The custom of ringing in the New Year with champagne took hold in Russia during the 1960s. This perspective is supported by historian Konstantin Titov, a Candidate of Historical Sciences and associate professor at Perm National Research Polytechnic University, who explains the shift in access to sparkling wine after the revolution and the way television helped normalize the practice. [Source: KP.ru]
Prior to the revolution, champagne was a luxury reserved for the nobility. After the upheaval, its availability dropped further, so ordinary people drank whatever was at hand. It was only in the early 1960s that champagne became a recognizable New Year symbol for the masses, Titov notes. This change coincided with the popular TV program Blue Light, which featured the festive drink as an essential element of the holiday narrative. [Source: KP.ru]
Another longstanding New Year tradition is the circle dance, a form of round dancing with roots that reach far back in history. The historian points out that this dance is among the oldest in Russia and originated as part of Slavic sun-worship rituals. Even with the spread of Christianity, the practice endured and persisted in folk celebrations. [Source: KP.ru]
During the Soviet era, round dancing, like other ritualized collective activities, helped forge the idea of a unified historical community—the Soviet people. It also functioned as a means of social discipline, guiding individuals to align with the collective ethos. Titov emphasizes that these dances played a role in shaping communal identity while reinforcing the boundaries between individual and collective expectations. [Source: KP.ru]
A recent survey conducted by KP.ru reveals evolving New Year customs among Russians. More than half of respondents, about 56 percent, say they prepare Olivier salad for the holiday each year. Nearly half, 48 percent, insist that the New Year table feels incomplete without tangerines, whose citrus aroma helps deepen the festive mood. Close to half, 47 percent, report that they always include herring under a fur coat on the menu. [Source: KP.ru]
The study also notes a growing openness to entertainment technology as part of the holiday experience. A notable share of families are increasingly considering buying game consoles for children for the New Year, reflecting a shift toward modern, interactive celebrations while preserving traditional foods and rituals. [Source: KP.ru]