The history and traditions of celebrating the New Year in different countries has always been and remains one of the interesting topics for discussion, this is especially true during the upcoming New Year holidays, which we all look forward to, like some kind of Miracle. How many countries, so many traditions of celebrating this wonderful New Year's celebration. The origins of these traditions date back to the distant past. But I would like to dwell on the history of the celebration of the new year in Russia. After all, to know your folk traditions this is no less important than knowing the traditions of other foreign countries.

In short, we can divide the history of the celebration of the new year in Russia into four historical milestones:

Pre-Christian New Year;

First of all, it should be noted that all the changes associated with the celebration of the new year are associated with important historical events, but at the same time, ancient customs have survived to this day.

Let us dwell on each of the stages in a little more detail. The pre-Christian new year belongs to ancient times. He was characterized by various liturgical rites, solemn offerings and fun. Almost all Christian holidays arose on the site of old pagan rites. So, according to one version, the birthday of the sun, according to the old style, it was celebrated on December 24, passed on the eve of the Nativity of Christ. Christmas time or Holy Evenings are also originally pre-Christian in origin. New Year's ceremonial cookies were prepared for the Christmas season, with characteristic names: "cows", "karakulka", "pretzels" and other comic names. But the ritual New Year's dinner among the ancient Slavs is a separate interesting topic which we will not touch on now. Undoubtedly, it should be noted that during this period the rite of caroling was born, which has been preserved to this day. The children, at that time, went from house to house, to congratulate the owners on the new year. Entering the house, the boys bowed to the owner and sprinkled the floor with grain, saying: for happiness, for health, for a new summer. In return, they were treated to various sweets with special cordiality, since, according to the belief of the old people, they brought wealth and happiness to the house.

As you know, the formation of Christianity in Russia took place in the X century, in other words, it marked the Baptism of Russia. Together with Christianity, the Julian calendar was adopted, which was used in Byzantium. The new chronology began to be conducted from the day of the creation of the world, and its new year began on the first of March.

Among the agricultural peoples, the celebration of the new year was associated with the beginning of field work. It should be noted that in Central and Northern Russia, March has never been the beginning of spring field work associated with sowing and caring for it. Such a discrepancy between the March New Year and labor processes formed an alien Mediterranean phenomenon in the Russian people. Perhaps that is why this period is characterized by the complete absence of any rituals associated with the March New Year.

Let's talk about the transfer of the new year to September 1According to some sources at the end of the 15th century, and according to others in the middle of the 14th Orthodox Church, in accordance with the definitions of the Council of Nicaea, carried out the transfer of the beginning of the year to September 1st. The divergence of opinions is due to the fact that in the XIV century there was still no single state formation as such, and it is not possible to trace the widespread transition to the celebration of the new year from September 1. By the end of the 15th century, the creation of a centralized state was completed, and the transition to the autumn season began to be traced more clearly, confirmation of which can be found in written sources. Such a chronology continued to remain until the reform of Peter I, who, by his decree of 15 and 19 XII, 1699, introduced the chronology from the Nativity of Christ, and the beginning of the year from January 1. It is important to note here that the Orthodox Church to this day celebrates September 1st as the beginning of a new year. Therefore, there is a double system of counting the year: church and official.

This event is associated with the signing of the decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR of January 24, 1918 after the Great October Socialist Revolution, which proclaimed the introduction of the Gregorian calendar. It was generally accepted in European countries, adjusted for 13 days. Since that time in Russia New Year is considered one of the most fun, long-awaited and joyful holidays. But the custom of decorating the New Year and Christmas trees came to us from Germany back in the time of Peter I. The tree gives everyone, and especially children, a special joyful pastime, colorful toys and garlands cannot leave anyone indifferent. And how nice it is to find a gift in the early morning under Christmas tree. All this festival simply enchants and creates a wonderful atmosphere of magic!

On the night of January 13-14, Russia celebrates a unique holiday for the entire post-Soviet space. And while the whole world looks at it with bewilderment, let's try to figure out how this holiday arose and what are its traditions.

So, the celebration of the Old New Year came from a change in the chronology - when, according to tradition, the holiday was celebrated according to the old and new styles. And for many, the night from January 13 to 14 is the real New Year, because this tradition is much older. The new chronology was introduced in Russia not so long ago - in 1918, while the old New Year is already over 300 years old. In addition to Russia, the old New Year is also celebrated in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and other countries inhabited by Eastern Slavs.

