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From the history of the New Year holiday

Our Slavic ancestors counted the years by seasons. The year began on the first day of spring - March 1, when nature came to life and it was necessary to think about the future harvest. In the X century, Ancient Russia adopted Christianity, the Byzantine chronology and the Julian calendar. The year was divided into 12 months and given them names associated with natural phenomena. March 1 was considered the beginning of the new chronology.

In 1348, a Council was held in Moscow, at which they adopted a provision to start the year from September, and not from March. And since 1700, by decree of Peter I, the New Year in Russia is celebrated, as in other European countries, on January 1 (according to the Julian calendar). But only starting from 1919, the New Year holiday in Russia began to be celebrated in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. From 1930 to 1947, January 1 was an ordinary working day in the USSR. And since 1947, January 1 has become a holiday and a day off. Since 2005, New Year holidays have been established in Russia from January 1 to January 5 (previously - only the 1st and 2nd) and these days are declared non-working, and taking into account the days off and Christmas - an official holiday - the weekend lasts 10 days.

If you are asked what is your favorite holiday after your birthday, you will probably answer: New Year. This is a holiday when you are not forced to go to bed early, but are seated at the table with adults. This is a holiday when you are looking forward to the end of the chiming clock to throw yourself under the tree and see what surprise Santa Claus has prepared for you. New Year is a vacation with mom and dad, it's sweets and tangerines, it's winter fun. New Year is the most favorite holiday in our country. He is loved by both adults and children. New Year is a holiday with fluffy white snow outside the window, the smell of fir branches, the sparkle of colorful toys and tinsel, obligatory fireworks, gifts, as well as elegant Santa Claus and the beautiful Snow Maiden. We have been waiting for it for a long time, and when the chimes strike at midnight on December 31, we rejoice in the coming year, hoping for better times, and sad, seeing off the outgoing year.

The first day of the year is one of the main holidays for many nations. In European countries, the new year begins on January 1st. In countries where the lunar or lunisolar calendar is adopted, the New Year falls on different dates of the solar year.

Now let's see how this merry holiday is celebrated in other countries.

England. In addition to the Christmas tree, the house is decorated with mistletoe sprigs. The English Santa Claus is called Santa Claus.

Italy. On New Year's Eve, it is customary to get rid of old things, old furniture and other rubbish. New Year is a symbol of renewal.

France. French Santa Claus - Pere Noel - leaves gifts not under the tree, like ours, but in shoes hanging and standing by the fireplace. On New Year's Eve baked in a bean pie. And the one who gets it receives the title of "bean king", and on a festive night everyone obeys his orders.

Sweden. On New Year's Eve, the children choose the queen of light, Lucia. She is dressed in a white dress and a crown with lit candles. Lucia brings gifts to the children and treats to the pets.

Bulgaria. When people gather at the festive table, the lights are turned off in all houses for three minutes. These minutes are called "minutes of New Year's kisses", the secret of which is kept by darkness.

Cuba. Before the onset of the new year, the inhabitants of the country fill all the jugs, buckets, basins and bowls that are in the house with water. At midnight, water is poured out of the windows. So for the outgoing year they wish a path as bright as water. While the clock strikes 12 times, it is necessary to eat 12 grapes, and then goodness, harmony, prosperity and peace will accompany a person all year.

Japan. Here, on New Year's Eve, the bells ring eight times. Each stroke of the bell corresponds to one of the vices. According to the Japanese, there are six of them: greed, stupidity, anger, frivolity, indecision and envy, but each vice has 18 different shades. This in total is 108 beats of the bell.

Traditions of celebrating the New Year in Russia

There are quite a few traditions of celebrating the New Year in Russia. From the times of Slavic paganism, we got mummers, buffoons and jesters. The era of Peter the Great and subsequent centuries brought into the tradition of the holiday a New Year tree with toys, fireworks and a New Year's table with Russian salad, vinaigrette stuffed with goose or duck, Santa Claus with the Snow Maiden, obligatory champagne with tangerines on the table and the chiming clock on the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower.

In your house, most likely, your mother or grandmother will take care of the New Year's table. It would be nice if you also take part in the preparation of the festive table. And to participate in decorating the New Year tree and the room is a great pleasure. When decorating a Christmas tree, they first hang an electric garland with light bulbs (but not a home-made one - they don’t joke with fire!), Then - toys: first large, then small. Do not hang decorations of the same shape and color next to each other. Lastly, they put a spire on the top of the Christmas tree and scatter a brilliant “rain”.

Christmas tree

When the first Christmas tree appeared in Russia, it is not known exactly. But, most likely, the first Christmas trees appeared in the middle of the 19th century in the houses of St. Petersburg Germans. Living in a foreign land, they have not forgotten their traditions and habits, ceremonies and rituals.

Following the Germans, in the Russian homes of the St. Petersburg nobility, they also began to put Christmas trees for children. They were decorated with wax candles and lanterns, flowers and ribbons, nuts, apples and sweets. Initially, on New Year's Eve, the tree stood for one day, then these periods were increasingly lengthened: two days, three, until Epiphany or until the end of Christmas time. There was a period in our history when the Christmas tree was even banned. But from December 31, 1935, she again entered the homes of Russians and to this day is a symbol of "joyful and happy childhood in our country."

