Source link : https://london-news.net/celebrating-new-year-abroad-russian-exiles-find-home-in-familiar-traditions/
As New Year’s Eve approaches, the most significant holiday in Russia, Sergei, a 30-year-old IT professional now living in Romania, shared his plans to watch the full version of “The Irony of Fate,” the beloved 1975 romantic comedy traditionally viewed during the New Year celebrations in Russia, for the first time.
“It’s a peculiar ritual that dates back to the U.S.S.R., yet there’s something comforting about it,” Sergei remarked.
He is among the approximately 650,000 Russians who left their homeland after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many of whom have yet to return due to fears of persecution for opposing the war, severed familial bonds, or a moral aversion to a country that continues to wage conflict.
For these individuals, embracing classic Russian New Year traditions can provide a sense of connection to their homeland from a distance and allows them to share elements of their culture with their new communities.
In a discussion with The Moscow Times, seven Russian émigrés who relocated following the invasion of Ukraine recounted their New Year celebrations in various countries around the globe.
What emerged was a narrative of a diaspora community welcoming the new year, infused with nostalgia for their lives before the war, an eagerness to embrace their new environments, and a commitment to hold onto familiar traditions—complete with plenty of Olivier salad.
Some names and identifying information have been withheld for safety. Interviews…
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Publish date : 2026-01-04 14:50:00
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