In the lecture by cultural expert Natalia Levkova, you will be able to look at the New Year through the lens of history and cultural memory. It seems that the New Year has always been like this: with tangerines, a Christmas tree, champagne, and the chimes of the clock. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the familiar traditions lies a rich history, where pagan rituals, church canons, the reforms of Peter I, and the ideology of the Soviet era intertwine. At the lecture in Lermontovka, cultural expert Natalia Levkova will explain how New Year rituals were formed and how they changed over the centuries. Why was the New Year celebrated at different times in September, March, and January? When did the tradition of decorating the tree appear? Where did the image of Father Frost come from - and did he always have a Snow Maiden? How was the holiday reinterpreted during the Soviet era? Where to go in St. Petersburg today, look for on our website.