DIY Christmas decorations

You will need: a needle with threads, scissors, an awl, glue (it is better to take PVA - when it dries, it becomes transparent), sequins, colored paper, wrapping paper, paints and brushes, felt-tip pens, cotton balls, threads, paper clips, multi-colored woolen threads.

A garland "Falling Snow" can be made from cotton wool. To do this, short strings are tied to a long thin thread at short intervals. Cotton balls are strung on each short thread. Below, so that the balls do not slip, the thread is smeared with glue. Such a garland can be hung directly on the window or in the doorway.

Wonderful toys are made from eggshells. In a washed raw egg, with a thick needle or awl, carefully make holes on both sides. Blow the contents of the egg into a bowl. We wash the shell with running water and dry it. Now it can be used to make toys. The egg can be painted with paint or felt-tip pens, you can glue various details cut out of paper to it: paws, ears, tails and hats, turning it into a funny little animal or little man: a hare, a chicken, a fish, a nested doll, a gnome, a penguin. To make it more convenient to paint the eggshell with paints, stick a piece of plasticine on the saucer and carefully place the eggshell on it. To prevent the paint from getting dirty, at the end of the work, sprinkle the toy with sparkles and spray it with hairspray.

If the Christmas tree is small, do not overload it with bulky toys. The size of ornaments from the lower branches to the upper ones gradually decreases. Do not hang too many decorations on the Christmas tree - it looks tasteless.

In the old days, various edible decorations were hung on the Christmas tree. Why not revive this custom? Try to decorate the Christmas tree with edible toys - tangerines, apples, candies in bright wrappers, walnuts wrapped in gold foil, chocolate medals and other chocolate figurines.

Now let's try to decorate the branches of the Christmas tree and cones with snow. To do this, we rub the polystyrene on a grater, grease the branches of spruce, pine and cones on them with transparent glue and sprinkle with grains of polystyrene. We arrange the branches in vases throughout the room. This created the atmosphere of a fabulous winter forest.

New Year- the holiday is also special because, in addition to Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden, in addition to funny Christmas toys, fragrant tangerines and cherished gifts for children, this holiday means the onset of the long-awaited winter holidays. You just need to think in advance how to spend these short winter days with maximum pleasure and benefit.

And without which it is impossible to imagine traditional winter fun - of course, without snow, ice and frost! True, in recent years the weather has become painfully capricious, but still on New Year's days you can still find skating rinks, snowdrifts, and ice slides.

Thanks to the active propaganda of television, figure skating has become popular again. Every year there are more and more skating rinks. You just need to learn how to skate and not be afraid of bruises and bumps - the inevitable companions of mastering this sport.

Even just skating is already a great pleasure. And it doesn’t matter how well you can do it, when the New Year tree sparkles with lights in the center of the ice rink, and the spotlights and perky music create an atmosphere of a festive mood. But if you get tired of just cutting circle after circle, then you can arrange fun competitions.

Game "Steam Train"

You will need skittles or plastic bottles filled with water or just snow - so that they are not blown away by the wind. They need to be placed on the ice in one line at a certain distance from each other. The smaller the distance, the more difficult the task. So, we get up in height - the smallest is in front, the next is bigger ... - the last, of course, is dad. We put our hands on the shoulders of the person in front, and - go ahead! It is necessary to snake around the pins without knocking them down.

Game "Relay"

You need to split into two teams, equal in number of participants and approximately equal in strength. Not only age is taken into account, but also the ability to skate. The start line can be marked with skate covers. At 20-30 meters from the start line for each of the teams we put two skittles (plastic bottles). On the “start” command, the players reach the pin, go around it and return, passing the baton to the next player. The team that completes the task faster wins. The more players, the more fun and interesting the relay will be.

Perhaps the most popular winter games are snowball fights, sledding, snowman making, snow fort storming. All this, despite its ancient history, is unlikely to bother both your friends and parents.

And you can also go with the whole family to the nearest forest park on skis for a “winter fairy tale”. This is best done after a heavy snowfall. Here, on the branches of a pine tree, a “snow leopard” has spread, but some kind of “weevil” peeps out of a snowdrift, and here you just need to draw eyes with a ski stick - and you get a huge “snow toad”. Take your camera for this walk!

Of course, this is not all winter fun and games - you yourself can come up with a hundred more! Just be sure to remember the right clothes. Sweating in the cold, you can catch a cold. If this happens, go home. Do not forget about spare gloves. As for the rest, what could be better than an active winter outdoor family holiday filled with wonderful vivid impressions and a sea of positive emotions?!

Have fun, honest people, winter is coming!

The history of the New Year is distinguished by many ancient Russian traditions, combined with borrowed customs and rituals from other countries. It is known that the holiday originates from ancient times.

The incredible interweaving of ancient Slavic, European, Asian and Christian traditions makes this holiday truly unique. How was the New Year born and what interesting facts lie in its origins?

