A Christmas tree in St. Petersburg for Easter - Why?

The unseasonal snowy weather threw a spanner in the works for the Easter celebrations in Russia, especially after social media users noticed a giant Christmas tree next to the 'Mega' shopping mall in St. Petersburg on April 15. They thought it could be a joke, but Mega denies any involvement.

The cold snap and snow also prompted online jokes about eating the traditional “Olivier” salad (usually eaten during New Year) and some even quipped that Ded Moroz – a Slavic fictional character similar to Father Christmas – might show up.

Source: Elena Zhigulina

It must be said, the Christmas tree didn’t look out of place in the heavy snowstorms which hit Russia’s second city on April 14, covering its branches in white.

"Last time such a phenomenon [heavy snow in April] happened was 20 years ago," St. Petersburg main weather forecaster Alexander Kolesov said. 

Read more: Easter’s East-West divide: What are the differences?

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