Survive Winter with a Russian Themed Party

Why Winter is When You Have a Russian Themed Party

Here’s an understatement of the year: winter is cold. And though I dislike cold weather, I have never been to Russia during winter. It can get quite cold in the continental USA, but we Americans do not truly know winter. Russians know winter. Our Siberian neighbours across the Pacific know winter. So while we have explored a couple of festive winter themes with a snow party and a winter theme party, the ultimate experience of the dark and unrelenting cold of winter lies in Russia. That is why the dead of winter is the perfect time to embrace a Russian themed party!

Side note: though this is a party theme site and it should go without saying, this post is about Russian culture. It neither supports nor refers to the political forces responsible for war against Ukrainian people or any nation or peoples. We celebrate alongside and in honor of the people in Ukraine, Russia and elsewhere in the world who seek to: end violence and oppression; heal, repair and uplift affected families, individuals, and communities; and restore their quality of life to fulfill shared universal values of love, support, and community safety and cohesiveness. That is the spirit with which we throw a festive Russian themed party!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means I may earn commission if you click through the link and finalize a qualifying purchase. This does not affect the price in any way.

How to Throw a Russian Themed Party

1. Create the Scene with Russian Decorations

When decorating for a Russian party, you need only a few statement pieces that represent any part(s) of Russian culture or aesthetic. Of course, the region is home to a host of different nationalities and people groups, so anything representative to any part of the region is fitting. You’re more likely to find Russian home décor items than actual party theme decorations, so it isn’t necessary to go all out and buy Faberge eggs or anything (but if you have some to display, that would be amazing!). Just choose a few clever finds and put some thought into the arrangement. Small efforts done with care and enthusiasm speak volumes! You can find inexpensive party décor if you check thrift stores. Antique shops can have great finds and for great prices, too. You just have to put a little time into rifling through things. Here are a few decorations for inspiration:

• Vintage Russian decorative paper garland
• Decorative Russia wall hanging pennant
• Wooden Russian Khokhloma cups (set of 6)
• Many more Russian-themed items from Russia Is Calling shop

One economical way to create a Russian-themed space is to drape blankets or other fabrics from the walls. This is not only a very Russian thing to do (it helps insulate!) but it covers larger swaths of area; therefore, your décor covers more territory and ‘goes further’ so to speak. So find some Russian blankets that you like and display them on your walls or drape them over your furniture! You can find them in several sizes and patterns. Here are a few finds:

• Colourful matryoshka doll blanket
• Russian-themed pattern throw blanket
• Colourful Moscow-themed pattern baby lovey-sized blanket (18”x17”)
• Moscow Kremlin blanket

2. Prepare Russian Refreshments

A Russian themed party calls for delicious Russian staples like borscht and blini. To survive a Russian winter, you must feed your guests well! And don’t let anyone get thirsty, either. You may think you only need two drinks for this party (water and vodka). But to be a good host, you must serve palatable options as well! Not everybody (nor every Russian) drinks vodka, so serve appetizing non-alcoholic refreshments besides just water and soda. And while some enjoy straight up vodka, others prefer mixers. So plan your menu with some thought! Luckily, there are plenty of delicious options that will allow your guests to experience Russia with their sense of taste.

• Easy Russian borscht
• Winter borscht
• Russian buckwheat soup
• Russian Beef Stroganoff
• Blini with smoked salmon
• Sharlotka (Russian apple cake)
• Cranberry, raspberry apple Russian kompot drink
• Black tea with sugar
• Tisanes (herbal ‘teas’)
• Sbiten (Russian mulled bevvy)
• Vodkas (don’t break your budget, but don’t grab the cheapest brand – invest in quality bottles)
• Skyy vanilla white Russian
• Hot white Russian
• Melted Ice Cream White Russian

3. Play Russian Music

The best way to party Russian-style is to bump up the volume with a current Russian music playlist. My former Ukrainian neighbour’s 21^st birthday party featured blasting Russian songs and everyone belting along, a fun and fond memory. Your own Russian themed party music plan depends on the energy level you’re seeking. If you’re having a dance party, definitely amp up some good Russian beats. But if you want people to enjoy conversation without shouting over their drinks, just keep the volume a little lower. Or play more traditional or thematic background music like Russian winter themed instrumental music, or dramatic classical music by Russian composers such as Alexander Borodin. Russian folk music is always an excellent choice, too.