13 facts about the New Year holiday

New Year of the ancient Slavs. The ancient Slavs celebrated the arrival of the New Year in the spring. From March, the awakening of nature began, a new period of life for plants and animals. It's believed that New Year among the ancient Slavs- this is Pancake week, and it is after seeing off winter that the New Year comes. According to other sources, the main winter holiday of the ancestors is considered Kolyada. The winter solstice was celebrated in late December - early January. Echoes and customs of this holiday have merged with the modern New Year. It was from those times that fortune-telling began, the tradition of decorating your home and treating mummers. There is also a mention of an ancient winter holiday called Avsen. It was celebrated at the same time. According to legend, the ritual character Avsen lit the sun wheel, which symbolized the beginning of a new life.
New Year after the baptism of Russia. With the adoption of Christianity, the New Year is celebrated March 1. A new chronology appears - the Julian calendar, according to which the year was divided into months and given names to them. Before the adoption of Christianity and the reckoning from the creation of the world, the account was kept by seasons. For several centuries in a row, March 1 was considered the beginning of the year. This was the case until 1492, when John III hasn't issued a decree since New Year began to be celebrated on September 1. The celebrations were held solemnly: every year in Moscow they held a magnificent celebration, at midnight a cannon shot sounded, and church bells rang. Despite the fact that the holiday was celebrated in the fall, it is quite similar to the modern New Year.
New Year twice a year. So, September 1 New Year was celebrated from 1492 to 1699. In 1700, Peter I issued a decree according to which the celebration of the New Year was to take place on January 1. Many did not like this decision - the winter New Year was not accepted by the people for a long time. Having fun and celebrating the holiday had to be forced literally by force. Thanks to the tough character of Peter and the ingenuity of Elizabeth I, who organized lavish festivities and masquerade balls, the tradition nevertheless took root. However, for many years the holiday was celebrated 2 times: according to the old custom - in September, and in winter - as prescribed by the decree of the Emperor. Many generations passed before the autumn New Year was finally abandoned.
New Year traditions until the 20th century. During the reign of Peter branches of birch or spruce were the symbol of the New Year. New Year's toys were also absent - they came to us much later, in the 19th century. Instead, apples, nuts, eggs and sweets served as decorations, that is, everything edible that could be found in the house, which had a rounded shape. The tradition of drinking champagne also came a little later, after the defeat of Napoleon. Since then, drinking French champagne has been a New Year's tradition. By the 19th century, the New Year became the most beloved and long-awaited holiday. Residents of the whole country arrange magnificent balls and mass feasts, and roast pigs and radishes are invariably present on the festive table.
Soviet ban: New Year without a Christmas tree. According to scientists, they began to decorate the Christmas tree in the 16th century in Germany - it was from there that the tradition began throughout Europe. In Russia, this custom was introduced by Peter I, but the rite became widespread only in the 19th century. With the coming to power of the Soviet government, it was forbidden to celebrate Christmas and decorate the Christmas tree. In the planned fight against religion and Orthodox holidays, the New Year tree was called a "priestly" custom. The ban was lifted 17 years later, in 1935. And since 1947, January 1 was officially considered a public holiday. In Soviet times, there is also a new custom that has survived to this day - Olivier salad. The missing French ingredient was invented to be replaced with boiled sausage. In the same period, Father Frost and the Snow Maiden appear - two favorite folk characters.
How did the old New Year. The history of this holiday takes its toll beginning in 1918, when the Soviet government decided to keep up with progressive countries by issuing a decree on a new chronology - instead of the Julian Gregorian calendar became official. Since the 20th century, the difference between the two calendars is 13 days. Due to the refusal of the Russian Orthodox Church to accept the new calendar, 2 holidays appeared: New Year and Old New Year. According to the Gregorian calendar, January 14 corresponds to January 1 of the Julian. Thus, the Russians celebrate the New Year together with the rest of the world, without denying themselves a church holiday. The name Old New Year is the result of the fact that it appeared earlier than the modern one.
Christian Church: irreconcilable contradictions. For believing Christians, celebrating the New Year according to Russian canons is problematic. Adhering to a strict 40-day fast, which lasts until Christmas, that is, until January 7, it is impossible to feast at the festive table. According to religious rules on January 1, you need to give up animal products, alcohol and fun. It turns out that the traditional New Year, which has been celebrated in Russia for over 300 years, is contrary to Orthodox traditions. Unlike the Orthodox The Catholic Church celebrates Christmas on December 25 Therefore, Catholics celebrate the New Year without breaking the fast.
As you meet, so you will spend. In Ancient Russia, on January 1, Vasily's Day was just passing, which can be considered the New Year of our ancestors. All the best was always put on the festive table, and it was always decorated with roast pigs in honor of Vasily, the patron saint of swineherds. The celebrants put on only new clothes, not worn, drank vodka, beer, mead. According to ancient belief, the whole year will pass as you meet him, so you have to try, not sparing your stomach. And how could it be otherwise, because the whole year is at stake! You need to work hard at the table for a good year, so celebrating the New Year for 14 days is an ancient tradition, not a whim. Russians know that it is necessary to celebrate the holiday according to ancient traditions, the modern way of life, and at the same time, do not forget about the church.
Source of fun: crackers, sparklers and fireworks. Tradition fun and bright celebrate the New Year with crackers and fireworks came to us from ancient China. Residents of China celebrate the New Year on a grand scale - shots and claps rattle throughout the day. But if for Russians this is just fun, then Asian countries believe that they exorcise evil spirits in this way. According to legend, evil spirits are looking for shelter at this time, and if you don’t scare it away properly, it will settle in the house and cause many different troubles to the owners. Despite the fact that we do not use firecrackers and crackers on such a scale, it is unlikely that any holiday today can do without this ritual. Bengal lights also come from Asia, or rather from Indian Bengal. The history of their appearance is unknown, which does not prevent lighting a bright sparkling fire on your favorite holiday.
Snowmen and snowmen. Another ancient Slavic tradition that has survived to this day is the modeling of a snowman and a snow woman. In the old days, the inhabitants believed that the winter would not be too severe if a snowman was made on the day of the winter solstice. And the snowman was considered the spirit of winter, from whom you can ask for help. With the help of a broom in their hands, snowmen could fly to the sky - it was there that they commanded snow and fog, therefore solemn rituals were held in honor of the heavenly inhabitants.
History of Santa Claus. The first mentions of Santa Claus are found among the ancient Slavs: the winter spirit Morok, aka Morozko, sent severe frost and cold, and covered the rivers with ice. Unlike the modern Grandfather, who himself gives gifts, his ancestor, on the contrary, received gifts. Pancakes, jelly and other treats were put on the windows for a stern spirit to appease him. The first mention in the literature of Santa Claus is found in Odoevsky's "Tales of Grandfather Iriney" in 1840.
Birthday of Santa Claus. Writing a letter to Santa Claus before the New Year is an important ritual for every child. The absence of a birthday for a beloved character was very upsetting for the children, so Santa Claus came up with a date when you can wish him a happy birthday. Since 2005, children have been celebrating this holiday on November 18 - this date was invented by the children themselves. The day was not chosen by chance. The birthplace of the birthday boy is Veliky Ustyug. In mid-November, colds come to this region, and the rivers are covered with ice. True, the exact age of Santa Claus is unknown - it is believed that he is over 2000 years old. Both local kids and tourists can congratulate their favorite character. For these purposes, a mailbox is specially opened. Santa Claus is so loved that the employees of the Pension Fund awarded him the title of "Veteran of fabulous work."
Snow Maiden. At the Snow Maiden like Santa Claus I have a birthday that falls on April 5th. Motherland of the Snow Maiden – the village of Shchelykovo, in the house-museum of the writer A. N. Ostrovsky, who created this fairy-tale character by writing the play of the same name. According to Ostrovsky's play, the Snow Maiden was Father Frost's daughter. In Soviet times, when the Kremlin Christmas trees were held, according to the scenarios of popular New Year's plays, the Snow Maiden and Father Frost are each other's granddaughter and grandfather. The Snow Maiden, as an integral part of the New Year, became widespread in the 50s of the XX century.

