Hi, mom!
It’s New Year's Eve today and I’m so happy! Me and my host will celebrate this holiday at home with her family and close friends. You know, in Russia New Year's Eve is now celebrated similarly to Christmas, just without the religious aspect of the holiday.
We have begun our day with a dinner in vegetarian restaurant - my host adores it very much and says all food there is unbelievably tasty.
At first - cream soup from a leek with saffron. Very holiday look!
Then cutlets with vegetable stuffing and special piquant sauce. Delicious!
And the last, but not least - a fruit dessert with soya whipped cream. I want to prepare it at home, so simple and tasty.
A bill was brought in this box, and I have taken visiting card! When I am in Moscow next time, I will necessarily visit it again - cafe Sok (Juice), healthy and tasty. 
My host has been passed her exams till 30th December, so we decide to dress up a fur-tree today! Hooray! 
Fur-tree toys are stored in box on the top shelf of a wardrobe.
There are a lot of toys here, old and new, glass and plastic. My host told me that the oldest one - a toy glass alarm-clock, was put on a fur-tree by her great-grandmother! It is excellent tradition - to buy every year some new toys, but also to leave the old. You can feel proximity of generations. 
How beautiful!
OK, now let’s hang up electric garlands so the fur-tree will be sparkle beautifully in the evening. Oh, I’m a little bit confused... 
And other garlands, we should hang up them everywhere in the house, for holiday mood! So, let’s load it on my shoulders and drag forward! 
Wow! Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) and Snegurochka (Snow Maiden) have come to us for a party!
I already wrote that in Russia New year has no relation to religion, therefore Ded Moroz isn't similar to Santa Claus! My host has told to me that earlier, Ded Moroz was a wicked and cruel sorcerer, ruling over frosts. According to legend, Ded Moroz liked to freeze people and kidnap children, taking them away in his gigantic sack. Parents were said to have to give him presents as a ransom in return for their children. 
However, under the influence of Orthodox traditions, the character of Ded Moroz was completely transformed, later adopting certain traits from Santa Claus.
And the modern Snegurochka is depicted as the granddaughter and helper of Ded Moroz. But in another story, she is the daughter of Spring and Frost, and yearns for the companionship of mortal humans. She grows to like a shepherd named Lel, but her heart is unable to know love. Her mother takes pity and gives her this ability, but as soon as she falls in love, her heart warms and she melts. 
Oh, I see, Ded Moroz has a gift for me! Let's look what it is!
It’s Christmas-tree decoration! So beautiful! Hmm, it would be nice to collect toys from all over the World, what do you think?
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Happiness, good luck, love and more sweet surprises next year!
