#110 “For 20 YEARS... I Celebrated Chinese New Year in Russia – Without Knowing It!” | Yana Fry

What if I told you I’ve been celebrating Chinese New Year my whole life — without knowing it?

I grew up in the Soviet Union. No dragons. No red envelopes. Just snow outside the window, bananas ripening slowly for New Year’s Eve, and one sacred night when the whole family gathered together.

Every year, my mother would tell me which animal was coming next — the horse, the dragon, the pig. We chose colours carefully. We prepared food intentionally. We welcomed the “energy” of the year.

Only later, after moving to Singapore, did I realise what we were actually celebrating — the Chinese zodiac, just starting on January 1st instead of the Lunar calendar.

In a country where religion was banned, ritual still survived.

This episode is my reflection on how traditions travel quietly across borders… and how sometimes, you don’t choose a tradition.

Sometimes, it chooses you.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 | The Tradition You Didn’t Know You Followed

01:34 | When Rituals Survive Despite People Trying to Erase Them

03:58 | The Moment Your Identity Quietly Shifts

04:33 | Why You’re More Superstitious Than You Think

💫 ABOUT YANA FRY

Yana Adamanta Fry is an internationally recognized speaker, transformational coach, and founder of Awaken Human and Timeless Teachings Academy - pioneering platforms at the intersection of conscious leadership, emotional intelligence, and soul-based success. With over 15 years of global experience and clients from 30+ countries, she weaves ancient wisdom with modern strategy to help high-achieving women and conscious men create lives of deep purpose, soulful relationships, and lasting impact. She is also the creator and host of YanaTV, a Singapore-born global platform spotlighting visionary leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond - exploring what it means to live, lead, and love with integrity and heart. Her second platform, the Timeless Teachings Podcast, offers spiritually grounded conversations on healing, love, personal evolution, and conscious living - featuring teachers, mystics, and embodied practitioners from around the world.

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