Moscow’s New Year’s Eve celebration includes the annual Red Square fireworks display.
Red Square is Moscow’s historic central square, beside the Kremlin and near Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It serves as a major public setting for Russia’s New Year celebrations, including a midnight fireworks display and televised festivities. The square’s architecture gives the event a distinctive backdrop and makes it one of the most recognizable New Year locations in the country.
In Russia, New Year’s celebrations are especially important and often include a decorated tree, family meals, gifts, and appearances by Ded Moroz, the Russian gift-bringing figure. The main national celebration occurs on December 31 and January 1, while the Old New Year is observed later according to the Julian-calendar date.
The fireworks are not the same as Moscow’s Victory Day events, which take place in May, or the city’s other holiday displays. Red Square identifies the Moscow setting; it is not the name of the New Year holiday itself.