To give birth, divorce, fall in love, marry, raise children and learn to buy houses, ships, yachts and dresses to make a career and to travel, to choose the President and to go to the rally… is it all to do in the United States. Or: I like to do in the United States. But to celebrate the New year in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia… well, somewhere in the former Soviet Union. But not in the U.S., with all my love to this country.
And not even in new York, where beckoning lights luxurious Christmas tree near the Rockefeller center, where, allegedly, are so much fun to wait for crystal to times square and do a lot of parties, do not believe! And if the devil brought you to our glorious country on the night of December 31, urgently looking for Russian-speaking region where you have at least some sense of celebration.
Well — known fact- in a big way in the US celebrate Christmas. To 25 th Dec from the shelves sweep away everything that even slightly resembles a gift (it’s time to sell the unsaleable goods). Around sold tree space for very low prices — in new York this year the price starts from 130 dollars, cheaper I have not yet met. In malls does not break, while in General people are relaxed and happy — a holiday on the nose…
Manhattan in the holidays takes three times as many people, against the usual. And only in the Russian-speaking community peace and tranquility. In the same new York “our” do not hurry to buy even the Christmas tree. Why? After the evening of 25 December in the same Wallmart it can be purchased for just a dollar or even free. Because all the festivities were over, and that means the tree is no longer needed. Moreover, on December 26, they begin to throw!
In the night of Christmas, when American families gather around the table when the kids go to bed, anticipating the morning as you open presents when Santa Claus a long time stashed cookies and Goodies for the reindeer Rudolph, socks when in the absence of a fireplace hung on the window… “Russian” just go to sleep. With the exception of those who are married to Americans or American companies. If the family lives in Brighton beach, the same works, in General, the principle of “we in the America don’t go!”, then Christmas night is for them as any other.
The maximum that can do “our people” in the holidays is to go to the city to see Macy’s decorated Windows, Yes, to hit the sales that are in good standing still sales are not the most interesting will begin after the holidays when the product is still a lot, and the nose has a new season and a new holiday — Valentine’s day.
And so Christmas passed. The kids are off school, adults too often rest. Everyone is relaxed and in no hurry. But not in the Russian-speaking community, which begins to revive and prepare for the most important holiday of the year. When the Americans stopped celebrating, we begin to hurry to buy gifts, Christmas trees and polka dots green banks.
Someone, of course, not worth it at the stove for hours and goes to a restaurant. By the way, reserve a table too late — all have been reserved and paid for. Perhaps there are still tickets on expensive party for Russian millionaires, who are, for example, in Miami.
Four years ago I got one of these — the minimum ticket price was $ 500, maximum — 5000. Fed the guests of the Russian cuisine, for example, the “Olivier”, however, with crawfish, as in the original recipe. Performed on stage with Timothy, Yuri Antonov, Theon, Kontridze and other stars. Led the party Ksenia Sobchak and her husband Maxim Vitorgan. Well, it was almost naleski. Was a little confusing Christmas trees hung with lights is a sight to behold, and the complete lack of snow and fireworks.
The latter is particularly sad. In the same new York city fireworks by individuals under the ban. But on the night of 31 December in Russian-speaking areas this, of course, well forgotten and, as usual, shoot until the morning. Americans do not think this day is so important to celebrate and fireworks. So, sometimes and in some places.
Last year, I somehow decided that on the Brooklyn bridge in honor of the New year we will be Duden fireworks. And at 11:30 a.m., with three quite young children and her husband arrived on the bridge. With us there came another couple of thousand people. We froze and began to wait for the multicolored madness.
At 12:00 o’clock in the morning in the crowd timidly whistle: Happy new year!
-Happy new year — sluggish said we decided the main force to save the enthusiasm of fireworks. But the knight near the window, we waited in vain — it is not rode. That is, at all. Somewhere far away on the horizon in Queens, whether on the red square flashed the lights of fireworks. Over our bridge peacefully shone the moon and the stars. I understand, but continued to stare at the sky, afraid to look down on children. My son, whom I dragged away from the computer, and which promised “the best view in the world” pretty quickly figured it out myself.
In a time when even the far horizon ceased to flare up the salute, he looked at me and sternly said: — what’s that? What is it like? Why did we come on this stupid bridge when the fireworks somewhere? And who told us, “Children, today you will see the BEST fireworks in your life????”
I started laughing and could not answer. He was disappointed at the lack of fireworks, I’m a total absence of the day which is waiting for all day, which have some stupid hope, which should be the beginning of a new countdown… And the cars all drove and drove across the Brooklyn bridge and the flux density was the most ordinary — life never stopped here in between 11:30 and 12:30 in the night from 31 December to first of January.
No events in the USA this night is full. And in the big cities — NYC, LA, Miami, Chicago… you’ll find a variety of New year celebrations. In the Big Apple, for example, a night at Madame Tussaud’s. Or party at The Empire Hotel, ticket for which will cost quite a decent amount. Or a party on a ship that sails on the Hudson river with a Royal dinner of four courses and champagne that flows like water.
In Los Angeles on this day can be photographed with Santa on the beach, visit the light show — what is Hollywood without special effects?
But that’s not it! No this day in the United States I need fuss! The smell of mandarins not and do not like, and smell them in a house I’m alone. “Olivier” is not a cult salad, but if I translate their American story «With light steam» — they make fun of Lukashin for infantilism. Yes there is — when the beat clock, no one will have burnt a paper with a wish! Americans just kiss each other, congratulating thus with the coming of the new year.
In General, new York at Christmas is amazing and even more — it is beautiful, gorgeous, handsome, however, as in any other time of the year. But New year need to go somewhere to our. That’s at least two of these days, when “olive” already climbing out of your ears, and you in the morning suddenly find themselves in high heels and thin dress flying on a piece of cardboard somewhere in the tree and the snow at the same time.
And no, I have no nostalgia, I do not yearn for the country where she was born and raised, I don’t want to go back. I’m just so used to. I like to start the countdown to the new year with bright night. I like that the whole country with rare exception it starts with bright nights. And separate, though very perky party I, alas, do not soothe. Do you leave her longingly, knowing that tomorrow, the first day of January, in the country a normal working day, and that your husband is American, not your American children are in the morning is “Olivier”, wrapped in a blanket, no one will knock at your door with a bottle of cold champagne, and it is not proposed to continue to celebrate…
PS by the Way, the Chinese celebrate their New year with the same scope as we are. And because they are in the US suffer from misunderstood. Although in the same new York in honor of their New year to all given one day off. And is still there. Not the scope. Which is a pity.
