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| Dear Traveller, |
| Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Go Russia team! |
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We can’t believe it’s that time again! Christmas is almost upon us and while we are enjoying the festivities here in the UK our thoughts also turn to Russia. Christmas is actually celebrated there on January 7th, at the end of Advent which we mark from November 28th until January 6th. Since the end of the Soviet era, the Christmas celebrations in Russia have experienced something of a renaissance.
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First, we see in the New Year, of course. At the stroke of midnight, President Putin will address the nation and then we will make our customary toast:
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С Новым Годом, с новым счастьем! - To the New Year, to the new happiness!
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Afterwards, champagne in hand, it’s time to party and of course, you’re welcome to join us. It’s a great time of year to be in Russia: with snow on the ground and with a little luck, clear blue skies to allow the sunshine to add a little sparkle, the unmissable sights of great cities such as Moscow and St Petersburg will be at their best.
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A few days later, we’ll toast again:
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C рождеством! - Merry Christmas!
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A feast is prepared. On Christmas Eve, it’s not the norm to eat meat. Instead we’ll start with a kind of porridge called sochivo (or the similar kutya) made from wheat, topping it with honey, berries, walnuts and poppy seeds. Traditionally, it’s shared from one bowl, to demonstrate that we Russians stick together. Another tradition is to throw a spoonful at the ceiling, generally initiated by those who have no intention of taking on the cleaning, as it’s considered good luck if it sticks. Later, we’ll eat borsch, our famous beetroot soup, or another soup called solyanka, then salads and sauerkraut. If there’s any room left, someone can be relied upon to produce a plate of gingerbread or honeybread cookies. Finally we drink a glass of vzvar, hot water infused with a sweet mix of honey and dried fruit.
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We still have one more celebration to enjoy before we go back to work. Old New Year is marked on January 13th using the Julian calendar that predated the current Georgian calendar which came into effect in 1918.
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With so many holidays to choose from, we’re sure you can time your visit to include at least one. Happy holidays!
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| The latest from our blog |
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In case you haven't visited for a while, why not take a fresh look at our
travel blog,
which features articles and news
about Russia: destinations, events, festivals, lifestyle, travel tips, and restaurant and theatre suggestions.
Our amazing team of travel writers will keep you up to date with what's important, and don't forget, we'd love to hear
from you too so we'll be posting reviews and stories from our customers who have visited Russia recently.
Please see the latest stories below:
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Nothing shouts Russia in winter like a troika and sleigh
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A troika coming at you at full pelt might just be one of the most terrifying sights you’ll see during a Russian winter, but unless you’re planning to race, you’re unlikely to come to any harm. Most troika rides happen at a much more leisurely pace and are one of the most popular activities among ...
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Are you brave enough to experience a Siberian winter?
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Visiting the coldest reaches of Siberia in the depths of winter takes some preparation and I don’t just mean packing a thick coat. Temperatures in this part of Russia can fall so low that if you usually wear metal spectacles as I do, there’s a very real danger that they’ll freeze to your skin if you ...
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| Special Offers for Our Readers – Exclusive £150 Discount per Person |
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We are happy to announce Christmas Sale on all our tours. As a special reward for those who read our newsletter we would
like to offer you an exclusive discount code (available to our newsletter subscribers only) which can be used until
31 December 2016 to claim a discount of £150 on any tour booking.
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Book your Go Russia holiday before 31 December 2016 and get a fantastic £150 discount per person. Terms & conditions:
new bookings only, subject to availability, booking request must be received by 23:59 on 31 December 2016, offer valid
for group tours only.
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How to claim: simply enter the code NEWSDEC16 in the online booking form or quote it when speaking to your travel
consultant and you will be automatically offered a discount of £150 per person.
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Snowmobile Safari to the Snowy Domes of Kizhi (KL-05)
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You will start this exciting 6-day tour from the beautiful “Venice of the North”, St. Petersburg. In a very short time you can take in the history and culture of this truly unique and memorable city and explore its major attractions. From there you will visit Karelia...
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Best of Moscow & St. Petersburg Guided Tour (CB-17)
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This is our most popular tour and deservedly so. Combining Russia's two greatest cities, you'll experience the best this country can offer. Offering a full sightseeing programme, this eight day tour encompasses Russia's cultural treasures, iconic archite...
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| Recommend a friend and get a £50 reward per person |
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Recommend a friend to Go Russia and if they book a holiday or any other travel related service with us we will give you both
a £50 discount per person to say "thank you". Read more about our
recommend a friend scheme.
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GO Russia, Boundary House, Boston Road, London W7 2QE, UK
tel.: +44 (0) 20 33 55 77 17
e-mail: info@justgorussia.co.uk
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