Why and how to celebrate the old New Year. Old New Year and other quirks of our calendar Old New Year when celebrated
On the night of January 13-14, many of us will again fill our glasses with champagne and make a toast that seems a little strange: “.” How and why do we continue to do this and what is interesting about this holiday?
history of the holiday
This is not someone’s whim or invention at all - but exactly the same New Year, only according to a different calendar. The Julian calendar was in use in the Roman Empire in the first century BC - it reached Rus' only in the 15th century and was good for everyone, even taking into account the extra days that rolled in every 128 years: they didn’t really bother anyone and formally didn’t make any difference.
Another calendar, the Gregorian, took this difference into account; by the 20th century it was already 14 days - and the whole country was transferred to a new temporary framework by the revolutionary Vladimir Lenin in 1918, so this year the holiday celebrates its centenary.
Vasiliev's Day, or Generous Evening
Before the conventional clock hands were moved to this day, January 14, another holiday was always celebrated - Vasiliev's Day, or Generous Evening. It was customary to show generosity and treat guests to especially rich food. According to tradition, it was a ceremonial porridge - kutia, but it was seasoned not with vegetable oil, as at Christmas, when fasting was still ongoing, but with meat, lard or generously sprinkled with sugar and fruit.
Pork was generally considered a particularly significant dish on Generous Evening - a saint named Vasily especially favored swineherds, so he had to be better appeased so that the cattle would not get sick throughout the year and would regularly produce offspring. It was believed that luck would be extremely favorable to business in general, not only in pig farming, if the table was set with pomp.
Signs of the Old New Year
It was customary to dress solemnly and elegantly in new and beautiful clothes - luck, as you know, is a capricious lady - it also meets you by your clothes. How you celebrate the New Year is how you spend it, this fully applied to the celebration of the Old New Year.
It was considered a good sign to see a young man from a strong and friendly large family on the doorstep immediately after midnight - this meant that he would bring prosperity and wealth to the home. For this reason, they tried not to let women leave the house on Vasily’s Day, but the young men happily walked among the guests, singing cheerful songs of congratulations and, of course, not refusing a plentiful and satisfying treat.
Prohibitions of the Old New Year
A company of only women on this day was considered unlucky - therefore, if the gender balance in the family was upset, some of the girls simply went to visit to practice witchcraft and fortune-telling, there are also many interesting details there. Or special “custom guests” were invited especially for the celebration - men who spent two to three hours with the owners, wishing the house prosperity and benefits.
It was forbidden to clean or take anything out of the house on this day - it was believed that you could inadvertently sweep away the good luck that had just settled in the room.
Borrowing and lending was also considered completely inappropriate; financial issues were tried to be resolved either before the holiday itself, or else not to mention money for another day or two.
It was highly discouraged to place dishes made from aquatic animals or fish or birds on the festive table - so that luck could not float away or fly away. Animals that walk sideways or backwards - obviously, we are talking about crayfish and crabs - were also considered undesirable, so that past problems and difficulties would not come back.
When making a toast, in no case should one utter the particle “not” - so that the same luck would not leave the hospitable home, but would remain longer. Perhaps, even if such beliefs can cause an involuntary smile, it’s worth taking these ancient methods into service - thinking before making a toast is not harmful to anyone, but who will sort out this luck? Maybe it will work?
Where else is it customary to celebrate the Old New Year?
For some reason, it is generally accepted that this date is exclusively for “strange Russians who have little reason to have fun,” but this is not at all the case, the Old New Year is usually celebrated in many countries, and these are not only the countries of the former Union, which would be understandable .
In Serbia, for example, thousands and thousands of people on this day perform rituals very similar to ours, after visiting church - Serbian Orthodox Church, like the Russian one, continues to live according to the Julian calendar, and in Macedonia they take tables out into the street and celebrate with the whole world.
Montenegrins call this day “Prava Nova Godina”, which translates as “Proper New Year”, and on this day they prepare vasilitsa - incredibly tasty round pies made from corn dough with kajmak - this is cream curdled into soft, tart cheese. In Macedonia they celebrate almost identically.
In Morocco, Japan and some German-speaking cantons of Switzerland, this day is also considered a holiday - although this cannot be strictly called a celebration of the Old New Year, but the fact remains that people also sit at a rich table. The Swiss celebrate the day of St. Sylvester, who, according to legend, saved the world from a terrible monster back in the 4th century, the Japanese have a spring festival called “risshun,” and the Moroccans, like some Muslims, rejoice at the coming of the new year according to their own Berber calendar.