New Year is one of the most long-awaited and magical holidays. Its amazing story speaks of the great love of our ancestors for this holiday, which has come down to us hundreds of years later.

13. 12.2015

Catherine's blog
Bogdanova

Good afternoon, readers and guests of the Family and Childhood website. New Year's Eve is a magical holiday that both adults and children are waiting for. He breathes magic, beckons with brilliance and bright lights to the fabulous world of unusual creatures. This holiday, like all others, has its own history, traditions and features.

The history of the New Year's holiday

The history of the new year has many centuries. It was celebrated even three thousand years before the birth of Christ. Julius Caesar, the well-known ruler of ancient Rome, set the beginning of the year on January 1 in 46 BC. This day belonged to the god Janus, and the first month of the year was named after him.
In Russia, January 1 began to be considered the first day of the year only under Tsar Peter I, who signed a corresponding decree in 1700. Thus, the emperor moved the celebration to the same day on which it was customary to celebrate the New Year in Europe. Prior to this, New Year's festivities were held in Russia on September 1. And until the XV century, it was believed that the year originates on March 1.

If we talk about history closer to our days, then January 1 first became a public holiday in 1897. In the period from 1930 to 1947 it was a normal working day in the USSR. And only in December 1947 it was again made a holiday and a day off, and since 1992 one more day has been added to it - January 2. And quite recently, in 2005, there was such a thing as the New Year holidays, which last for 10 days, including weekends.

The traditions of the new year are many and varied. Each of them carries a certain meaning and has its own history. So, the Christmas tree is an integral attribute of the holiday. In Russia, for the first time, houses were decorated with spruce branches by decree of Peter I, who imitated Europe in everything.

And the custom to put and decorate a green beauty for Christmas appeared already at the end of the 19th century. It was taken from the Germans. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was forbidden to put up a Christmas tree, but in 1936 this ban was lifted, and the green beauty again began to bring joy to children and adults.

Separately, it is worth talking about. In ancient times, a green tree was decorated unpretentiously. Usually they hung vegetables or fruits, as a rule, apples, nuts and various products of labor. At the same time, each individual decoration carried a certain meaning. And only in the 17th century did the first toys appear, which served as a prototype for modern Christmas tree decorations. It was then that the first glass balls appeared in Germany.

This happened in the town of Thuringia in 1848. And in 1867 in Lausch, Germany, the first factory for the production of Christmas tree decorations was built. It is worth noting that the Germans for a long time rightfully held the primacy in this matter.

And the tradition of decorating the top of the Christmas tree with a figure of Christ originated in Scandinavia. Later, it was replaced with a golden angel. And closer to our time, they began to decorate with a spire. In the USSR, a red star burned at the top of the Christmas tree in every house.

