Russian Winter Festival in Trafalgar Square James O Jenkins
By Natasha Polyviou
Posted: Mon Jan 7
New Year celebrations are a hazy memory for most Londoners, but going by the Julian calendar used by the Russian Orthodox Church there’s another opportunity for a party this Sunday, which marks the eve of the ‘Old New Year’. As ever, this all-day event focused on one of London’s many ethnic communities is an initiative from the Mayor’s office and takes place in Trafalgar Square.
This year’s Russian Winter Festival is the fourth of its kind and the largest celebration of Russian culture outside the country. Expats familiar with Russian music will be treated to performances by pop singer Dima Bilan, R&B act Bianka, ‘Star Factory’ (Russia’s version of the ‘X Factor’) band Fabrika and folk group Slavyanye. The Russian National Dance Show brings 50 artists who mix contemporary ballet with traditional folk dances.
More of a draw for non-initiates to Russian pop music will be the food stalls, which will be offering the chance to try Eastern staples which haven’t yet established a culinary stronghold in the capital – blinis (pancakes), borscht (beetroot soup), piroshkis (pies) and shashlik (kebabs), washed down with native beer and lashings of tea, a common point of reference for Brits and Russians. Children can try out old-school street games and watch puppet theatre, and when the sun has set the square will be filled with the chiming of New Year’s bells and the unique incense fug of Orthodox church candles.
