Source: RIA Novosti

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5393804&startrow=11&date=2005-02-09&do_alert=0

On February 9, 2005 RIA Novosti reported, "On Wednesday, Russian Buddhists will be celebrating New Year - the Year of the Hen. 'February 9 is the first day in the new year according to the lunar calendar that we stick to,' said Sanjey Lama, a representative of the Buddhist traditional school (sangha) of Moscow. He added that according to the 12-year cycle of the Oriental tradition, this will be the year of Hen (last year was the year of Monkey). 'It is believed that the New Year begins at 6 am. On New Year's night, Buddhists gather in their temples and monasteries, and pray for welfare, good harvest, peace and calm in the coming year. Besides, believers order prayer for the entire year. This is the religious meaning of the holiday,' said Sanjey-Lama. After the sunset, pieces of fabric are ritually burnt to take away the whole evil of the outgoing year."