Russian traditional festivals mainly include New Year and four-season festivals. At the same time, many religious festivals have become an indispensable part of Russian people's traditional life. New Year (New Year's Day): The Russian New Year was once set on March 1 in early spring every year, when a grand ceremony to worship the sun was held. At the end of the 15th century, under the influence of Byzantium, the festival was changed to September 1st. It was not until 1699 that Peter the Great designated January 1st as the New Year in accordance with the traditional habits of Western European countries. Because the festivals are so close, the Orthodox Church celebrates New Year and Christmas together. New Year's celebrations are indispensable without Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden, who give gifts to people and wish them a happy new year. In 1930, the Soviet government officially designated New Year as a national holiday. During the New Year, all public places are dressed in festive attire. Tall and beautiful New Year fir trees stand in the city's big squares. There are also fir trees with various small gifts hanging on them in the living rooms of every household. The tower-shaped fir tree symbolizes evergreen life. Winter Festival (Meat Shelena): The second most lively festival after the New Year is the Winter Festival. The Winter Sending Festival is one of the four-season festivals. The festival lasts for about one week at the end of February and the beginning of March. People bake small golden-yellow round pancakes to worship the sun. At night, they light bonfires and burn the statue of the Winter Queen made of straw. People use this to celebrate that after a long harsh winter, the bright sun begins to bring warmth to the earth again. Although after Orthodox Christianity was introduced to Russia, it was unable to cancel this pagan folk festival, so it had to change the name of the Spring Plowing Festival to Maslenitsa, and the festival was scheduled one week before Spring Lent. After this week, people will enter the Lent period, and people will not eat meat and dairy products, so it is called Meat Feast, which means saying goodbye to meat before Lent. Maslenitsa lasts for seven days, and each day has its own name and different ways of celebrating it. In the late 1960s, the Soviet government changed this festival to the Winter Festival, also known as the Russian Winter Carnival. The ancient customs and religious significance of the festival have been diluted. However, during the festival, costume parades are also held in various places. The floats carry mythical characters such as the Winter Goddess and the Three Russian Warriors. People sing and dance to bid farewell to the cold winter and welcome the warm spring. Birch Festival: The second festival of the Four Seasons Festival is the Birch Festival, which falls on June 24 of each year in the Russian calendar. Birch Festival originates from the ancient Summer Solstice Festival. The Summer Solstice is originally held on June 22, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. This festival is associated with sun worship. In rural areas, during this time of summer, people dress up in festive costumes, wear garlands on their heads, and sing and dance around bonfires. Some people jump over the bonfire or burn their old clothes to ward off evil spirits, strengthen their bodies and cure diseases. People also threw birch branches into the lake together with sacrifices to pray to the gods for a good harvest. In ancient times, during the Summer Solstice Festival in Russia, people would go to the forest to find two small white birch trees that were very close to each other for sacrifice. In some places, it is the custom to decorate a small white birch plant with garlands and colorful ribbons. During the festival, churches are decorated with birch branches, and believers also hold birch branches to worship. The celebration of this day is inseparable from birch trees, so since 1964 it has been called Birch Day, or "Russian Little Birch Day". The birch tree has its historical origins as a symbol of the Russian nation. Many ancient Russian documents from the 11th to 15th centuries were inscribed on birch bark. Many Russian writers have described birch trees with deep feelings. In the eyes of Russians, birch trees are so beautiful and tall. During the Birch Festival, every household decorates their rooms with birch branches, cornflowers and bells. There will also be a party during the festival, where the hostess is called "Little Birch", and there will also be a costume parade surrounded by birch trees. There are indeed birch trees everywhere.