A Magical New Year's Getaway at the Yasna Ethnic Complex

We spent the New Year's holidays at the Yasna ethnic complex in Chuvashia, and it was a truly unforgettable experience. We were there specifically for the New Year's program, but unfortunately, the freezing temperatures forced us to skip some of the events. Brrr, it was really cold!

New Year's program "Visiting the Home of Hel Muchy" Yasna Ethnic Complex

Event Program:

17:00–17:10 — Ethnic costume presentation (shawls, belts), photo shoot.17:10–17:40 — New Year's folk dance with heroes from Chuvash folk tales.17:40–20:00 — Complex of events:Hel Muchy's Theater — interactive program featuring ancient Chuvash musical instruments.Museum of Ancient Musical Instruments — interactive program from the Keeper of Music.Museum of Folk Costume — photo shoot.Yur Piki's Workshop (Grandmas) — exhibition of traditional crafts, masterclass on making New Year's toys.Guest Hall of Mari Aki — New Year's carols and divination.New Year's Feast with Aunt Kama (Pechki) — tasting of herbal tea and 'yava' buns.18:30 — dinner: potatoes, meatballs, tea, 'yava' bun.Ulah (tent on the hay) — festive feast with national cuisine (shurpe, throat soup, shashlik, pickled vegetables).23:00–23:30 — Ethno-disco / New Year's predictions.23:30–00:30 — continuation of the festive events.January 1, 2025 — breakfast.We booked a cabin in advance, which was a lifesaver on those chilly days. The cabin was super cozy, and it was warm and comfy inside, with an atmosphere that really felt like traditional Chuvash culture.

The program organization was top-notch. You could tell that the people behind it put a lot of effort into making it happen, and they were super knowledgeable about the Chuvash culture and history. As someone who's lived in Chuvashia for 18 years, I was really impressed by the level of detail they went into.

The administrators were friendly and helpful, answering all our questions about accommodation and explaining everything in detail. The first event was with the Elf and heroes from national tales, and meeting the National Grandfather Frost, Hel Muchy. We had a blast dancing – it was just what we needed on that freezing day.

The music program was definitely the highlight of the event for me. They taught us about traditional instruments, how they were used in the past, and how they evolved over time. Then, everyone got together and created this amazing collective orchestra.

There were only a few families, about five, with two adults and two to three kids each. Despite being strangers, they quickly started chatting with each other because of the activities they were doing. They had these fun dances, contests, and activities for both kids and adults. I even got to attend a workshop on traditional Chuvash dances – it was so much fun!

I really enjoyed the part of the event where they talked about the tradition of young people from different villages coming together in one house. It was like a matchmaking event, where guys would go to find their future partners. The games they played were all about getting to know each other, and some of them reminded me of the games I used to play as a kid, like 'kolichko-kolichko'. It was great to see my kid playing them too.

The food was simple but delicious, just like homemade. Each time we sat down to eat, they'd tell us the story behind the dish. Most of the ingredients were locally sourced, and they even had their own beehives and chickens. I ended up buying some tea, honey, and a soup mix.

The only downside was the weather. It was freezing, and we didn't get to see everything we wanted to. I later found out that we could have rented some warm boots, which would have made a big difference.

Despite the weather, the trip left a great impression on me. If you're planning to visit in the winter, make sure to pack warm clothes and boots.

I'd love to go back in the summer and explore the surrounding area on an excursion. They told us about this ancient oak tree that's been standing there for centuries – it's a must-see!

The cost for three adults and one kid was around 42,000 rubles, which I thought was reasonable, especially considering that a similar event in Veliky Ustyug would have cost us 87,000 rubles per person. Plus, we got to meet the local Santa Claus and some heroes from Chuvash folk tales.