In Greece, it's St. Basil's Day - children leave their shoes by fireplaces or hearths for gifts and often find them filled with sweets or toys.
Fortune telling for the Old New Year
It is believed that the results of fortune telling on this day will be especially accurate, since the day is permeated with special energies of holiday and miracle. It was often customary to make dumplings into which certain small symbolic objects were placed, and the same could be done with a pie.
A button - for a new thing, a coin - for a gift or a win, a fruit seed - for a rich harvest, a key - for a new home or move, a ring - for a quick marriage, pink or blue small buttons - for the birth of a daughter or son. Actually, as you can see, they tried to reduce all the signs to the positive - and no one is stopping us from carrying out this sweet ceremony, which promises everyone something pleasant and bright in the new year.
On this day, the girls planted bulbs in an open saucer, marking them - whose arrows shoot faster, she will be the happiest. The sprouted onions were then taken home and stored until the onset of real spring - it was believed that any disease would go away if you just chew a little juicy greenery. Well, against the backdrop of the traditional pre-spring vitamin deficiency, it’s a pretty healthy custom.
Place rolled up pieces of paper under your pillow male names- also a very common way to find out the name of your betrothed in the morning immediately after waking up.
On the night of January 13-14, Russia celebrates "Old New Year". Try to translate this name of the holiday to a foreigner, most of them will not understand.
Yes, what foreigners, many of our compatriots do not understand is why we celebrate two New Years. I'll try to explain.
When was the New Year celebrated in Rus'?
The date of the creation of the world, according to the Old Testament, was previously considered March 1, 5508 BC e. Therefore, the New Year began on the first day of spring.
In the era of Constantinople, this date was recalculated, and they began to consider the day of the creation of the world September 1, 5509 BC e.
IN pagan times New Year in Rus' was celebrated in different time. According to one version December 22(Winter solstice). The year began with Christmastide or Holy Week. According to another March 22(day of spring equinox).
After the adoption of Christianity and the Byzantine calendar in Rus', the New Year “moved” to September 1. But the “New Year’s leapfrog” continued for several more centuries; some celebrated the holiday in the spring, others in the fall. And only at the end of the 15th century (1492) the beginning of the New Year was officially fixed - September 1.
On December 19, 1700, Peter I promulgated a decree to count the summer from January 1st from the Nativity of Christ. It should be noted that in the Russian state, 1699 lasted only 4 months.
Gregorian and Julian calendar, what are the differences?
The so-called old style is a calendar introduced by the Roman emperor Julius Caesar ( Julian calendar). The new style is a reform carried out on the initiative of Pope Gregory XIII ( Gregorian calendar).
The Earth rotates around its axis not exactly in 24 hours, but several minutes more, which, over time, turn into a day. The difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars increases every century by one day when the number of hundreds in the year after Christ is not a multiple of four.
By the twentieth century, an extra 13 days had accumulated, which made up the difference between the old Julian and new Gregorian systems.
But from March 1, 2100, this difference will be 14 days. And in 2101, Christmas and Old New Year will be celebrated a day later.
According to astronomers, the New Style more accurately corresponds to the laws of astronomy. But it is not absolutely accurate either.
How to switch to the Gregorian calendar
Almost all Protestant states of Europe switched to the Gregorian calendar back in the 18th century, then removing the extra few days from the calendar.
Russia switched to a new calendar only in 1918 by Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of January 26, 1918. After January 31, 1918, February 14 immediately came.
As a result of the transition to a new calendar, the start date of the New Year has changed. January 1 according to the new style falls on December 19 according to the Julian calendar, and January 14 according to the new style is January 1 according to the Julian calendar.
Russian Orthodox Church continues to celebrate everything church holidays according to the Julian calendar, including Nativity.
As a result, the modern New Year falls on the pre-Christmas fast. According to the old style, everything was logical: the Nativity Fast before the Christmas holiday, after which the New Year. Now New Year is earlier than Christmas.
Church about the Old New Year
For now, the Russian Orthodox Church does not intend to make adjustments to its calendar. Some priests blame the laity for the fact that during the pre-Christmas fast they indulge in gluttony and joy while celebrating a “pagan holiday.” But the majority still adheres to a calmer opinion:
New Year is a civil holiday, but in which church people can take part. The tradition of celebrating the New Year is very ancient, and it existed even before the advent of Christianity. And we must pay tribute to the fact that this holiday has been celebrated since ancient times.
For many believers, the Old New Year has a special meaning, since they can celebrate it from the heart only after the end of the Nativity Fast, during the Yuletide festivities.
