Yakutsk Winter Starts Here

Здесь начинается зима

View on map
Nature & SeasonYakutsk
DatesDates TBA · Usually DecemberCheck locally before booking
DurationWinterEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forSeasonal rites, water traditionsThe festival stages the symbolic transfer of
Language["ru"]Currency: RUB
CategoryNature & SeasonFestival type
The story

Yakutsk Winter Starts Here in Yakutsk

Winter Starts Here (Zima Nachinayetsya s Yakutii) is an annual Yakutsk festival celebrating winter, permafrost, Siberian cold and northern hospitality, tracing back to a 2009 Stroganina fish-shaving contest and formalized as a full festival in 2012. It hosts Russia's first New Year tree lighting each year and hands the symbolic staff of cold from Yakutian cold lord Chyskhaan to Russia's Ded Moroz.

Winter Starts Here traces its origins to 2009, when Yakutia held its first Stroganina competition, a contest in shaving frozen fish into thin curls that judged both speed and the visual presentation of the finished dish, a specialty rooted in Siberian and Arctic food traditions built around preserving and eating fish and meat frozen rather than cooked.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival stages the symbolic transfer of a staff of cold, brought from the Pole of Cold at Oymyakon, from Chyskhaan, the Yakutian lord of cold, to Ded Moroz, Russia's traditional Father Frost, at Russia's first New Year tree-lighting ceremony each season

02

The mystery stays covered

Its ice and snow sculpture competition, Diamonds of Yakutia (Brillianty Yakutii), draws international teams (31 teams from Yakutia, Chuvashia, Bashkortostan, Saint Petersburg, Moscow Oblast, Belarus, China, Mongolia, France, Estonia and the Netherlands competed in one recent edition), and the festival won Russia's national Russian Event Awards in 2016 across three separate categories

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The handoff of the staff of cold from Chyskhaan

Water and renewal

Living ritual

the Yakutian lord of cold

The sacred route

Living ritual

to Ded Moroz at Russia's first lit New Year tree of the season has become the festival's signature ceremonial moment since the full festival format began in 2012

The local code

Living ritual

The Stroganina fish-shaving contest

Tradition 5

Living ritual

the event's founding activity from 2009

Tradition 6

Living ritual

opens the festival each year

Tradition 7

Living ritual

testing competitors on the speed and visual presentation of shaving frozen fish into thin curls

Tradition 8

Living ritual

a traditional Siberian preparation

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually December

Getting around

For Yakutsk Winter Starts Here, plan transport around the exact Yakutsk venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Serious cold-weather clothing is essential, since Yakutsk winters are among the coldest inhabited-city conditions on Earth: insulated boots rated for extreme cold, a heavy insulated parka...

Safety

Keep distance from unsafe water edges and follow local crowd or weather warnings.

Where to stay

For Yakutsk Winter Starts Here, stay near the part of Yakutsk you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Public water rituals are often open, but boat, viewing, or activity access may be paid.

Language/currency

["ru"] · RUB

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map62.03 N, 129.72 EOpen in Google Maps

Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia

Nearest airportYKS — Platon Oyunsky Yakutsk
TransportFor Yakutsk Winter Starts Here, plan transport around the exact Yakutsk venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Yakutsk Winter Starts Here, stay near the part of Yakutsk you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Yakutsk via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Yakutsk, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for December.Compare faresFestival gearSerious cold-weather clothing is essential, since Yakutsk winters are among the coldest inhabited-city conditions on Earth: insulated boots rated for extreme cold, a heavy insulated parka, thermal base layers, insulated gloves or mittens, and a face covering against windchill for time spent outdoors at the ice-sculpture and opening ceremony sites.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Russia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Yakutsk Winter Starts Here?

Yakutsk Winter Starts Here is listed for December · Winter. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Yakutsk Winter Starts Here take place?

The festival is listed in Yakutsk, Russia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Winter is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually December
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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