Religious festivities are very important in the Russian Orthodox country. Orthodox Easter and Christmas are celebrated with midnight services and candlelight processions. The Easter celebrations always overshadow the Christmas festivities. Before the Russians start fasting before Easter, they enjoy themselves during Maslenitsa, the Russian Mardi Gras.

Victory Day on 9 May and International Women’s Day on 8 March are the other popular days of the year.

In April, St Petersburg hosts Music Spring, an international classical music festival. The White Nights, held towards the end of May, is a time for simply enjoying oneself. The Russian Winter Festival is celebrated from late December to early January, and features folklore shows. The New Year is brought in by the Russians with great hype and enthusiasm.