TASS-FACTBOX. On December 31, 2025, Russia officially enters the New Year holidays, which will last until January 11, 2026, inclusive. The official New Year holidays, according to Article 112 of the Russian Labor Code, are January 1–6 and January 8. In addition, January 7 is a day off — Christmas Day. Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and Friday, January 9, 2026, have been made non-working days due to the transfer of days off. TASS-FACTBOX has prepared a report on how the dates of New Year celebrations and New Year holidays have changed in Russia.
In Russia, the celebration of the New Year on January 1 began in 1700 by decree issued by Peter I. The festivities lasted for seven days. After the emperor's death, the tradition of celebrating the New Year gradually faded away. The holiday returned during the reign of Catherine II, but remained purely secular. The Church continued to mark the beginning of the year according to the Julian calendar — on September 1.
Until 1897, the length of the workweek was not regulated by law. Only Sunday was a day off. Factory and plant owners made their own decisions about whether to give workers time off on holidays. Typically, such additional days off were provided during religious holidays, including Christmas.
