Christmas vs New Year

[Ivan]

Which holiday is more popular in your country Christmas or New Year?
I know that in former USSR New Year is a very big Holiday and Christmas is not so popular.
What about your country?

[Big_Becka]

Definitely Christmas in the UK - you don't have much choice :roll: It's a really big celebration for families and especially children, and it's consequently very commercial. In fact, many non-Christian families celebrate Christmas, just so their children don't feel left out compared to all the Christian children getting new toys. Of course, we are supposed to eat a traditional family meal and listen to the Queen's Speech before we open our presents :? In reality, most people seem to spend Christmas eating, getting drunk and watching rubbish on TV. And shopping in the Boxing Day sales...

New Year's Eve is a less child-friendly celebration... People throw parties or go to the pub until Midnight, and 'see-in' the New Year by linking hands and singing Auld Lang Syne. In Scotland there are some big Hogmanay celebrations - the one in Edinburgh is televised: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/hogmanay/">http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/hogmanay/</a><!-- m -->

So what's New Year like in the former USSR? Cold, I guess lurp

[Ivan]

In Russia we celebrate new year very similar to the way you described Christmas celebration in UK.
We listen to president's speech just before 00.00
We have "Ded Moroz" which is very similar to "Santa Claus".
He also is supposed to come to every child and give presents, nothing related to religion by the way.
But he is accompanied by a granddaughter "Snegurochka" and doesn't hide.
He comes with a big sack of toys and gives the presents personally.