New Year (written as an adjective, as in "New Year's Day)
Рождественская /
Рождественские
razh-dYEst-vin-ska-ya /
razh-dYEst-vin-skih
Christmas (written as an adjective, as in "Christmas tree")
подарки
pa-dAr-ki
presents / gifts
под
pod
under
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Father Christmas / Santa (literally: Grandfather Frost)
Дед Мороз
Pronounced:
dyet ma-rOz
Audio:
(Lena)
The Snow Maiden (Santa's helper)
Снегурочка
Pronounced:
sni-gOOr-ech-ka
Audio:
(Lena)
Fir-tree
ёлка
Pronounced:
YOl-ka
Audio:
(Lena)
New Year's Tree (most common description)
Новогодняя ёлка
Pronounced:
na-va-gOd-nyea YOl-ka
Audio:
(Lena)
Christmas Tree
Рождественская ёлка
Pronounced:
razh-dYEst-in-ska-ya YOl-ka
Audio:
(Lena)
New Year's presents
Новогодние подарки
Pronounced:
na-va-gOd-nih pa-dAr-ki
Audio:
(Lena)
Christmas presents
Рождественские подарки
Pronounced:
razh-dYEst-in-skih pa-dAr-ki
Audio:
(Lena)
The presents are under the tree (literally: presents under tree)
Подарки под ёлкой
Pronounced:
pa-dAr-ki pad YOl-key
Audio:
(Lena)
Хо Хо Хо (Ho Ho Ho!)
Due to the suppression of religion during the Soviet regime, St. Nicholas was replaced by Dyed Moroz or Grandfather Frost, the Russian Spirit of Winter who brings gifts on New Year's Eve. He is accompanied by Snyegoorachka, the Snowmaiden, who helps distribute the gifts. Dyed Moroz looks very much like our traditional Santa except that he wears blue!
The Christmas tree (Yolka) is another tradition that was banned during the Soviet era. To keep the custom alive, Russians decorated New Year's trees instead. Since ornaments were often very costly or unavailable, trees were trimmed with homemade decorations and even fruit (a luxury for many Russians during winter). The custom of decorating Christmas trees was introduced to Russia by Peter the Great, after he visited Europe during the 1700's.
The decorated yolka are most commonly referred to as "New Year's trees", but some Russians call them "Christmas trees". New Year's trees are usually erected and decorated around mid-December and are kept on display until after the Russian Orthodox Christmas on January 7th, or sometimes until "Old New Year" on January 13th.
