Prominent Rostovites Share Childhood New Year Memories

New Year«s Eve is just around the corner. Christmas trees are decorated, gifts are bought, and even the roofs of houses in Rostov were covered with snow this morning.

The editorial staff of 161.RU asked prominent Rostov residents to share their kind family traditions associated with this holiday. Politicians, officials, businessmen, and athletes shared their childhood memories.

Alexei Gospodarev, First Deputy Governor of Rostov Region

«It»s my favorite holiday, which gave me the chance to misbehave until morning. We celebrated it like every Soviet family — with friends and close ones. Essential elements of the holiday: Olivier salad, herring under a fur coat, champagne, the president«s speech, and, of course, making wishes as the clock strikes midnight.

My main New Year memories from childhood are probably the fireworks at the Voentorg (Military Department Store), where they put on a fantastic show on New Year«s Eve using all kinds of weaponry. From my youth memories — the year 1999 and the speech of Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin, who was tired and decided to step down, filling us with hope and optimism.»

Irina Dibirowa, Head Coach of the Women«s Handball Club Rostov-Don

«New Year is always about a Christmas tree, gifts, and some kind of magic. In childhood, you believed in it, just like in Father Frost. What you believed in as a child stays with you to this day. Before New Year, I always expect a miracle.

In childhood, I always waited for gifts. Until the last moment, it seemed like there weren«t any — you get upset. And at the last minute, your parents say: »No, no, keep looking.« When I found them, there was no happier person in the world.»

Vladimir Bektemirov, Restaurateur (Larisa Zharit, Larisa P«yot, Kazak, Yaga, Sisi, Cafe Makaroshki, and culinary shop Soroka)

«We all come from childhood, where with special love our parents created traditions that we now carry through our entire lives.

In our house, every morning on December 31st started with Soviet films. We tidied up, decorated a live, freshly bought Christmas tree, and, of course, cooked.

I«m sharing with you the top dishes without which I cannot imagine celebrating New Year even now.

Definitely two salads: herring under a fur coat and Olivier. Without them, the holiday isn«t a holiday; it»s the golden and unshakable classic.

Roasted chicken or duck with golden skin. We waited for it to brown in the oven and decided who would get the tastiest legs. Probably, this smell and tangerines — a direct association with a frosty New Year.

Kholodets (meat jelly) — takes the longest to prepare and is eaten the fastest. We also baked Don fish — sazan or sturgeon.

My mother always baked pies with cabbage or meat. And they disappeared from the plate faster than they could make it to the table. The aroma of dough spread throughout the house and created a cozy atmosphere.

Uzvar (dried fruit compote) or cherry compote. Believe me, no juices can compare to these drinks. Definitely mother«s preserves — tomatoes, cucumbers, and watermelon. Feasts in the south were always distinguished by the fact that preparations for New Year started in September.»

Yulia Babenko, Handball Player for the Russian National Team and Rostov-Don

«From childhood, I have the warmest memories of this holiday. On the eve of New Year, you sit down at the table with your parents, wait for the clock to strike midnight, write your wish on a piece of paper and burn it. Then, when your parents give you a gift, you experience unprecedented joy.»

Yevgeny Bessonov, Deputy of the State Duma

«When I was studying in elementary grades at school No. 79 in Rostov-on-Don, for New Year it was suggested to hold a costume carnival.

We, the schoolchildren, were asked to make the costumes ourselves, and at that time, the film «300 Spartans» was shown on TV. Inspired by this film, I made myself a costume out of cardboard, wood, and foil. I made armor, a shield, a sword, and a spear.

The carnival took place in the gym, and it was a bit chilly. The boys and girls in costumes of bunnies, squirrels, and gray wolves were much warmer than the Spartan. But in the end, the costume was noted and a prize was given — a chocolate bar! There were no smartphones, so no photos of the Spartan were taken.«

Yulia Vasiltsova, General Director of TD Spektr Pak

«We have a tradition — decorating the Christmas tree as a whole family, even now with adult children: getting out the festive dishes, beautifully decorating the interior of the house so that the holiday is felt everywhere.

My main memory from childhood is when my mom and dad put on New Year«s costumes. Mom, for example, was the fox Alice, and dad — the cat Basilio. They prepared a New Year»s program for me and my sister: contests, dances, gave tasty gifts or something like that, which during the times of shortage was hard to find. Sports costumes, for example.

My grandmother, who lived with us, prepared the festive table: we always cooked kholodets (meat jelly), made traditional salads, baked cottage cheese cookies with nuts and the «Napoleon» cake. On January 1st, we always waited for the New Year«s »Song of the Year« and guests. Despite living very modestly, our home was always open to friends, and we put all the best on the table. Hospitality was instilled in me from childhood, and my family, when gathered at the table, becomes my place of strength.»