Now about the traditions of the holiday: the Old New Year falls at the very height of Christmas time - the time of fun and matchmaking. According to Orthodox church canons, it is forbidden to work these days, it is impossible to baptize children, get married and guess. It is curious that, despite all the prohibitions, fortune-telling is the most popular tradition of the Old New Year: it is believed that this particular period is one of the most mystical of the year and the most suitable for fortune-telling. Basically, this is fortune-telling for a betrothed - they use everything that comes to hand: candles, mirrors, wax, books, coffee grounds, wax and household items.

Even though the Old New Year is inferior in popularity and scale to the night from December 31 to January 1, it has firmly entered the homes of Russians and has become a full-fledged winter holiday. Perhaps because it makes it possible to take a break from the hustle and bustle, to be close to relatives and friends in a cozy and calm atmosphere.

As psychologist Natalya Kuznetsova said, two new years are like two birthdays, and at the same time they are very different:

- They do not refuse the old New Year, not only because people are always happy with an additional holiday, but also because it is clearly visible on this psychological aspects holiday, as unwillingness to part with the old year, the difficulty of experiencing losses and partings, anxiety for the future.

Divination, according to the psychologist, allows you to cope with anxiety for the future:
- I myself, like many girls, also guessed at adolescence. But from the age of 20 I stopped when, at the next fortune-telling for the New Year, I saw the death of one person very close to me, and then a dream that night about it. In the same year, a terrible event happened ... So fortune-telling can lower anxiety, or maybe increase it. Rather, by guessing, we are trying to overcome the fear of uncertainty. It is curious that guessing was forbidden by the church, and still people guessed, because the fear of uncertainty is stronger than the ban, - notes Natalya Kuznetsova.

On the eve of the Old New Year, you can do everything that you didn’t have time to do on December 31: make a wish to the chimes, go to the city Christmas tree, start fireworks, clink glasses of champagne with your loved ones again - after all, the holiday should be in the soul, and its origin and traditions, dates and canons = not so important.
Mikhail Lansky

In the first second after midnight on January 1, Saturday will change to Sunday. As a rule, such a transition does not have any special significance. However, the change of the year is of particular importance for us, a special symbolism. This unique moment encourages us to leave all our worries and routines to look back, take stock, evaluate what we have done, and decide on further actions. Apart from birthdays, perhaps no other moment during the year receives this kind of attention. Everyone loves to celebrate it.

To survive

Why does the beginning of the new year have such special symbolism? And why is its celebration so widespread around the world, or at least where there are calendars? This behavior, of course, is connected with something internal in the human mind, something deeply meaningful and important, given how much energy and resources we invest in the holiday, how much effort we put in to make this moment special, removing many prohibitions. For what? It may be that the symbolism that we give to this moment is connected with one of the most powerful motivations - the desire of mankind to survive.

The reason for the celebration is obvious, because we celebrate birthdays and the New Year every 365 days to give a chronological assessment of our life using the unit of measurement - the year. Hooray! Finally, another year is over and we are still alive! It's time to raise your glasses and drink for those who survived, and remember those who did not live to see this date this year.

This holiday allows us to draw some conclusions, to judge how to live better, longer and better. This is a natural desire to have at least a rough idea of ​​​​what lies ahead for us, because the future without forecasts looks very disturbing and vague. Without knowing what awaits us, we cannot prepare for these events in order to protect ourselves. We make big decisions, make a lot of promises to ourselves: quit smoking, exercise, healthy lifestyle life and start saving. It is not so important whether we will be able to keep the promise next year, the very moment of realizing that a person is able to control the situation is important, which means that even in difficult days he will be able to maintain his composure.

Scientifically proven

Research by psychologist Richard Wiseman in 2007 found that for many of us, the words of the U2 song are relevant: "Nothing changes on New Year's Day." 3000 people summed up in new year's eve results, and 88% of them did not manage to achieve their goals, although 52% were sure that they would achieve them at all costs. It's only short description research, but it allows you to make some suggestions about how to make your life better.

It is interesting to note that people, giving themselves instructions on New Year's Eve, want, as a rule, that the treatment is the best, new friends are faithful, and debts are paid off. This has been the case throughout our history. Therefore, by the New Year, people strive to have time to do all the most important things. Babylonians return debts. Jews hope for forgiveness. The Scots go to visit their neighbors to wish them success in the coming year. What do all these social acts have to do with survival? Everything is simple. We are social animals. We have evolved to depend on others for our own health and safety. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. It turns out that this principle is an excellent survival strategy that is still relevant today.

