Modern Holiday Calendar of the Russians

Abstract

Holiday is an indispensable condition for social existence of mankind, who have a unique ability to embrace in their lives other people’s joy and cultural experiences of previous generations. Numerous forms of festivities, which are a necessary component of social life of mankind, are one of the manifestations of its social force. Out of a great variety of holidays the article dwells on the most popular much loved Russian festivities, existing in Russia at the beginning of ХХI century. It should be noted that the author adheres to the names and classifications of holidays existing in ethnography and conditionally divides into two groups: 1. civil holidays, among which attention is devoted to public, professional, literary and folk holidays, and 2. orthodox and calendar holidays.

Keywords

• holiday calendar
• civil holidays
• orthodox holidays
• Russia