And also, as many Russians will tell you, you just cannot do without a fairytale – a winter fairytale.

The holiday was first celebrated in the month of March, then in September, but it is only in the year 1700 that Russia began marking it in January on the order of Peter the Great. With Christmas off the calendar in atheist Soviet times, New Year became winter’s biggest holiday.

The preparations start with picking a fir-tree, or “yolka”. You can find one in almost any shape and size. Then come the decorations, which can only be bought at this time. Not all of them are traditional Russian ones. It is not exactly known why Russians are so crazy about the Chinese calendar, but the fact remains: each year animals symbolizing the coming Chinese year flood all stores. So ahead of 2010 tigers can be found everywhere and demand is high. The animals are to be put on trees and in any suitable place in the house.

While making the New Year tree look beautiful, Russians will certainly sing a special song. No, not “Jingle Bells” – rather, a tune about the story of a little fir tree born deep in the forest that eventually finds itself at a party among lots of happy children. Some green activists may now find it repulsive as it features “horrible” scenes of the poor tree being felled by an evil wood-cutter. However, at the beginning of the 20th century when it was written, the text was totally innocent.

New Year’s Eve and subsequent days are the only time when you can see the magical “Ded Moroz”, or Father Frost. You might call him Santa Claus’ brother or colleague, and together with his granddaughter “Snegurochka” or Snow Maiden, Father Frost brings gifts to children. Unlike Santa Claus, however, he never enters houses through the chimney – only appearing with dignity on your door step.

On December 31, waiting for Father Frost, Russians take enormous efforts to prepare a feast, which should be abundant in all delicacies you can get in a supermarket. But there is one dish always sure to reign supreme on the table – “Olivier”, a salad which is both a legend and a must for the New Year. It was created in Moscow by French chef Lucien Olivier in the 19th century. The original salad consisted of red lobster, pressed black caviar, hazel hen, and home-made original mayonnaise.

The only thing that has stayed is the home-made mayonnaise, the explanation for which is that the recipe changed beyond recognition after the revolution when all delicacies disappeared. But even with salted cucumber, egg, potato, sausage, onion and canned green peas, “Olivier” was still considered essential for special occasions. A more refined version did exist, though, which used chicken and home-made mayonnaise.

So if you wish to bring in a Russian touch to your New Year celebration do prepare some Salad Olivier, and buy a bottle of “Soviet Champagne” while you’re at it. The French would jealously say you have no right to name it as such, but who cares? “Soviet Champagne” is another absolute must for the New Year. You can drink exquisite Veuve Clicquot on any other occasion, but not on December 31.

Finally – don’t forget to make a wish at the stroke of midnight while the Kremlin chimes ring. Our advice is to think it over in advance as twelve strikes are not enough to make a wish that is supposed to change your whole life in the coming year.