Over time, not only the appearance of the toys changed, but also the styles in which the Christmas tree was decorated. So, bright sequins and tinsel at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century (as in our days) were replaced by the fashion for a Christmas tree in restrained silvery tones. Later, figurines made of paper and cardboard gained popularity. But fashion is cyclical, and bright shiny jewelry soon regained its place in homes.

It is interesting to note that the history of our state is directly reflected in Christmas decorations. In the USSR, there were many figurines of vegetables and fruits during Khrushchev's time. During the Second World War, figurines of paratroopers were hung on branches.

Under Stalin, Christmas tree hockey players and figurines of circus characters were produced. In addition, toys with state symbols were widely distributed, for example, the already mentioned star on top.

Nowadays, it is fashionable to make toys with your own hands. For this, a variety of technologies and materials are used. They are knitted, glued, cut and combined these different techniques. Almost every home today has a toy or garland made by the hands of children and their parents.

Another tradition is Christmas gifts. Without them, a holiday is not a holiday. Boxes of different sizes, wrapped in multi-colored paper, are placed under the Christmas tree on New Year's Eve. And in the morning, these gifts discovered by children will be a source of joy and good mood. The obligatory guests of the New Year's holiday are Santa Claus and his granddaughter Snegurochka. It is they who, according to legend, bring gifts to children in a bag.

The image of the fabulous Santa Claus is collective. It was created on the basis of St. Nicholas and the Slavic folklore character Moroz, who personifies winter frosts.

If there are prototypes of Santa Claus in many national cultures, then the Snow Maiden is a purely Russian heritage. She appeared relatively recently. Most likely, it was first mentioned in fairy tales in the 18th century. And in 1873, A.N. Ostrovsky composed the play "The Snow Maiden", where she is depicted as the fair-haired daughter of Father Frost and Spring-Red, dressed in a blue and white hat, fur coat and mittens.

And in 1936, the image of the Snow Maiden received its completed form, when, after the official permission of the holiday, in the manuals for organizing New Year's morning performances, she began to act on a par with Santa Claus.

Features of the celebration

As you know, New Year is a family holiday. On this night, the whole family gathers at the table, various delicacies and treats are prepared. There is such a sign "As you meet the New Year, so you will spend it." Therefore, the table, as a rule, is bursting with a variety of dishes, so that in the coming 365 days such an abundance would be on the table every day. This can also explain the desire to dress in new beautiful outfits.

In the past few years, the celebration of the new year has increasingly been transferred from cozy houses and apartments to cafes and restaurants. In order to have a fun night, hosts are invited to organize contests and offer other interesting entertainment. New Year's tours are also gaining popularity, which make it possible to celebrate this holiday in other cities and even countries.

According to custom, at 11 p.m. on December 31, they see off the outgoing year. The celebration of the new coming year begins at midnight with the chimes and the clink of filled glasses. Many people believe that if you manage to write your cherished desire on a piece of paper, burn it and sip champagne, then it will surely come true.

New Year's mood is also given by television programs and programs dedicated to this holiday. As December 31 approaches, the air is flooded with good old films about the New Year, musical television programs, and fairy tales. Every inhabitant of our country at least once saw the "Irony of Fate", without showing which not a single New Year passes.

"Blue Light" and other musical programs are shown on each channel. The President's speech and his congratulations have the opportunity to watch the whole country. This tradition dates back to 1970, when Leonid Brezhnev spoke to the citizens of the country for the first time.

Nowadays, it is impossible to imagine New Year's Eve without festive fireworks. Run it both centrally and privately. Starting from midnight until 1 a.m., multi-colored stars and artificial lights scatter non-stop in the sky.

This action looks especially grandiose in big cities, where they arrange impressive pyrotechnic shows. In addition to fireworks, sparklers are lit in every house and crackers explode. You can read about how to choose the right one.

The use of fireworks, firecrackers, firecrackers and other pyrotechnics during the New Year holidays originates in China. It was believed that evil spirits that night, expelled from their former habitats, are looking for a new home.

Having found it, they will cause various troubles and troubles to its owners all year round. And the loud noise and bright lights from gunpowder explosions can scare them away. This tradition has gained wide popularity and spread all over the world.

The celebration of the Old New Year is common only in Russia and some CIS countries. It is celebrated on the night of January 13-14. On this day, according to the Julian calendar, the new year began. In fact, it is an echo of the change of chronology during the transition to the Gregorian style. For Russian people, this is another reason to gather at the festive table.

The history of the New Year's holiday is quite interesting. Modern celebration is rightfully considered one of the most beloved, popular. In addition, traditional feasts and obligatory weekends, which provide an opportunity not only to take a walk, but also to relax, contribute to the popularity of the holiday. Long before January 1 approaches, colorful garlands and decorations turn the familiar environment into a fairy tale that invariably brings joy to both children and adults. That's just what we know about its origin, what is the history of the New Year in Russia? This article is devoted to this issue.

How it all began

What is the origin of the holiday? The New Year has its roots in the days of the Holy Roman Empire. In particular, the Romans dated the beginning of the New Year to March and successfully celebrated it until 45 BC. It was customary to make sacrifices to Janus, as well as to give each other various gifts. Moreover, special attention was paid to presentations to the powerful of this world - officials and patricians.

