Russians New New Year and Old New Year

For the Russians there are two holidays known as "New Years" there is the Old New Years or preferably called the Orthodox New Year and the modern day New Year's that is celebrated in the United States. The New Year is an informal traditional holiday, celebrated as the start of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The Old New Year falls on January 14 in the Gregorian calendar. Although the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic officially adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1918, the Russian Orthodox Church continued to use the Julian calendar. The New Year from then on became a holiday which is celebrated by both calendars. As in most countries which today choose to use the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day in Russia is a public holiday celebrated on January 1st. It is on that day that, joyous entertainment, fireworks, large meals and other festivities are common to see celebrated in public and in family homes. The tradition of celebrating the coming of the New Year twice in Russia is widely enjoyed: January 1 (New New Year) and January 14 (Old New Year) have both become days of celebration for the people. Although, the Old New Year is usually not as festive as the New New Year, because for many this is a nostalgic family holiday ending the New Year holiday cycle.