‘I Will Use the Holidays to Reflect on my Plans, Recharge, and Refresh Myself’
Over 450 international students from all over the globe currently study at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences. Some of them have recorded video greetings, talked about celebrations in their home countries, and shared their ideas on how to spend the winter holidays in Russia. Below, we publish the second part of their interviews.
Da Eun Han, South Korea, graduate with honours in Economics, master’s student of Statistical Analysis in Economics
Holiday Traditions
In both Korea and Russia, it is common to spend time with family during the New Year. Families welcome the New Year by gathering together for a meal or exchanging gifts.
One difference is the date. In Korea, Korean New Year (Seollal; 설날) is the first day of the lunisolar calendar. It will be celebrated on the 10th of February in 2024. Koreans also celebrate New Year according to the Gregorian calendar, but Seollal is considered a more important holiday. A large number of people return to their hometowns and spend the holiday with their families.
February 10th is not a holiday in Russia, so we welcome the New Year on January 1st. On December 31st, I welcome the new year by having dinner with my family, watching a movie, or playing board games.
On January 1st, I and my siblings do Sebae, a Korean tradition in which younger people bow to their elders (parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts) as a sign of respect and say New Year's greetings
On that day, we also eat rice cake soup (tteokguk), a traditional Seollal food.
Winter Holidays in Russia
This year, I plan to spend time with my family and friends. I want to play board games and go to some exhibitions in the galleries and museums. Russia is famous for its art, and I highly recommend going to theatres, galleries, and parks—especially because there is a student discount. And since next year is the last semester of my master's degree, I will write a thesis and prepare the documents and self-introduction required for the doctoral programme.
For winter in Russia, warm clothes, gloves, a scarf, a hat, and hot tea are a must. Also, to avoid getting sick, I take a lot of vitamins and get a lot of sleep. I like to take walks in parks and streets covered in pure white snow on days when the sun is shining brightly—like in Pushkin’s poem [Winter Morning]: ‘Frost and sun; a wonderful day!’ When I take a walk, my head seems to clear and my mind feels refreshed.
In winter, vitamins and warm clothes are essential!
I also like skating close to home or in Gorky Park. I love being at home with the snow falling in the cold weather. I once watched a movie with my friends after taking a winter exam, and it remains a very good memory. Since I spend a lot of time at home during the winter holidays, I like to clean my house and organise my thoughts during this time. I like to look back on the past year and make resolutions and plans for the new year.
Omonkulov Ogabek Khamza Ugli, Uzbekistan, 2nd-year student of the Bachelor’s in Economics
New Year in Uzbekistan
In Uzbekistan, New Year is accompanied by various traditions and customs that give this holiday a special flavour. Similar to many other cultures, in Uzbekistan, New Year is a holiday that unites all family members. Just before the New Year, we always visit our grandparents to share joy and the festive mood with them. We also visit our neighbours with gifts and traditional dishes. In many Muslim families, there is a tradition of visiting mosques in anticipation of the New Year for prayers and blessings, adding a spiritual dimension to the celebration.
Families gather together to welcome midnight and share a festive dinner. Traditional dishes such as pilaf, shish kebab, lagman, and other national Uzbek snacks are an essential part of the New Year table, as are fruits, sweets, and various preserves
New Year in Uzbekistan is often accompanied by events, festive parades, fireworks and festive lights. Similar to many other countries, it is customary to congratulate each other on the upcoming New Year and exchange gifts. In Uzbek fairy tales, there is a national character similar to Santa Claus, and his name is Kor-Bobo. Kor-Bobo and his granddaughter Kor-Kiz brings gifts to children during the New Year holidays.
Holiday Plans
Last year, I celebrated New Year on Palace Square near the Hermitage in my beloved St Petersburg. This time, I decided to change traditions and go to my hometown, Kitab. I want to spend the holidays in the cosy atmosphere of my home, with my relatives, where every corner reminds me of childhood and family traditions. I plan to meet with my parents, spend time with grandparents, and perhaps reminisce about old times, seeing friends and classmates.
For the winter holidays, I have planned rather calm and productive moments. First of all, after successfully passing the exams, I intend to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Moscow.
I plan to spend some time in a cosy atmosphere, relaxing, and immersing myself in plans for the upcoming year
I think it will be a great time to spend a few days in my hometown, or perhaps go on a short trip. I want to use these holidays to reflect on my goals and plans for the future, recharge with inspiration, and refresh myself before new challenges. I might also have time for new hobbies and interesting meetings with family and friends.
Watch the video greetings from the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences students and staff:
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