With the first spring month, the countdown of the new time also began among the Jews, which can be traced in the Old Testament (the laws of Moses). Their holiday was not much different from the Roman one, apparently for the reason that the Jews were conquered by the Romans, were under their rule for a long time and gradually adopted customs.

New Year in Russia

Russia has its own interesting history of the holiday. The New Year was celebrated here according to folk traditions. The life cycle of the Slavs before the adoption of Christianity was directly related to nature and the change of seasons. Not surprisingly, the history of the origin of the New Year was associated with the spring equinox. When else to start counting days, if not with the arrival of spring and the awakening of all living things after a winter sleep.

At the end of the 10th century, along with Christianity, Kievan Rus adopted a new chronology - according to the Julian calendar. From now on, the year began to be divided into 12 months, which received their names according to weather conditions. And for another 4 centuries, the new year began on March 1.

From spring to autumn

The history of the New Year in Russia had another important stage. By the end of the 14th century, the decision was finally ripe to abandon the Constantinople calendar and switch to the Byzantine one, created simultaneously with the baptism of Kievan Rus. In 1492, by decree of Grand Duke John Vasilyevich III, it was ordered to start celebrating this important day from September 1. Also at this time, dues were collected, and the tsar received complainants, both nobles and peasants. Solemn events were held in the Kremlin, and the ruler without fail applied to the icons and the Gospel.

However, it is worth noting that the common people were indifferent to the innovation, and the New Year continued to coincide with the spring equinox. Thus, Christianity was bizarrely intertwined with pagan rituals and actions, creating a special picture of the holidays.

Genius of Peter I

The history of the modern New Year in Russia began with the advent of Peter I. Without a doubt, the first emperor was an outstanding personality and reformer who greatly transformed the country. Therefore, it is not surprising that European customs also influenced the celebration of the New Year. Since in England, France, Germany the year started on January 1, the new century in Russia began on the same day. Earlier, in 1699, a decree was promulgated to shift the date of the celebration. And already on the night of January 1, 1700, the empire began to live in a new way. By the way, the Russian New Year did not coincide with the European one anyway. Europe already lived according to the Gregorian chronology.

However, since the emperor ordered from now on to celebrate the New Year in January, then so be it. Disobeying a wayward ruler was more expensive, so they had to celebrate, set off fireworks and put up western-style Christmas trees. By the way, it is interesting that the forest beauties were dressed up not in toys, but in sweets, nuts, apples. After the death of Peter, they stopped putting up Christmas trees at all, leaving them only in taverns. And the symbol of the holiday continued to be pine and birch branches.

For several years, it was customary to celebrate the New Year in the old capital, Moscow. However, in 1704 the official part of the holiday moved to St. Petersburg, the city of the emperor.

However, the history of the Russian New Year was of little concern to the peasants, who for a long time continued to celebrate the holiday in September, on the day of St. Simeon the Pilot. But there was a ceremonial dinner with a traditional roasted pig.

"The Forest Raised a Christmas Tree…"

When did the tree appear on the holiday? Today we can’t even imagine New Year without her. It appeared relatively recently - some couple of centuries ago. As mentioned above, after the death of the first emperor, the tradition of putting on a fluffy beauty did not take root, and the holiday itself was largely popularized solely by the efforts of the monarchs. In particular, Catherine the Great introduced a masquerade ball, which became a kind of guarantee of a successful celebration.

When they began to decorate the Christmas tree again for the holiday, it is not known for certain. According to one version, this custom was introduced by the Prussian princess Charlotte, wife of Emperor Nicholas I, who converted to Orthodoxy under the name of Alexandra Feodorovna. With her light hand, in 1818 a Christmas tree was arranged in the Moscow palace, and a year later in St. Petersburg.

According to the second version, Russified Germans were the first to put up a Christmas tree in the 40s of the same century. There were quite a lot of them then in St. Petersburg. Soon, Christmas trees appeared in the homes of eminent and wealthy citizens.

At that time, fluffy beauties were put on Christmas Eve and decorated according to the German model - with the obligatory Bethlehem star on top. In addition, apples, nuts, ribbons, sweets, candles acted as decorations. Toys with Christmas symbols and glass balls appeared later. In addition, rich families could decorate a tree with jewelry and drape it with luxurious fabric. Well, what a holiday without gifts? Children received sweets, teenagers - books and clothes, girls - flowers, albums, shawls.

In the same 40s, the Christmas tree, personifying the New Year, appeared on sale everywhere, becoming available not only to the elite circle of those in power, but also to poor officials who also wanted to please their households. Fortunately, the time allotted for the celebration was gradually lengthened: from one day to several, and even until Baptism itself. Walk so walk! The arrival of January is still associated with the long Christmas and New Year holidays.

First public tree

It has already become a tradition in our time to arrange various New Year's parties and decorate squares of settlements, private and municipal buildings with live or artificial trees. A century and a half ago things were different. The first public Christmas tree appeared only in 1852 in the building of the Ekateringof railway station (St. Petersburg). Later, the Russian New Year was enriched with charitable Christmas trees for the poor, and ladies from rich and noble families took an active part in their organization. By the way, the brothers Alfred and Ludwig Nobel, who had their own interests in the empire, also arranged holidays for the children of St. Petersburg workers.

