Russian · phrasebook
Happy new year in Russian
Happy New Year in Russian is С Новым годом! (s Novym godom): the с + instrumental greeting again. New Year is the biggest holiday of the Russian calendar, with the tree, the presents and the midnight feast that Christmas has elsewhere.
Aurélien CuvelierAug 9, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026The ways to say it
С Новым годом! (s Novym godom), standard
С наступающим! (s nastupayushchim), before midnight: with the approaching one: said in the days before
С наступившим! (s nastupivshim), after midnight: with the arrived one; for the days after
Старый Новый год (Stary Novy god), Old New Year: January 13 to 14: the Julian-calendar bonus round
How to use it
Новый год inherited everything the Soviet era removed from Christmas: the decorated ёлка (fir tree), Дед Мороз (Grandfather Frost) with his granddaughter Снегурочка, presents, and a table that starts on December 31 and ends well past midnight.
С наступающим deserves a special mention: it is a present participle of наступать (to approach), so the phrase congratulates you with the holiday that is still coming. Russians say it all through late December, then switch to С Новым годом at midnight.
Watch out
С наступающим works only BEFORE the holiday: said in January it misfires, because the year is no longer approaching. After midnight, С Новым годом.
The Russian New Year: the whole season explained, December 31 to Old New Year
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