Preparations for the New Year and Christmas festivities are in its final stages in Moscow. But for Russia, the New Year comes before Christmas, which for them is on January 7th. That's because the Russian Orthodox Church still follows the old, Julian calendar. It has a 13-day difference with the Gregorian, which is currently used by the rest of the world. Russia is home to some of the harshest winters anywhere around the world, so these festivities are giving some color to the snowy white surroundings. CGTN's Aljosa Milenkovic has more on Moscow's festive spirit.

Europe's largest ice skating ring is behind this shiny and glittering sign. This Soviet-era park has been given a new breath of life in modern Russia. Thousands of Muscovites are coming here every day to enjoy this unique winter recreation in beautiful surroundings, for a hefty fee. While some are skating like true pros, others are making their first insecure steps on the slippery ice. In spite of cold and snowy weather, many are coming here for a selfie and to appreciate the beautiful surroundings. In other famous park Sokolniki, hundreds of children are coming to see the marvels of Christmas trees decorations made by one small glass manufacturer.

SVETLANA BRASHNIKOVA, TOUR GUIDE CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATIONS FACTORY "I'm guiding excursions here. We are talking to the children about the history of New Year's celebrations, we are showing them how Santa Clauses looks like in different countries, and then we are showing to them how glass decorations are made and painted."

And here is the expert. Igor Yaroslavtsev is an artist of glass decorations. He enjoys every new tour, and shows the children how beautiful baubles can be created from just a piece of ordinary glass. In next room children are painting those decorations with the help of experienced glass decorators. Ksenija Shenk is one of them. She's just finishing a "No Russia - No Games" decoration, expressing her deep dissatisfaction at Russia's ban in the Winter Olympic Games in South Korea. The children though, are inspired by bit more cheery themes. And at the end of my Moscow New Year's tour, I went to one of few fine chocolate manufacturers, to taste some of their delicacies.

ALJOSA MILENKOVIC MOSCOW "New year's festivities and chocolate candies go hand in hand. And all of us, with few extra kilograms around the waist, definitely know what tastes best. The struggle not to eat TOO much of these delicacies has just begun. And it's going to be long and weary battle."

Hand crafted chocolate is their specialty, and for Christmas they are making chocolate Santa Clauses. What else? I had to try to make one, but ended up ruining a few. And this place holds one of the world's best kept chocolate secret: smoking gun proof that Russians invented chocolate eggs with children's toy inside.

MASHA GALOVKINA CHOCOLATE ATELIER, ZLATA ROZMAN "First eggs with the toys were made in Russia, city of Moscow in 1908 in Dinga factory. They've made eggs like this one, in which a children's toy is hidden. This is true historic artifact, it has number on it and in catalogue we can find what kind of surprise is hidden inside."

Muscovites for sure don't waste time preparing for the longest night on December 31. And for them that night will be just the beginning of winter festivities season. Aljosa Milenkovic, CGTN, Moscow.