Watch this presentation with music at http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/elizabethbertell-2356117-christmas-new-year-russian/ After the Revolution that took place in 1917, Christmas was banned throughout Russia, along with other religious celebrations. So celebrating New Year became a sort of "replacement" for it. Only after 75 years, in 1992, Christmas became openly observed. Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7th, in accordance with the old Julian calendar.