The Most Important Holiday

New Year’s is such an important holiday in the Russian-speaking culture that Putin refused to declare national mourning over the terror acts in Volgograd. It isn’t that he is being especially insensitive on this issue. (At least, not more insensitive than he normally is). Putin simply understands even if he declares national mourning, people will still go all out celebrating. You can deprive Russian-speakers of many things, but you cannot take away their New Year’s.

Everything one does on this day is highly symbolic. This is why I timed the writing of my most recent article to submit it today. I’m also starting to write a new article today. You’ll say that this is superstitious. Yes, it probably is. But a lot of research gets done, which is always good.