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A1How to says prázdnikam

How to say “Happy holidays” in Russian

One preposition, one case, and you can greet any Russian holiday correctly.

Quick answer

С пра́здником!

s prázdnikam — с + instrumental covers every holiday there is

The options

С пра́здником!Happy holiday! — works for any of them
С Но́вым го́дом!Happy New Year!
С Рождество́м!Merry Christmas!
С 8 Ма́рта!Happy Women’s Day!
С днём рожде́ния!Happy birthday!

The pattern

Drop the verb поздравля́ю and keep с + instrumental: с пра́здником, с Но́вым го́дом, с Рождество́м, с Па́схой, с побе́дой, с новосе́льем. If you only remember С пра́здником!, you are covered for every date in the calendar.

The dates that matter

1 January — Но́вый год, the biggest of all. 7 January — Рождество́. 23 February — День защи́тника Оте́чества, in practice a men’s day. 8 March — Междунаро́дный же́нский день, when flowers are expected. 9 May — День Побе́ды.

What you hear back

Спаси́бо, и вас!Thank you, and you!
И вас с пра́здником!Happy holiday to you too!
Взаи́мно!Likewise!

Typical mistakes

С Но́вый год!

С Но́вым го́дом!

с takes the instrumental: both words change.

Счастли́вого пра́здника — as a greeting

С пра́здником!

The с-pattern is the idiomatic one.

Check yourself

Which is correct?

Instrumental after с.

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