A recent study into New Year preparations among Russians reveals a strong cultural trend toward festive home beautification. About seven in ten people plan to decorate their homes for the New Year, with the majority (87%) intending to hang New Year’s toys and garlands. Nearly half of respondents will display a Christmas tree exclusively, while a third plan to include snowflakes in their interior décor. The findings come from an analysis of activities tied to the Repair with SberServices service and the YuMoney wallet.
When it comes to holiday purchases, 7% of participants expect to buy festive meals for the New Year, and another 7% intend to refresh the interior of their living space. A smaller share, 5%, is contemplating minor repair work for the holidays. Among those who answered “Other”, 2% plan to adorn the front door with a Christmas wreath and to hang lanterns as part of their seasonal display.
The research highlights a lasting impact of decorations: 68% of respondents say they bought New Year decorations once and now use them year after year. A majority of 56% keep heirloom jewelry from parents and grandparents as part of their festive setup. About one in three Russians buys new wreaths each year, and 12% enjoy collecting special toys for the season. A smaller 5% preserve decorations gifted by relatives.
Analysts from YuMoney wallet note that 75% of those surveyed decorate the Christmas tree with balls, 68% add garlands, 55% use tinsel or rain and 50% place shaped toys. Another 45% hang extra shine with tinsel, while 38% adorn the tree with snowflakes. Pine cones appear on 34% of trees, and respondents also mentioned vintage Soviet-era decorations, 3D-printed items, cotton figures, and paper crafts among their options.
The study shows varied updating habits: about a third (32%) replace toys and décor only when something breaks, while 27% purchase several new decorations every year. Every few years, 20% refresh their whole display, and 10% replace New Year décor on an annual basis. A minority, around 5%, does not update their decorations at all, with the rest of the group expressing different approaches to keeping the holiday ambiance alive.
In terms of how the tree is crowned, more than half of respondents (56%) place a star on the very top, 15% favor a scoop or shovel motif, and 8% admit to enjoying a curious image of their cat perched above the branches. A small 3% cap the tree with a candle, while 2% choose a crown or Santa Claus figure. Other participants opt for an angel or leave the top of the tree unadorned.
One more note from the period’s cultural snapshot: a question that circulated at the time asked what to wear to a New Year’s corporate party, reflecting the broader social conversations around seasonal celebrations and workplace events.