Heritage news
HeritageThailand showcases Chud Thai craftsmanship in Paris ahead of UNESCO reviewFestivalsItalian Festival at the Mount celebrates heritage, community and a taste of the old country (79 photos)ArtsFamily Folk DanceHeritageWhy is Kolkata’s Durga Puja recognised as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage?HeritageWhy is Kolkata’s Durga Puja recognised as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage?WeddingsCalifornia city hall goes jurassic with dino wedding ceremonyCarnival28th Latino Heritage Parade and Festival Set for Today, Recognizing City’s ‘Unsung Heroes’WeddingsInternet sensation Mr Faisu gets married in traditional 'Nikah' ceremony, calls it a "blessing beyond words"Holy daysWhen is Diwali 2026? Key dates, significance, how to celebrateWeddingsArt of Betashar: Issatay Issabayev’s Lifelong Dialogue with Kazakh TraditionHeritageThailand showcases Chud Thai craftsmanship in Paris ahead of UNESCO reviewFestivalsItalian Festival at the Mount celebrates heritage, community and a taste of the old country (79 photos)ArtsFamily Folk DanceHeritageWhy is Kolkata’s Durga Puja recognised as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage?HeritageWhy is Kolkata’s Durga Puja recognised as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage?WeddingsCalifornia city hall goes jurassic with dino wedding ceremonyCarnival28th Latino Heritage Parade and Festival Set for Today, Recognizing City’s ‘Unsung Heroes’WeddingsInternet sensation Mr Faisu gets married in traditional 'Nikah' ceremony, calls it a "blessing beyond words"Holy daysWhen is Diwali 2026? Key dates, significance, how to celebrateWeddingsArt of Betashar: Issatay Issabayev’s Lifelong Dialogue with Kazakh Tradition
EveryParampara

Traditions of Moscow

The capital of Russia, with its Orthodox Easter, Maslenitsa pancake week and the festive dacha table.

Moscow has been the seat of power for six centuries, and its domes and walls frame Red Square. Russian traditions of the home are strong: the samovar tea, the pie, the winter dacha, the New Year tree and the banya, the steam bath, shared with friends on weekends.

Moscow
Photo: U.S. Department of State, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Maslenitsa and New Year

Maslenitsa, the pancake week before Lent, celebrates the end of winter with blini, sledding and the burning of a straw effigy. The New Year, Novy God, is the main family holiday, with a decorated fir, a visit from Ded Moroz, Grandfather Frost, and his granddaughter, and a champagne toast at midnight. At Orthodox Easter, kulich cakes are blessed.

At the table

Borshch, pelmeni, dumplings, pirozhki, blini with caviar, and salad Olivier are served for the holidays. Kvass is a bread drink. Tea is made in a samovar and poured with jam. Vodka is poured with a toast, and zakuski, cold starters, accompany it.

Signature traditions of Moscow

MaslenitsaThe pancake week.ZakuskiThe starters.SamovarThe tea urn.

Also part of it, and being written: Ded Moroz (The Russian Father Christmas.), Banya (The steam bath.).

A trail idea for Moscow

  1. Izmailovo Market Buy crafts.
  2. Sandunovsky baths Take a banya.
  3. Red Square See St Basil's.
About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

KindSpiritualFestivalRite of passageTable customSeasonalDressPerformanceEtiquetteCraftGameFolkloreHomeCeremony
MealBreakfastLunchDinnerSupperTea-time and snacking customsTea, coffee and drinking ceremoniesSweets given and sharedFeasts and festival mealsFasting and breaking the fast

Nothing matches those filters yet. Take one off, or check back: new traditions are written every day.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly EveryParampara

Every week: one tradition from somewhere new, what is being celebrated around the world this week, and one idea explained.