Muhammed TAŞKESENLİGİL

Culture is a nation's public life. The most important elements of culture are traditions, customs and beliefs. Festivals are the reflection face of social life that every nation's traditions, customs and belief. Religious holidays are celebrated on a certain day of the year and according to a schedule. Because of these properties, religious festivals which takes its source from public life is a collective phenomenon. In this article firstly we will discuss the importance of religious holidays in Turkish and Russian culture. Then we will explain comparatively these religious festivals celebrated in certain periods of the year in both countries. Referring to the importance of the most important religious holidays of Muslim Ramadan, Feast of sacrifices and Muslim holiday nights in Turkish culture we will talk about the most important religious holidays in Russia such as Christmas, Easter and Maslenitsa.

Key words: Religious festivals, Culture, Christian holidays, Christmass, Easter,