What other countries celebrate the Old New Year?
The Old New Year is celebrated not only in the CIS.
old New Year celebrated in those states where the church continues to use the Julian calendar.
- Greece;
- Macedonia;
- Romania;
- Serbia;
- Montenegro;
- Switzerland.
The Old New Year is also celebrated in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. There he is marked by Berber calendar, which is the Julian calendar with minor differences. As a result of accumulated errors, the holiday falls on January 11th.
What do I celebrate on January 14?
Old New Year, it is closely connected with two holy days - Vasiliev and Malanin. Malanya, according to one of the beliefs, was supposedly the wife of Vasily. Expression “prepare like for Malanyin’s wedding“- this is the same tradition, the custom of cooking a lot and deliciously, like at the wedding of Vasily and Malanya.
On the night of January 13-14, Ukraine will celebrate the “Old” New Year. Despite the fact that this holiday is not official, many of us love and honor this day.
If you didn’t have enough fun and entertainment on the night from January 31 to January 1, you can celebrate the holiday again. will tell you how the Old New Year is celebrated, what customs and traditions are honored on this day.
This holiday is called so because according to the Julian calendar, the New Year fell from January 13 to 14. Today we use the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in 1918, which is why the holiday is called the “Old” New Year, that is, the New Year according to the old style. In addition, according to calendar tradition, Christmas must precede the New Year.
Customs for celebrating the Old New Year
In Ukraine, the table is generously set for the Old New Year. It must have kutya on it. Festive table very similar to Christmas, but the dishes here are no longer Lenten. Sausages, meat, dumplings, pies, pancakes and much more are placed on the table.
On Old New Year, it is customary for the whole family to gather at the table. Relatives ask each other for forgiveness for insults and make wishes that must come true in the new year.
From time immemorial, traditionally, on the days of the Old New Year, Ukrainians also celebrated Malanka Day (January 13) and St. Basil's Day (January 14). These holidays were always accompanied by folk festivities, dressing up and fortune telling. The main rituals of the celebration are generosity and driving the Malanka goat. From evening until night, groups of generous people go from house to house, sing ritual songs of generosity, dance and joke. The company is accompanied by the Malanka Goat, which young guys most often dress up as.
On the morning of January 14, it is customary to sow in Ukraine. According to this ritual, on the Old New Year, boys and young men fill their mittens with grain and sow first in their home, then in the houses of their godparents, relatives and neighbors. At the same time, the sowers wish happiness, prosperity and harvest in the new year. In some regions of Ukraine, on the morning of January 14, they burn “didukhs” - pre-prepared sheaves that stood in the house in the red corner (“on pokuti”) on the Generous Evening. It is believed that this ritual helps to get rid of evil spirits, troubles and troubles. Previously, it was customary to jump over a fire for the same purpose.
The night from January 13 to 14 was considered magical, so fortune telling for the Old New Year was also an integral part of the celebration.
Signs for the Old New Year
The signs of this holiday were associated both with the weather and the New Year's table. For example, if the prepared holiday porridge turned out fluffy, beautiful and tasty, then you have to wait have a nice year. If the pot cracked in the oven or the porridge turned out tasteless, you have to wait for a bad (bad) year.
It was also believed that if the wind blows from the south at night, then the next year will be prosperous and warm, but if from the west, we should expect an abundance of milk, as well as fish, but if from the east, then this year there will be good harvest fruit.
People said about the night: “Vasil’s night is starry - for the harvest of berries.” To ensure that the overall harvest was successful, they shook it off in the morning. fruit trees. If the weather is frosty but dry in the morning, then you shouldn’t expect much mushrooms next year.
What should be on the table in the Old New Year
According to ancient traditions, there should have been generous kutya, or sochivo, on the table on Vasilyev's evening. They did not spare halva, nuts, honey and raisins: the more generous the dish, the richer and richer the new year.
In addition, there was always a pig, rooster or hare on the table. All three meats carried different meanings: pork promised wealth, rooster dishes - freedom, and hare - success in all matters.
In Romania, the Old New Year is celebrated more often in a narrow circle of family, less often with friends. Old New Year is also celebrated in northeastern Switzerland in some German-speaking cantons. Residents of the canton of Appenzell in the 16th century did not accept the reform of Pope Gregory XIII and still celebrate the holiday on the night of January 13-14. On January 13, they celebrate the old day of St. Sylvester, who, according to legend, captured a terrible monster in 314. It was believed that in the year 1000 a monster would break free and destroy the world, but this did not happen. Since then, on New Year's Day, Swiss residents dress up in masquerade costumes, put fancy structures on their heads that resemble dolls' houses or botanical gardens, and call themselves Sylvester Claus.
