While in the downtown area, I noticed some municipal workers putting up holiday decorations. Now that's a cold job! The exterior walls of the Kremlin are festively lit. Though not as extremely lit as we'd likely do in the U.S.A.
Another interesting difference in the holiday season is that in Russia the focal point is on New Years, not Christmas. Since the country was officially atheist for 70+ years, there was no such thing as Christmas. And, now that Christmas has returned, the Russian Orthodox event occurs in January . . . not December 25th.
So, the party really doesn't start until New Years. When we had kids make Christmas cards at the Boarding School, almost every one made a card that read: С Новые годы! Or, Happy New Year! Nevertheless, at the Boarding School this afternoon, the kids were quizzing Raya on whether or not she'd seen Santa Claus and his reindeer. Raya said she had indeed seen Santa, but that in Australia his sleigh is pulled by kangaroos rather than reindeer.
There didn't seem to be a lot of partying tonight in the old city. Yaroslav the Wise stood on his pedestal watching chilly citizens wait for the bus or hurry past to get to someplace warm. And, for a few last moments, I was among them.
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