A great many festivals are derived from Orthodox church tradition. Orthodox Christmas begins with midnight mass on 7 January. In odd-numbered years, the Moscow Film Festival hits the city's screens in autumn. The Russian Winter Festival is pretty much a tourist affair, with troyka rides, folklore shows, games and vodka, and is celebrated between 25 December and 5 January. Sylvestr is the Russian New Year celebration, and is the main gift-giving festival of the year, with presents placed under the traditional fir tree.
Muscovites see out the old year with vodka and welcome the new one with champagne.
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