More prayers

Many people are determined to pray more. It makes sense from a survival standpoint too. Almighty power can make people's lives safer if you pray more. Jews pray at the beginning of their new year to be able to write their name in the Book of Life for the following year. And while death is inevitable, throughout history people have dealt with the fear of death affiliated with religions that promise a happy and serene end, a peaceful afterlife. Pray more, and death will no longer seem so terrible.

Rituals to attract good luck

There are hundreds of rituals associated with new year holidays aimed at exercising control over their own destiny. The Dutch, for whom the shape of a circle is a symbol of success, eat donuts on New Year's Eve. The Greeks bake a special Vassilopitta - a cake with a coin inside, which gives good luck in the coming year to those who find it in their piece. Fireworks on New Year's Eve in China, like thousands of years ago, are a way to expel evil spirits. The Japanese celebrate Bonenkai (New Year) to say goodbye to the problems of the past year and prepare for a better life in the new year. Differences and misunderstandings between people must be settled, insults must be put aside. In the ritual of the New Year's celebration, houses are cleansed, bad vibrations are eliminated, and space is made for the best events.

Motivation

The New Year is the moment when we can consider our weaknesses, understand what needs to be done so that thoughts of an unknown future do not disturb us. Interestingly, different cultures most often use the same holiday - the New Year, for such actions. All this is dictated by the main fundamental desire of mankind - to survive, even despite the unfavorable circumstances.

Summing up

So, how can you calm yourself and distract yourself from the thought of imminent death? Donuts, special coin cakes, fireworks and a glass of champagne with the invariable toast: "To survive!"

I congratulate you on the New Year! But just do not think that I congratulate you on the new calendar year! Not! Christians should be far from the fabulous stupidity of the world, which in each subsequent calendar year is looking for a "lost paradise"! Unfortunately, such searches are similar to the annual awakening of an exhausted traveler who strains his last strength to rush towards the ghostly silhouettes of a near-distant mirage in a lifeless desert!

Today we celebrate a Significant Event, which directs us not forward, but backward! When we look at the last leaf of the outgoing year or see January 1 on the calendar, we must return along the untwisted Spiral of Salvation for several millennia back. Let's read what our Bible says about this. Let's read Luke. 2:4-7: “Joseph also went out of Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth; and she gave birth to her firstborn son, and swaddled him, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in an inn. And also Luke. 2: At the end of eight days, when it was necessary to circumcise [the Infant], they gave him the name Jesus, called by an angel before he was conceived in the womb.”

The first Bible text we read is a testimony to the birth of Jesus Christ; the second - His Name Day. Unfortunately, in our culture there is no separation between the concepts of "birthday" and "name day". But in the ancient world, a newly born child could be "born" and become part of the people after a certain rite. For example, in Israel, as was the case with the Baby Jesus, an eight-day-old boy had to be circumcised. Only then could he get his name. And it was supposed to remind of the Covenant of the Lord God with Abraham and his descendants. This is written in Gen. 17:4-13: “I am my covenant with you: you will be the father of many nations, and you will no longer be called Abram, but your name will be: Abraham, for I will make you the father of many nations; and I will multiply you exceedingly, and I will make nations out of you, and kings will come out of you; And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and between your descendants after you throughout their generations, an everlasting covenant, that I will be the God of yours and of your descendants after you; and I will give you and your descendants after you the land in which you wander, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said to Abraham: You keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you [must] keep between me and between you and between your descendants after you: let all the male sex be circumcised among you; circumcise your foreskin: and this will be a sign of the covenant between me and you. Eight days from birth, let every male [child] born in a house and bought with money from some foreigner who is not of your seed be circumcised among you in your generations. He who is born in your house and bought with your money shall surely be circumcised, and my covenant in your body shall be an everlasting covenant.”

In connection with the Christian tradition that has been created over the centuries, we are used to paying more attention to the event of the Nativity of Christ than to the fact of His circumcision. But, it is necessary to take into account the importance of legalizing the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ in order to fully celebrate the New Year. We read in Gal. 4:4-5: "...when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son (the only begotten), who was born of a woman, who was subject to the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption." The Bible text we have read emphasizes three important actions so that “officially” the Birth of the Savior takes place and the temporary Spiral of Salvation begins to unwind:

The Triune God in the Persons of God, the Word and the Spirit, sends through the Incarnation of His Representative, the "Son" to live on earth,
- The settlement of God the Word-Son in human society occurred through the immaculate conception and physical birth from the Virgin Mary,
- The born God-man the Word-Son obeyed the requirement of the Law; He was circumcised according to Jewish custom and received His Destiny Name "Yeshua" (or "Jesus"), which means: "Savior."

