russias land of ice and fire.

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New Years Eve precedes the most important holiday in Russia. Celebration begins in evening as friends and family share a festive dinner. Shortly before midnight, they toast to the old year. It is a custom in Russia to listen to the speech of the head of state broadcast over TV and radio. The President summarizes the events and achievements of the past year and wishes the citizens of Russia a Happy New Year. At midnight the speech ends and the people hear the Kremlin chimes ringing the New Year. The chimes are followed by national anthem.

While listening all are sharing Champaign and wishing each other Happy New Year. Afterward many people like to go outdoors to light f fireworks. Festive performances with songs, dances and games are held at the central of Russian cities and towns.

Russian tradition holds many beliefs concerning the celebration of the New Years Eve. The most famous saying asserts: As you meet the New Year, so will you spend it. So, everyone does their best to celebrate this holiday merrily and in the hearty company of friends and family. They also say, that one must leave all the debts to the old year, i.e. return the debts before the beginning of the coming year. On the New Years Eve one should be wearing their best clothes, that will be of the lucky colors of the year to come. The most significant tradition of the New Years Eve is making wishes. Russians believe that the wishes made on the New Years Eve are certain to be fulfilled in the New Year. They have a unique way of making wishes that is said to give a one hundred percent guarantee of fulfillment: while the chimes are striking twelve, one should write the wish on a sheet of paper, burn it on a candle, mix the ashes in his/her glass of Champaign and drink it before the chimes cease striking.

In Red Square in Moscow, the national anthem is played, followed by an address from the Russian President.

Russian National Anthem

President’s New Year address from 1970

President’s New Year address from 1989

President’s New Year address from 2007

In this video, Russia Today’s Martyn Andrews visits a festive factory in the Moscow region! We discuss the history of New Years Eve in Russia and why the Bolsheviks banned Christmas trees for years. The Moscow Out team also presents to you the best places to celebrate New Years Eve in true Russian Style!

Here’s a bit of the New Years eve celebration from Russian TV. In this clip TV personalities try singing with cartoon characters.

And here’s a typical New Years Eve party.

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Today is the Day of Militsiya (Police Day) in Russia

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