Though New Year celebrations have just finished, the Yuletide festivities are in full swing and will continue up to January 19. Moscow’s Kolomenskoe park is playing host to the massive celebration of this 12-day event.

Folk ensembles dressed in the traditional Russian costumes singing carol songs seem definitely unusual for modern Russian city-dwellers. But in the provinces, these traditions are still alive:

“People still stick to these traditions in Russian villages. They start preparations long before the festivities, sewing costumes and making masks. It’s especially children who anticipate these rituals. Our ensemble is trying to re-introduce the old customs as today kids know almost nothing about it,” artist Irina Gafeatulina said. 

So it is mainly folklore groups giving performances of the ancient Yuletide customs and festivals like the one underway in Kolomenskoe that help preserve the traditions.