New Year cards

In 1897, the publishing house "Community of St. Eugenia" (St. Petersburg) issued the first illustrated postcards dedicated to the New Year holidays. Such famous artists as Vasnetsov, Repin, Benois, Bilibin, Makovsky had a hand in their creation. Moreover, Christmas cards differed from New Year's ones in their plot. The theme of the first was scenes from the Bible, associated, respectively, with the birth of Jesus. The second were exclusively secular, with images of carnivals, clocks, couples in love, dances, etc.

The most popular New Year's song "A Christmas tree was born in the forest" also came into being in Tsarist Russia - with the light hand of Raisa Kudasheva. The poem was published in the Malyutka magazine in 1903, and composer Leonid Beckman wrote the music for it.

When did Santa Claus appear?

On New Year's Eve, this fairy-tale character, representing a kind old man with a bushy beard and an invariable bag of gifts, first came in 1910. However, it finally took root only in the Land of the Soviets. This is not surprising, given that the prototype of the good grandfather was not at all the good spirit of the cold Studenets (aka Treskun, Frost). The stern old man from the mythology of the Eastern Slavs punished naughty children with a magic staff. Moreover, it was customary to appease this spirit with various gifts or sacrifices, asking not to destroy the harvest.

But the Snow Maiden is an exclusively literary character, which arose in the play of the same name by Alexander Ostrovsky in 1873. The girl fashioned from snow was the daughter of Spring and Frost.

Santa Claus for the New Year "comes" from Veliky Ustyug, where his possessions are supposedly located. The birthplace of the granddaughter of the Snow Maiden is the village of Schelkovo in the Kostroma region, where the house-museum of A. Ostrovsky is located.

Holiday at the turn of the century

The history of the New Year in Russia at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries is remarkable not for noisy celebrations, but for the skillful moves of enterprising businessmen. So, it was in 1900 that the Novy Vek magazine went out of print, the French champagne End of the Century appeared, as well as a series of perfumes from the Moscow factory named after Ostroumov.

New Year's holidays were noisily celebrated in 1901. In the Moscow Manege, three orchestras played at once, they showed the play "World Review" and dioramas depicting the most important events of the 19th century. In addition, festive prayers were held in all city churches.

Thus, the history of the emergence of the New Year's holiday in the Russian Empire went through several stages of formation. The final chord was 1914, when, in the wake of anti-German sentiment caused by the First World War, the Synod forbade the installation of a Christmas tree, calling this idea hostile and alien to the Russian, Orthodox people.

New Year and the USSR

Almost until the end of the First World War, the huge empire continued to live according to the Julian calendar, stubbornly ignoring the Gregorian adopted by all of Europe back in 1582. Therefore, the issue of transition became acute after the October Revolution of 1917 and was soon resolved. Since 1919, a new countdown began for the country.

In particular, the New Year, the date of which, according to the old style, fell on the Nativity Fast, finally began to organize the church. Previously, she was extremely unhappy with the noisy holidays during the prescribed abstinence. And with the transition, an additional holiday was added, which is so often surprised by foreigners - the old New Year. The date of celebration of the latter is the night of January 13-14.

By the way, as for foreigners, they are really very surprised at this "incomprehensible" holiday. It seems to them mysterious and mysterious, just like the Russian soul, by the way. Although in popular resorts everyone is already used to the fact that we celebrate the New Year 2 times. In Turkey, for example, hotel managers try to “make business” on this by throwing parties. Only other visitors to the resorts, in particular Europeans, are surprised.

It is noteworthy that after the February Revolution, the Provisional Government was not up to the New Year celebrations, but now the Council of People's Commissars recognized the holiday as counter-revolutionary. True, they immediately came up with a replacement in the form of the “Red Blizzard”, which symbolized the beginning of the revolution.

However, it was canceled soon after. After the death of Lenin, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin at first simply forbade putting up Christmas trees, considering them a manifestation of anti-Soviet sentiments, and then completely left only two holidays for a large country - May 1 and November 7. By the way, the leader himself never congratulated the people on the New Year, this tradition appeared much later.

The Christmas tree was rehabilitated in the mid-30s by Postyshev. Already in 1936, a festive tree was installed in the Hall of Columns of the House of the Unions, and two years later even a special form was issued, which told how to properly decorate a spruce. In particular, the Star of Bethlehem was replaced with a five-pointed and necessarily red one. And traditional toys were generously diluted with symbols of the new era - figures of pioneers, hammer and sickle, even members of the Politburo. In 1937, the first New Year's cards appeared, all with the same five-pointed red star.

After the end of the Second World War, since 1947, the first of January finally became a day off, and the population of the vast country became addicted to the "Soviet champagne", which appeared back in 1928. During the reign of Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev, the holiday began to be celebrated on a larger scale, and the main Christmas tree of the USSR, the Kremlin, was lit up. In 1962, The Blue Light was released for the first time.

The tradition of performing with a New Year's address from TV screens was introduced by Leonid Brezhnev in 1976, then it was successfully adopted by Mikhail Gorbachev. An interesting story about the New Year is connected with the congratulations of December 31, 1991. For the first (and so far only) time, not the head of state, but Mikhail Zadornov, the famous writer and satirist, delivered a greeting and parting word. In addition, he did not meet the allotted time, so the chimes had to wait. The satirist still often recalls this event and talks about it at his concerts.

