Yeah, we know, New Year’s is over but in Russia, January 14^th marks The Old New Year, an informal traditional Slavic Orthodox holiday. The Russian Old New Year celebrates the start of the New Year by the Julian calendar which the Russian Orthodox Church continued to use despite the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic’s adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1918. As a result, Russians celebrate both the “New” New Year as dictated by the Gregorian calendar (January 1^st) and then the “Old” New Year on January 14. Generally the Old New Year is a nostalgic family holiday marked by large traditional meals, singing and celebratory drinking. This tradition is also celebrated throughout Eastern Europe in Serbia, Armenia, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia.

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And, now, it’s celebrated in Portland, Oregon courtesy of the Rose City’s best European Party Band, Chervona. They throw an annual Old New Year celebration that’s become legendary amongst not only the city’s Russian and Eastern European communities but amongst anyone who likes to have a few drinks and dance to some great party music. This year’s lineup featured Chervona in the headlining slot with Seattle’s traditional Russian folk ensemble Pava and the virtuoso Russian violinist Vera Panich opening up. There will also be a DJ battle featuring DJ Eugene of Portland spinning Russian disco and DJ Makedon of Seattle spinning Balkan grooves.

The whole thing goes down tomorrow on Friday, January 13 and it’s going to be a great party. Tickets are flying out the door so be sure to get yours right over here before they’re all gone!

Need more encouragement? Well here’s Andre from Chervona sending you a message all the way from Jamaica urging you all to come out and party with him! How can you resist?

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