Buryat Winter Festivals’ Guide Serebrennikova Nastya November 10, 2013

In January We celebrate New Year’s Day. This holiday was introduced by Peter the Great in 1700 and is associated with a New Year tree, buying and giving gifts, family dinners and beautiful fireworks at night. The New Year night is full of joy, plans for the future and it is really magic. Happy New Year!

Christmas is a religious holiday. It is celebrated on the 7 th of January. Merry Christmas!

In February we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day. I like to give Valentine cards to my friends and to get them. Be my Valentine!

The Buryat Year Calendar has many special days. Here is one of the holidays from the list. The Buryat Year Calendar

In February there is a special holiday

The Holiday of the White Moon Sagaalgan or the holiday of the White Moon is the main holiday of the year. It is celebrated on the first days of February on the eve of the lunar New Year. It is truly a people’s holiday.

A Family Holiday Sagaalgan is above all a family holiday. It is customary to wish a Happy New Year to close and distant relatives first, so the holiday is spent visiting relatives, receiving guests, giving presents.

A good tradition The Buryats have a good tradition of congratulating the old people during Sagaalgan. The ceremony begins with presenting Khadak (a blue scarf made of soft silk), white milk products.

With Greetings and all Good Wishes for the Holiday If you spend Sagaalgan happily and peacefully it means that the coming year will be very successful for you.

Can You Answer the Questions? What is another name for Sagaalgan? When is it celebrated? It is a family holiday, isn’t it? How does a good tradition of congratulating the old people begin? What is the symbol of the Year 2013?

Thank You for Your Attention!