It turns out that we owe our physical reckoning of the unwinding time Spiral of Salvation not from the Nativity of Christ, but from His Name Day! After all, the word "name day" comes from the abbreviated expression "name given now." Therefore, when the Infant was circumcised and given the name "Jesus", the countdown of the Time of Salvation began from that memorable hour! The angel’s words to Joseph, Mary’s husband, began to be fulfilled: “She will give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

If we celebrate the Feast of the New Year, then we need to celebrate the Feast of Salvation, as it is written: "today is the day of Salvation." And for this you need to enter this "day of Salvation and rest." In Heb. 4:10-11 we read: “Therefore there remains a Sabbath day for the people of God (that is, “Salvation”). For whoever entered into His rest (that is, on the “day of Salvation”), he himself rested from his works, just as God did from His. Therefore, let us try to enter into that rest (that is, “the day of Salvation”), so that someone, following the same example, does not fall into disobedience.”

How can we enter God's New Year's Peace and use the time of the Spiral of Salvation "now" that is given? There is only one condition for this. We read about him in Heb. 4:3: “But we who believe enter into rest…” In other words, without faith it is impossible to please God and become a new creature. After all, “he who is in Christ is a new creation; the old has passed away, and now everything is new!” Therefore, outside of Christ and His grace, we cannot truly enter the “new”, including the new calendar year, so as not to immediately turn the “new” into the “old”! Outside of Christ, we are only waiting for the next disappointment of our personal spiral of vain expectations. And everything will happen in the same “everything as before”, if not worse, as it was in the past and the year before last, ... or, for example, ten years ago!

A believer in Christ should not look for something "new" at the beginning of each new calendar year. He is already on the borders of the “new” action from the moment of birth from God. Therefore, a Christian confesses not the novelty of something “new”, but the renewal of what is in Christ. For example, we need to rejoice that God's grace is renewed every morning. We can also renew our relationship with God by going through the path of confession and cleansing from everything sinful and carnal. For example, you can use self-evangelism, which consists of four important confessions at the level of our spirit:

As much as God is holy in His divine nature, so much am I sinful in my human sinful nature;
- Even one sin in my thoughts already separates me from God, although I am His child;
- Jesus Christ is ready to unite me with the Father, what was not the gulf between me and Him, on the condition of honest recognition of what I thought, said or did;
- I accept the gift of grace in Christ, my restoration, so that I can give this gift to others and forgive them, as God in Christ forgave me.

It is also very useful for “updating the new” to cleanse your spiritual world, starting with cleaning your nearby memory. To do this, having calmed down, you need to close your eyes and watch with your soul what sound images and pictures emerge from our consciousness. If something from the “seen” or “heard” does not meet the standards of the Word of God or does not glorify His holy Name, then we should fix the “unwanted guests” in our memory, separate and in a prayer of liberation send mentally, in the Spirit by faith, all the discovered evil on the Cross. Then we will ask the Savior Jesus Christ to wash the wound in our mind from the evil done to us. Let us receive by faith the flow of the cleansing Blood of Christ. Then let us turn to the Holy Spirit to anoint the wound cleansed by the Blood of Christ with His healing oil. Let us accept by faith the healing from the Holy Spirit, and in our minds there will be no trace of the past impurity!

If we have already talked about “renewal of the new”, then we need to say a few words about the prayer of renewal associated with our body, and not just with the soul. For example, when we wake up in the morning, it is very useful to “remember” and thank a man that God created him a man, and a woman should express her recognition to God, as the Creator, that she was created a woman. Such confession sets the man to be a "real man" and the woman to take the place of a "real woman." Further, it is useful to thank the Lord that, by His grace, our eyes see, our hands can take different things and do something, and our feet can walk. One should also not forget to thank for the clarity of thinking and the variety of feelings of our heart world. To the above, one should add grateful words to God for other physiological processes that occur in our body.

We have only brought a few practical advice related to our "updating of the new", which we took from the Biblical teaching. But there are many more. However, there are enough of them to experience our “new renewal” not only at the beginning of a new calendar year, but every day. So, we call not just to imitate the worldly custom of self-deception, which is called the "Meeting of the New Year", but to follow the call of the Lord, as it is written in Heb. 4:7: "Today, when you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." After all, with memorable event in Israel, when there was no choir of angels and other miraculous events, the Savior of the world, the Perfect God and the Perfect Man, was circumcised by a human hand, which prophetically pointed to His Crucifixion on the Cross by other human hands, as confirmation of what had already begun to “unwind”, like a clockwork spring, the Spiral of the New Year - the Time of God's Universal Salvation in Christ for all who believe in Him! Amen.

