Russian Calendar Names: Which Calendar and Which Celebration?
The Russian calendar name for everyday civil use is the Gregorian calendar; the Russian word for calendar is transliterated as kalendar. The Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar for many fixed religious feasts, while a calendar linking personal names to saints is often called the svyattsy. If you are looking for a celebration associated with someone's first name, the term you need is name day, or imeniny.
At Pyat Tsvetov (5 Flowers), customers arranging a gift often need to establish whether a date marks a birthday, a name day or a church holiday. That distinction helps us discuss an appropriate bouquet and card message without assuming how the recipient celebrates. Our Saint Petersburg flower shops have served customers since 2011, and our practical advice starts with confirming the occasion before choosing the flowers.
The civil calendar and the Orthodox calendar serve different purposes
Russia uses the Gregorian calendar for ordinary appointments, birthdays and delivery dates. When a recipient gives you a date for a family celebration, use that civil date unless they explicitly explain otherwise. Do not automatically add days because the occasion is Russian or religious; doing so can move a correctly stated celebration to the wrong day.
The Julian calendar is often described as the Old Style calendar, while Gregorian dates are called New Style in historical or church discussions. For dates from March 1900 through February 2100, the difference is 13 days. This explains why Russian Orthodox Christmas falls on 7 January in the civil calendar, corresponding to 25 December in the Julian calendar.
An Orthodox calendar may already display feast days against current civil dates, so check its heading and date format before converting anything. Easter follows a separate calculation and should be checked for the particular year. For a flower delivery, record the final date in words, such as 7 January 2027, and use the recipient's local time.
A name day belongs to a personal name, not a birthday
A Russian name day honours the saint associated with a person's Christian name. It is distinct from the person's birthday, and the two occasions usually fall on different dates. The word imeniny refers to this celebration; the informal phrase Angel Day is also used, although its use can vary between families.
The svyattsy lists saints commemorated through the church year and can connect a name with several possible dates. A familiar everyday name may also differ from the form used at baptism. A search for a first name alone therefore cannot reliably establish the particular day someone observes.
Ask the recipient or a close relative which date they celebrate, especially when several saints share the name. Some people mark the occasion with church attendance or a family meal, while others do not observe it. Our guide to Russian name-day flowers and timing offers more advice once the date is confirmed.
Bouquets we can deliver
Read Russian dates and names without creating a delivery mistake
Russian numeric dates normally follow day-month-year order. A date written as 06.05 therefore means 6 May, which can confuse a sender accustomed to month-day notation. Spell out the month when discussing a celebration, and include the year when checking a movable holiday or arranging a future gift.
If you are reading a calendar in transliteration, yanvar means January, fevral February, mart March and aprel April. May is may, followed by iyun for June and iyul for July; these last two are easy to confuse. The remaining months are avgust, sentyabr, oktyabr, noyabr and dekabr, corresponding to August through December.
Keep the recipient's name separate from the information needed to find the address. A shortened family name may be warm and suitable on the card, while fuller details can help identify the recipient. Copy the city, street, building and flat carefully; our guide to Russian streets and delivery addresses explains common address terms.
Choose flowers for the person and the setting
For a name day, begin with the recipient's favourite flowers or colours if you know them. No single flower or colour is required for every Russian name-day celebration. A bouquet should suit the person receiving it, so avoid treating an online list of flower meanings as a rule that overrides their taste.
In Russian gift etiquette, an odd number of stems is customary for a small, clearly countable celebratory bouquet. Even numbers are traditionally associated with mourning, making the count particularly relevant when sending a few roses or other prominent stems. In a mixed arrangement, the overall design matters too, but the occasion should still be clear.
Consider where the bouquet will stand and how the recipient will carry it. A manageable arrangement is often more practical for someone travelling home after a gathering, while a large bouquet needs a suitable vase and space. Browse the bouquets catalogue with those practical details in mind, and avoid strongly scented flowers if the recipient dislikes fragrance.
Write a clear card and plan around the recipient's day
A name-day card can be simple: 'Happy name day, Anna. Wishing you a peaceful day and a lovely celebration.' Use religious wording only when you know it will be welcome. If the occasion is a birthday, say so directly; keeping the greeting specific prevents a thoughtful gift from carrying the wrong message.
Delivery is anonymous by default: our courier does not name the sender. A card with your text is free, so sign it if you want the recipient to know who sent the flowers. Include the exact wording you want rather than relying on the courier to explain the occasion or pass on a spoken greeting.
We deliver flowers across Russia, with express delivery in large cities available 1–2 hours after the order is confirmed. You can also arrange an exact time within plus or minus 30 minutes, select a 09–12, 12–15, 15–18 or 18–21 window, or pre-order 1–30 days ahead. Work from the recipient's local time, and distinguish order confirmation from the moment you submit the order.
Arrange delivery and help the bouquet last
City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. In Saint Petersburg, delivery is available around the clock. Check the delivery and payment information when planning the gift, particularly if the address is outside the city or the celebration has a fixed starting time.
Online checkout uses CloudPayments; check the payment options displayed there rather than assuming every foreign card will be accepted. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, so provide a number they can answer. If they are absent, we agree a second delivery the same day or a handover to a neighbour or concierge with the sender's consent.
After arrival, place cut flowers in a clean vase with fresh water and remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline. Recut the stems with a clean, sharp tool, follow any flower-food instructions and keep the bouquet away from direct heat and ripening fruit. Check the water daily and refresh it as needed; for questions about an order, call 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Russian calendar called?
Russia's everyday civil calendar is the Gregorian calendar, and the Russian word for calendar is transliterated as kalendar. If you mean a church calendar connecting saints and personal names, the term may be svyattsy.
Does Russia use the Julian calendar?
Russia uses the Gregorian calendar for civil dates. The Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar for many fixed feasts, so check whether a religious date is shown in Old Style or as its current civil equivalent.
How do I find someone's Russian name day?
Ask which saint and date the person or their family observes, then check the relevant church calendar. A first name can correspond to several saints, so a name search alone may give several possible dates.
Are flowers appropriate for a Russian name day?
Flowers can be a thoughtful gift when the recipient celebrates the occasion. Choose according to their preferences, and use an odd stem count for a small, clearly countable celebratory bouquet.
Can I order flowers to Russia from abroad?
We deliver flowers across Russia, and online checkout uses CloudPayments. Check the options displayed at checkout, since acceptance of every foreign card cannot be guaranteed.
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