S Novym Godom: What It Means and How to Use It in a New Year Card
"S Novym Godom" (often typed as one word, snovym godom) is the standard Russian way to say "Happy New Year". Literally it means "with the New Year": it is a shortened form of "I congratulate you with the New Year", and it is pronounced roughly "s NO-vym GO-dum", with the s joined to the next word.
Customers abroad ask us about this phrase every December, usually while writing a card for a bouquet to parents, a partner or colleagues in Russia. Below we explain what the greeting covers, the related phrases Russians use before and after midnight, how to write a short New Year message in transliteration or English, and which flowers suit the holiday.
What the phrase means word by word
The greeting consists of three words: s (with), Novym (new) and Godom (year), the last two in the instrumental case that Russian uses after "with". The full sentence behind it is "Pozdravlyayu s Novym Godom" - "I congratulate you on the New Year" - and in everyday speech the verb is simply dropped. That is why the phrase sounds complete on its own and is used exactly like the English "Happy New Year".
You can extend it in a few common ways. "S Novym Godom i Rozhdestvom" adds Christmas, which in Russia is celebrated on 7 January by the Orthodox calendar, so the two holidays are often greeted together. "S Novym Godom, s novym schastyem" means "Happy New Year, with new happiness" and is a warm, slightly old-fashioned wish that older relatives especially like. "S Novym Godom, dorogaya mama" is "Happy New Year, dear Mum".
In Latin letters you will see several spellings: S Novym Godom, S Novim Godom, snovym godom or s novym godom. They all mean the same thing; the first is the most common transliteration. In Russian both "Novym" and "Godom" are written with capital letters in the greeting, because the New Year is treated as the name of a holiday, so keep the capitals on a card.
Before and after midnight: s nastupayushchim
Russians are careful about timing with this greeting. Before 31 December has ended, many people say "S nastupayushchim" - "with the approaching one" - instead of "S Novym Godom", because the year has not arrived yet. You will hear it at work in the last days of December, in shops and in messages sent a few days early. Saying "S Novym Godom" in advance is not a mistake, but "S nastupayushchim" sounds natural and attentive.
After midnight on 1 January, and through the first two weeks of January, "S Novym Godom" is the right phrase. There is even a second chance to use it: the Old New Year on the night of 13 to 14 January, the date of New Year by the old Julian calendar. It is a quieter, family holiday, but many people still exchange greetings and keep the decorations up until then.
For a card on a bouquet delivered before the holiday, "S nastupayushchim Novym Godom!" - "Happy upcoming New Year!" - is a nice detail that shows you know the custom.
Bouquets we can deliver
Why New Year matters so much in Russia
For most Russian families New Year is the main holiday of the year, bigger than Christmas. People gather on the evening of 31 December, set a long table with salads like Olivier and herring under a fur coat, listen to the President's address and the Kremlin chimes on television just before midnight, and open champagne on the last stroke. Presents are put under the fir tree and are said to come from Ded Moroz, Grandfather Frost, and his granddaughter Snegurochka.
Because the holiday is so central, a greeting from someone abroad means a lot. A message that arrives with flowers on 31 December, or in the first days of January, shows that you remembered the family table even if you cannot sit at it. Many of our customers in other countries send a bouquet to parents every year at this time.
Writing a New Year card for Russian friends
A Russian New Year card is usually short and full of wishes rather than news. The traditional set is health, happiness, love and prosperity for the year ahead. In transliteration a simple card could read: "S Novym Godom! Zhelayu zdorovya, schastya i lyubvi" - "Happy New Year! Wishing you health, happiness and love". If you are not confident in Russian, write in English and add only "S Novym Godom!" at the end; the recipient will appreciate the effort.
Colour sets the mood. Red and white is the classic festive combination; white, silver and green look calm and elegant, which suits older relatives and colleagues; a bouquet in a box or basket is practical when the table is already crowded. For a partner, red roses with a few fir sprigs say both love and New Year in one bouquet.
Match the form of address to the person. For parents, a partner and close friends use the informal "ty" forms, like "dorogaya" or "moy dorogoy" - see our note on what moy dorogoy means. For a teacher, a doctor, a boss or an older acquaintance use the polite "vy" and the full first name with patronymic. For thanking such people at the end of the year, the formal phrase in blagodaryu vas fits well alongside the New Year wishes.
Our cards are free, and we write the text exactly as you send it. If you want it in Russian, it is best to send the Russian text yourself or call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05 to agree the wording.
Flowers that suit the New Year
New Year bouquets in Russia look different from summer ones. Customers ask for red roses with fir branches, white roses with eucalyptus and cotton stems, amaryllis, red hypericum berries, pine cones and small decorative ornaments. Long-lasting flowers matter, because the bouquet should still look good when guests arrive on the 31st and through the holidays: roses, chrysanthemums, carnations and dried accents such as statice all hold up well in a warm flat.
For the vase, cut the stems at an angle, change the water every two days and keep the bouquet away from radiators, which in Russian flats run hot all winter. Fir and pine branches can be kept in the same water and will scent the room for a week or more.
Sending New Year flowers to Russia
New Year is our busiest season, so we recommend ordering early. You can pre-order 1 to 30 days ahead and choose an exact time (plus or minus 30 minutes) or a window - 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21. In large cities express delivery takes 1-2 hours after confirmation. In Saint Petersburg we deliver around the clock, so a bouquet can arrive late on 31 December, right before midnight, or early on 1 January.
Pick a bouquet in the bouquets catalogue and pay online: foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa, as well as SBP and Yandex Pay. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for suburbs and remote districts the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival. Our three shops in Saint Petersburg have been making bouquets since 2011, and the full terms are on the delivery and payment page.
Frequently asked questions
What does S Novym Godom mean?
It means Happy New Year in Russian; literally "with the New Year". It is short for "Pozdravlyayu s Novym Godom", I congratulate you on the New Year.
How do you reply to S Novym Godom?
The usual reply is "I vas tozhe" (polite) or "I tebya tozhe" (informal), meaning "and you too". You can also simply say "S Novym Godom!" back.
What is S nastupayushchim?
It means "with the approaching one" and is used before New Year arrives, in the last days of December. After midnight people switch to S Novym Godom.
Can flowers be delivered on New Year's Eve?
Yes. In Saint Petersburg we deliver around the clock, including late on 31 December; in other large cities choose an exact time or a time window. Pre-ordering 1-30 days ahead is best in this busy season.
Can I pay from abroad?
Yes, foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa. SBP and Yandex Pay also work.
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