In addition, Old Style New Year is celebrated in the small Welsh community in Wales in the west of Great Britain. On January 13th they celebrate "Hen Galan".
In the United Kingdom, the Gregorian calendar has been in use since 1752, but there is a small community of Welsh farmers centered on a village called the Vale of Guane.
The reason why the Guane Valley and its surrounding farms fell behind the times is now unknown. Some say that it was the will of a local feudal lord who was opposed to catholic church. Others believe that it was the will of the entire community, which decided to defend its traditional way of life.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
Are you already preparing a holiday treat? Find out when they celebrate, prepare congratulations for the holiday to please your invited guests! Do you want to celebrate a long-awaited event in the old style, as our ancestors did?
According to tradition, the Slavs usually celebrate this holiday twice a year. The first time was on the night of December 31 to January 1. The Old New Year 2018 is celebrated on the night of January 13-14. This is due to the difference between the “old” and “new” calendar styles. Despite this, today people are only happy about the winter holidays, when they can have plenty of fun and enjoy goodies.
In the Old New Year 2018, you need to go to visit, make dumplings with surprises, and also sing carols (or in the old way, be generous). Young girls, and even mature ladies, on the night of January 13-14, make fortunes about love, about their betrothed, about desire, and also about personal happiness. Many ancient fortune tellings have survived to this day. Quite often they cast spells by candlelight, near two mirrors with their reflective sides facing each other.
The girls also told fortunes about the groom - they put a comb under the pillow, and the next morning they looked for hair in it. According to legend, the groom had to have hair the same color as his comb. Well, if the comb was clean, there was not a single hair on it, then there was no promise of a wedding in the coming year.
On this winter holiday, fasting was coming to an end for Christians. Therefore, Orthodox people could afford generous meals. On this occasion, as on Christmas Eve, they cooked kutya, but it was no longer Lenten (it was also called rich kutya). The dish was well flavored with various dairy and butter products: butter, lard, and cream. Look out, figure!
To please Saint Basil, who is the patron saint of domestic animals, pork treats were placed on the table: meat pies, jellied meat and even baked suckling pig. However, it was impossible to serve culinary products from poultry and fish to the table on this holiday. Luck from this house could float or fly away.
On Old New Year, you can prepare dumplings with various fillings for your family. As a filling you can put cottage cheese, potatoes with mushrooms and onions, pickled or fresh stewed cabbage, canned cherries. Remember also about surprise dumplings! If your “surprises” are very hard (for example, coins), then notify your guests about this in advance - otherwise, anyone who tastes your culinary delight risks their dental health. And this is somehow not good.
What can you put in a dumpling as a surprise?
The choice of edible ingredients is quite wide, and each filling in the Old New Year has its own meaning:
- Nut - to health
- Buckwheat porridge - good news
- A piece of apple - to profit
- Raisins - to temptation
- A piece of cheese - you will win the lottery
- Peppercorns - a novelty of sensations
- A piece of carrot or bean - for the birth of a child
- Peanut nut - for a love affair
- Cabbage - to marital understanding in the family
- Rice - there will be a good, soulful atmosphere in the house
- Sugar - happy life
- Dried fruits - to joy
- Fresh cherries - good luck
- Money - to wealth
- Ring - for marriage or marriage
- Button - for a new wardrobe
- Chain - to strengthen family ties
- Thread - for travel
The Old New Year is a cheerful holiday, therefore there is no need to overshadow it with “sad” fillings in surprise dumplings. For example, such as salt, which is a symbol of tears, or red pepper, which portends trouble.
There is one good tradition associated with the New Year holiday - matchmaking. A guy who had previously been denied marriage could challenge his fate again. Or rather, to propose to the young woman he liked again.
There must be burning candles on the New Year's table! Because, according to an old belief, good perfumes should fly to the light of a candle. And then your home will always be protected from bad energy. These same good spirits are also attracted by the pine smell from the Christmas tree. And so that there is prosperity in the house all year round, hang treats for higher powers on the branches - candy, gingerbread or nuts.
On January 14, it is not customary to borrow money. And also you can’t take trash out of the hut. You can also take away happiness along with your rubbish. Celebrating the old New Year is an interesting holiday. The customs of our ancestors remain relevant in our time. Since many people believe in miracles and omens.