Igor Grinenko

On the night of January 13-14, citizens, mainly of Ukraine and Russia, celebrate the Old New Year - a holiday that is incomprehensible to many foreigners

No one can really explain how the Old New Year differs from the traditional one, but there are several versions: a change in the start date of the New Year in Russia and the stubbornness of the Russian Orthodox Church, which did not want to switch to New style.

History of the Old New Year

In pagan times, the New Year was celebrated in Russia on March 22 - on the day spring equinox, and it was connected with the agricultural cycle. With the adoption of Christianity in Russia, the Byzantine calendar began to gradually replace the old one, and now the New Year began on September 1. For a long time there was still discord, and in some places the New Year continued to be celebrated in the spring. Only at the end of the 15th century in Russia officially determined the beginning of the New Year - September 1.

By decree of Peter I in 1699, the New Year was moved to January 1, according to the old style, that is, to January 14, according to the new style. After the revolution in 1918, the Bolsheviks "abolished" another 13 days a year, which made up the difference between our chronology and the European one. So two celebrations of the New Year were formed - according to the new and the old style.

Church about the Old New Year

The custom of celebrating the Old New Year on the night of January 13-14 is due to the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church continues to celebrate both the New Year and Christmas according to the Julian calendar, which so far differs from the generally accepted Gregorian calendar by 13 days. But already from March 1, 2100, this difference will be 14 days, since the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars increases by one day every 100 years, when the number of hundreds in the year from the Nativity of Christ is not a multiple of four. From 2101, Christmas and Old New Year will be celebrated a day later.

For many believers, the Old New Year is of particular importance, since they can celebrate it wholeheartedly only after the end of the Nativity Fast, during Christmas festivities.

Opinions of scientists about the Old New Year

Old New Year is an unscientific date, astronomers say. According to them, the strict mechanics of the movement of the planets forces people to make changes to the reckoning. The Julian calendar, which was in force in our country until 1918, is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, according to which Europe lives. The fact is that the Earth does not rotate around its axis in exactly 24 hours. Seconds added to this time, gradually accumulating, add up to days. By the beginning of the twentieth century, they turned into 13 days, which made up the difference between the old Julian and the new Gregorian systems. The new style more closely complies with the laws of astronomy.

Celebration of the Old New Year

Despite the fact that this day is not a holiday for everyone and is not even a day off, the popularity of the Old New Year is growing. Every year the number of people wishing to celebrate the Old New Year increases and is already more than 60%. Among those who are going to celebrate the "old" New Year are the majority of pupils and students, workers, entrepreneurs, housewives and, in general, people under 40 years old, with secondary specialized and secondary education, with relatively high incomes.

Traditions for the Old New Year

This day in the old days was called St. Basil's Day, and was of decisive importance for the whole year. Vasiliev day was celebrated farming holiday, which was associated with the future harvest, and performed the rite of sowing - hence the name of the holiday "Autumn" or "Avsen". This ritual differed different regions countries: for example, in Tula, children scattered spring wheat around the house, while saying a prayer for a rich harvest, and the hostess then collected it and stored it until sowing time. Ukrainian rituals were distinguished by fun, dances and songs.

And there was also a ritual cooking porridge. On New Year's Eve, at 2 o'clock, the eldest of the women brought cereals from the barn, and the eldest man brought water from a well or river. They cooked porridge in the oven, then they took it out and carefully examined it. If the pot was just full, and the porridge was rich and crumbly, then you could wait happy year and a rich harvest - they ate such porridge in the morning. If the porridge got out of the pot, or the pot cracked, this did not bode well for the owners of the house, and then trouble was expected, and the porridge was thrown away.

interesting house-to-house ritual to eat pork. On the night of Vasily, the guests certainly had to be fed with pork pies, boiled or baked pork legs, and in general any dishes that include pork. A pig's head was also placed on the table. The fact is that Vasily was considered a “pigsty” - the patron saint of pig breeders and pork products, and they believed that if there was a lot of pork on the table that night, then these animals would breed in abundance on the farm and bring good profits to the owners.

And here is the tradition sculpt dumplings for the Old New Year with surprises appeared not so long ago - no one remembers exactly where and when, but many people observe it with pleasure. In some cities, they are made in almost every house - with family and friends, and then they arrange a fun feast and eat these dumplings, looking forward to who and what kind of surprise will come across. This comic fortune-telling is especially liked by children; sometimes such dumplings are often produced at local food enterprises - just before the Old New Year.