Making wishes in three simple steps
Step 1:Write down the wish
5 seconds
Step 2:Burn the note
25 seconds
Step 3:Put the ashes into a glass of champagne and drink it
10 seconds
Russians take their New Year wishes very seriously. Right before midnight of December 31, we articulate our wishes, quickly put them down on a piece of paper and burn it. Then we sweep the ashes into a glass of champagne and drink it. You have to finish it before the clock strikes 12. Usually we check with the chimes on the Kremlin's Spasskaya tower — the stream is conducted annually on every local TV channel just after president's New Year speech.
Thus, we have only 40 seconds to get the job done.
The note burns faster when rotated by 45 degrees 😊