4. Add Pleasant Scents

While there may not be a specific scent that is unique to Russia, there are some fun scented candles that are Russian-themed! Check out a few here:

• White Russian candle (vanilla, coffee, and chocolate)
• ‘I’m Not Yelling I’m Russian’ candle (vanilla)
• Personalized Russian language candle (multiple scent options)
• Russian leather candle (‘a deep, sexy and enticing blend of bergamot, geranium, leather, rosemary, moss & tobacco’)

5. Plan Russian Themed Party Activities

Play Russian-Inspired Games

Invite your guests to engage in any number of traditional Russian games! Or invent your own Russian themed party game with a beloved set of matryoshka dolls in which you hide a clue written on a small piece of paper within each layer, for a sort of guided scavenger hunt. Play Russian music while everyone sits in a circle and passes around the nested dolls (like ‘hot potato’). With your back turned so you can’t see who’s holding the dolls at any given moment, pause the music at random. Whichever guest has the dolls at that time must then open the outer doll and retrieve one of the clues.

Once the guest completes the task which should help guide them closer to the goal (such as finding an object which requires several steps like finding a key to unlock a door, opening a box, etc.), the music and the game resumes. Continue until the last doll is removed to reveal the final clue. If the person who opens the doll/clue at this time then successfully uses the clue to find the object or achieve whatever goal, they win. Have a good prize in mind! You could also make this a drinking game where anyone who fails to successfully follow the clue then takes a drink, and passes the clue on to the next person to try.

Share Russian Trivia

Anybody who attends your Russian themed party should be happy to learn and discuss the region’s history and perhaps less well-known Russian cultural facts. For example, who knew that Saint Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum has a special army of pampered cats protect it from rats, with their own press secretary?

Russian Dance Contest

Here is where you call upon your most spry friends who can pull off Russian dancing. (Or those willing to consume enough vodka to do it.) If any guests have trouble shaking off stress from the week, a Russian dancing competition is a sure solution! All you need to do is crank up the music and challenge somebody who won’t be beat.

Checklist of Items You Need

This is a list of all of the physical things you need for your Russian themed party:

1. Russian décor
2. Russian themed party refreshments
3. Russian music
4. Russian-inspired scented candles (optional)
5. Any materials/information needed for Russian trivia or games

Checklist of Preparations for Your Russian Themed Party

1. First, confirm that people can come on any chosen date:

1. Choose party date/time, and preferably alternative date(s) as well
2. Choose guest list and establish minimum number of guests you’d like (to make it worth your effort)
3. Six weeks out, confirm guests’ interest in the party and availability on chosen party date(s)
4. If your preferred minimum number of guests confirm interest and availability, have them secure calendar date for your awesome Russian themed party!

2. Then, proceed with the fun planning!

1. Schedule time on your calendar for each step of party prep (securing and/or making food/drinks, etc.)
2. Create invitations with all of the details and send them out 4 weeks before the party
3. Order any party supplies and decorations 3 weeks out (so they arrive in time to prepare and set up)
4. Shop for any party supplies/decorations you don’t order online, as well as non-perishable food/drinks
5. In your planned time slots, acquire perishable food/drinks early enough in advance to prepare in time
6. In your planned time slots, set up decorations
7. In your planned time slots, prepare food/drinks (depending on how long things keep)

3. Day of Party (in your amply planned time slot):

1. Prepare any foods/drinks that are too fresh to do any earlier
2. Set up any quick/easy last-minute supplies and decorations you didn’t want up before
3. Prepare ambience (music, candles)
4. Get dressed in your favourite Russian party outfit
5. Once everything’s ready, meditate or do any preferred self-care to get in a good head space if you aren’t already. You want to be relaxed, energized, and excited. You will be happier, and guests will pick up on your contagiously good vibe and automatically be happier as well – everybody’s best interest!