How Chukotka celebrates Pegytti, the Indigenous New Year

Far out in Russia’s east, where relentless winds, permafrost and long nights shape everyday life, New Year is marked very differently than in Moscow or Vladivostok. On Chukotka, the holiday is not just the midnight chime, a decorated tree and tangerines. Here, New Year is a bond with nature, spirits and ancestors—a moment of renewal felt most keenly at the darkest point of the year.

A New Year of their own—on the darkest night

The Chukchi and other Indigenous peoples of Chukotka celebrate their own New Year, Pegytti, on December 21 or 22, at the winter solstice. At that moment, the sun sits lowest above the horizon and daylight is at its briefest. From then, the sun begins to return, signaling the start of a new cycle of life.

Pegytti is set not by the calendar but by the stars—its name is linked to the bright star Altair, once regarded as a key sign of a new time. On this day, families gather and light a ritual fire the old way, using a special wooden board and a cord instead of matches. The skill is passed from father to son.

By the fire, people sing, dance and wish one another kindness and light. Fat, lard or meat is placed in leather bowls as an offering to the spirits, so they won’t be angered and will instead lend their help in the year ahead. It comes across as more than ritual for ritual’s sake—a way to leave what’s harmful behind and step into the future with a clear mind.

The role of shamans

In these festivities, the shaman holds a special place—a person who, locals believe, can communicate with spirits. The task is to discern what awaits the people in the new year, to cleanse them of harm and set them on the right path. Shamans matter not only at New Year but throughout village and community life: they help in difficult moments, offer healing and advice, and read nature’s signs with care.

People in Chukotka believe everything in the world is alive and has a spirit—snow, wind, animals. That outlook naturally fosters a deeper respect for nature. New Year, then, is not just a reason to celebrate but a time to tune oneself to the next cycle of life.

Orthodoxy alongside, not instead

Chukotka also has Orthodox churches, with services held especially in towns. Locals may observe church holidays such as Christmas. That does not mean they give up their own traditions. On the contrary, many combine both, seeing no contradiction.

Studies indicate that people may attend a church service and also take part in a ritual by the fire. For them, these are simply different facets of life—spiritual and cultural—coexisting without friction.

How they celebrate December 31

Of course, Chukotka also marks the conventional New Year on December 31. Cities put up trees, host concerts, form round dances and set off fireworks. It is a shared nationwide festivity, without deep ritual.

Notably, many families celebrate two New Years: Pegytti first, then the calendar date. Tradition and modernity, the old and the new, weave together in a way that feels both practical and true to place.

Together doesn’t mean opposed

Chukotka is a remarkable place where different cultures and beliefs live side by side without getting in each other’s way. Ancient rites are cherished, nature is respected, and people still take part in the life of the country as a whole. Perhaps that is the heart of the holiday: to feel one’s link to the past, welcome the light and begin the year with an open heart.

While Moscow counts down the final seconds to midnight, Chukotka is already singing by the fire, greeting the sun that will return. There is a particular magic in that, distinct to Russia’s far northeast.