Russian Christmas traditions As you know most Russians don`t celebrate Christmas on December 25, but instead do so on January 7. Christmas day is an official holiday in Russia. It follows on the heels of the New Year holidays which are also days off. While for many this long period of winter holidays is the time of revelry and lots of delicious food, religious Russians are observing the 40-day fast. It ends on the evening of January 6th,the time known as Christmas Eve. Many years ago , one of the most beloved traditions took place on Christmas night.After breaking the 40-day fast family , people used to stay up all night ,walk from house to house and sing Christmas carols. The Christmas night begins a period known as yuletide,a time for yuletide fortune-telling). Young girls would try to read fortune in tea leaves, mirrors, candle wax, barn noises and so on. Many Russian classical authors wrote stories about Christmas and its customs. One of the most beloved stories is Gogol`s fairy tale( Christmas Eve or the night before Christmas) . It starts with the devil stealing the moon, two drunks getting lost in the snowstorm, and a beautiful girl making an unreasonable demand of a courages and handsome young man who adores her. But it all ends as things end on Christmas.The good ones are rewarded.

winter You’ll ask if Russians like winter. Maybe it’s strange but many people will answer no. Russians get tired of the constant colds and look forward for summer. But winter has its own advantages too.By the way in spite of such attitude to winter it’s usual for Russians to congratulate each other with the first snow. All people are pleased with the first snow. Usually it falls in November. People wear warm clothes with colds coming. First these are jackets. Then caps, scarves and gloves are added to them. And Russians wear fur coats in strong colds. Valenoks were worn to warm in the past. Valenoks are special shoes. They are now made in some countries. So if you are going to Russia in winter then don’t forget to take with you more warm clothes or you’ll have to sit at a hotel all the time or to buy something in Russia.Winter for children is always like a holiday. It gives them an opportunity to play in snow. Besides if temperature falls lower than 30 degrees below zero then lessons at school are canceled. And frankly speaking this fact usually pleases children very much. They get an extra day off. Besides it doesn’t worry them to go for a walk on the street with friends. In fact not only children but also adults enjoy having fun in winter. There’s an opportunity to go in for different sports. This time of the year the parks are full of people. Lots of them go skiing. You’ll also find a lot of open and close ice skating rinks. Here you can meet those who stand on the ice skates for the first time and also those who skate quiet well and can even do some tricks. And all that of course is accompanied with music. That makes ice skating even more pleasant thing. They play hockey on some ice skating rinks.

why do we learn foreign languges? It`s necessary to learn foreign languages.Everybody knows his own language, but it`s useful to know foreign languages.I learn foreign language,because I understand that I can use it.I like traveling but it`s difficult to visit countries , when you don`t know the language of these countries.If i know the language of the country, where I`m going to, it`ll be easy to travel there. Knowledge of foreign languages helps people from differnt countries to understand each other, to develop friendship among them.