The traditional Russian New Year's Eve celebration held before Orthodox Christmas is called Novy God.
Novy God means “New Year” in Russian and became especially prominent in the Soviet period, when public celebration of Christmas was restricted. New Year’s Eve therefore absorbed many festive elements, including a decorated tree, gifts, family meals, and appearances by Ded Moroz, the Russian figure comparable to Santa Claus.
The celebration takes place on December 31 and January 1 according to the civil calendar. It remains a major family holiday in Russia and in several other countries shaped by Russian or Soviet cultural influence. Orthodox Christmas, observed on January 7 by many Russian Orthodox Christians, comes later.
Novy God is not the same as the religious Christmas holiday. Some customs overlap, but the New Year celebration has its own history, characters, television traditions, and midnight toast. “Old New Year,” observed later in January, is a separate observance based on the Julian calendar.