Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
39
cities can be unpredictable, though, with
spells of heavy heat (and rare air-condition-
ing) or drizzly cold. Bring layers and an
umbrella no matter when you go.
Autumn is a few idyllic weeks in late
September and early October when the
poplars and oaks shed their leaves and the
afternoon sun warms you enough to help
you through the cooling nights. Spring, a
few weeks in April, is slushy and succinct
in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
If a winter wonderland is your fantasy,
Russia in December won't disappoint you.
The northern sun shines softly low on the
horizon, and snow masks garbage-strewn
courtyards and muffles the sound of traf-
fic. Cross-country skiing fans can wind
through forests within Moscow city limits
or skate-ski along the frozen Gulf of Fin-
land in St. Petersburg. Skaters have frozen
ponds galore for ice season fun. The
downside, other than a suitcase weighted
with sweaters, is that many country pal-
aces and other outdoor sites close for the
winter.
Moscow's Average Temperatures
Jan
Feb
Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Temp (°F)
10
14
25
41
55
61
66
63
55
43
32
16
Temp (°C)
-12
-10
-4
5
13
16
19
17
13
6
0
-9
St. Petersburg's Average Temperatures
Jan
Feb
Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Temp (°F)
14
18
25
39
54
59
66
63
54
43
32
19
Temp (°C)
-10
-8
-4
4
12
15
19
17
12
6
0
-7
Businesses and government agencies
slow down considerably because of vaca-
tions the first 2 weeks of January, the first
2 weeks of May, and much of August.
These are calmer times to visit Russia but
can prove a nightmare if you have visa
problems or other administrative needs.
When a public holiday falls on a weekend,
the nearest weekday is given off in com-
pensation.
3
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
All dates below are official holidays unless noted. December 25 is not a holiday in
Russia.
For other festivals and sports championships, see “The Performing Arts” in chap-
ters 9 and 16, and “Spectator Sports” in chapters 7 and 14.
For an exhaustive list of events beyond those listed here, check http://events.
frommers.com, where you'll find a searchable, up-to-the-minute roster of what's
happening in cities all over the world.
January 1-2:
New Year's Day. This is
the major holiday of the Russian year, a
family event centered around a fir tree,
a huge feast, and gift-giving traditions
transferred by Soviet leaders from
Christmas to the more secular New
Year's Day. Even the smallest children
stay up to ring in midnight. Both Janu-
ary 1 and 2 are holidays.
January 7:
Russian Orthodox Christ-
mas. Ignored in Soviet times, this is
now a primary religious holiday, with
many people attending midnight Mass
and more festive meals.
January 14:
“Old” New Year. Not an
official holiday, but celebrated nonethe-
less. It's left over from the pre-revolu-
tionary days when Russia followed the