What now

Then the honorary mission passed to the new president - Boris Yeltsin. And in 1999, he made an unexpected "gift" to the Russians, saying on the air that he was handing over the reins of power to V. Putin. Since then and to this day, Russians are congratulated by Vladimir Vladimirovich, who was replaced in the presidential chair by Medvedev only once in 4 years.

As you can see, the history of the origin of the New Year over the centuries of its existence has overcome many stages and changes. Celebration dates and traditions shifted, new symbols and characters appeared, and the old ones faded into obscurity. Such is the history of the holiday. New Year in our country remains a solemn event. And on December 31, we continue to wait for a small miracle.

Traditions changed, the holiday was celebrated on different days, but always remained an important event. Such is the history of the New Year in Russia. Today, every child hopes that kind Santa Claus will put a gift for him under the Christmas tree. And he runs early in the morning to check, sincerely rejoicing at what he discovered. Well, adults understand that only they themselves can make their loved ones happy by giving something for the holiday. However, in the depths of their souls, they also have a spark of hope that one day, on the eve of the celebration, something wonderful, special and long-awaited will happen.

Friends, let's make our loved ones happy more often! Let small, but soul-pleasing miracles visit our homes not only on New Year's Eve. Thanks to them, our life will become brighter, warmer and more pleasant. And a smile will more often illuminate our faces, play kindly on our lips and shine with sparks in our eyes. Do something nice for your loved ones right now, give them some of your time, especially those whom you see infrequently. After all, life is short, there may not be another opportunity.

Photobank Lori

A bit of history
New Year is the most favorite holiday for millions of people from different countries. This is one of those few days of the year when almost the whole world is busy with the same thing: everyone watches the clock, drinks champagne and rejoices in the new year as if there was a real possibility that for some unknown reason it would not come.

The secret of such popularity is very simple: New Year's midnight is the time when even adults are allowed to believe in miracles. This "permission" comes from such a depth of centuries that it is difficult for us to imagine: it is believed that the New Year is one of the very first holidays of all mankind. The earliest documentary evidence dates back to the third millennium BC, it is known for sure that the New Year was celebrated, for example, in Mesopotamia. But historians believe that the holiday is even older, which means that our New Year traditions are at least 5,000 years old.

New Year, in the form in which we know it, comes from ancient Egypt. For centuries, the Egyptians celebrated the September flood of the Nile River, which marked the beginning of the new planting season and was an extremely important, life-changing event. Even then it was customary to arrange nightly celebrations with dances and music, to give gifts to each other.

January 1 became the first day of the New Year under Julius Caesar: in the newly introduced calendar, this month was named after the two-faced god Janus, one whose head looks into the past and the other into the future. It is believed that it was then that the custom of decorating houses appeared.

However, throughout the world, the New Year was celebrated for many centuries either at the beginning of spring or at the end of autumn - in accordance with agricultural cycles. In Russia, for example, until the 15th century, the beginning of the year was celebrated on March 1st.

In 1600, the holiday was moved to autumn, and another hundred years later, at about the same time as throughout Europe, Peter I issued a decree on the general celebration of the New Year on January 1. He also ordered fireworks and festivities to be arranged on this day.

There is a legend that when England switched to the January celebration of the New Year, the women of the kingdom rebelled: they considered it unfair the government's intention to add to each of them several months of age. The men laughed, but did not change their minds.

Throughout the Christian world, the New Year is a somewhat minor holiday; Christmas is considered the main winter event. That is why the inhabitants of most European countries give each other gifts on December 25, and family dinners are arranged on Christmas Eve.

So it was in Russia, but in the era of the Soviet Union, it was actually forbidden to celebrate church events, and the New Year quickly became the most important and beloved of all legal holidays. It is thanks to its own significance that, after the return of Christmas to the category of public holidays, we received the longest weekend in the world - 10 days.

Residents of most Western countries already go to work on January 2. And those who celebrate the new year according to the lunar or purely national calendar - the Chinese, Japanese, Jews, do not rest at all these days. On January 1, adults go to the office, and children go to school.

Children's New Year traditions from around the world
The French bake a bean into a New Year's pie: the one who gets it receives the title of "bean king" and the right to give instructions throughout the festive night. Adults try to guess so that the bean goes to the child.

In Bulgaria, it is customary to organize New Year's children's festivities. The guys make dogwood sticks, decorate them with a red thread, a head of garlic, nuts, coins and dried fruits, and run around with them. They enter neighbors' houses and "knock" the owners' backs with chopsticks: it is believed that such a pat brings good luck, health and prosperity to a person.

The main character of the New Year's carnival in Colombia is the Old Year. He walks on high stilts through the streets and tells funny stories to children walking by.

In Norway, children are waiting for gifts from a goat. Therefore, on the night before the New Year, they prepare a treat for her, leaving some hay in their boots. In the morning, instead of dry grass, they find gifts in them.

In Cuba, before the onset of the New Year, children fill jugs, buckets, basins and bowls with water in order to pour this water out of the windows with their parents at midnight. It is believed that in this way people thank the outgoing year for all the good that it has brought them.

Food is an important part of New Year's celebrations in Mexico. So, exactly at midnight, each child should receive and eat a large gingerbread doll.