vlad.tribnet.com / Issue #600 / Social life / Reading article...

According to a recent poll, 95 percent of Russians plan to celebrate the country’s favorite holiday, New Year, with 75 percent of the respondents announcing their intentions to stay home and celebrate the holiday with relatives.

Levada polling agency interviewed 1,600 Russians in early December asking about their plans for New Year celebrations. The margin of error is 3 percent, the agency said.

Besides traditional New Year, Russians continue to celebrate the so-called Old New Year which falls on January 13-14, according to the old calendar. 53 percent of those polled stated they intend to keep the old tradition and take advantage of the chance to prolong the celebrations.

The country’s extended winter holidays will start on December 30 and last until January 10.

On January 7 Russia will celebrate Orthodox Christmas and 67 percent of the interviewed people said they intend to adhere to the church holiday. Compared to Orthodox Christmas, the Catholic Church widely celebrated Christmas on December 25 all over the world but did not provide much enthusiasm for most Russians– only 6 percent of the respondents said they wanted to celebrate it.

3 percent of those interviewed did not express a desire to celebrate any holiday. The poll results did not comment on the bad mood or character of these people.

74 percent of the respondents said they plan to stay home with their relatives to celebrate the New Year while 17 percent announced intentions to visit friends and celebrate the holiday in their company. 3 percent of the interviewed people decided to go abroad to relax during the holidays while 2 percent preferred to attend parties organized by recreation centers and meet the New Year with unknown revelers.

2 percent of the interviewed people said they will meet the upcoming year alone. Let us wish everyone a Happy New Year no matter how they plan on welcoming 2008.