Russian customs and traditions of meeting the new year. How do Russians celebrate the New Year?

New Year traditions are relevant every year. Everyone in their hearts believes that making wishes, certain dishes and decorations can bring good luck, happiness and prosperity.

No one can say for sure if this is true, but everyone adheres to traditions.

Among the New Year's customs there are many interesting and unusual signs in which our ancestors still believed.

Each of us remembers ourselves in childhood. The New Year was a miracle and the welcome arrival of Santa Claus.

Adult people already know that grandfather does not exist, but they still want the fulfillment of desires.

First in history to apply new year traditions began Peter 1, who issued a decree on this. It was he who gave rise to the tradition of decorating everything spruce branches.

And so far, the tree is the decoration of every New Year.

All New Year traditions

I think many of you practice these customs because it is very exciting and interesting activity, even though deep down in our hearts, we do not believe in it.

The main traditions for the New Year are:

• decorations;
• new Year gifts;
• stockings for gifts;
• festive table.

Decoration according to New Year's traditions

It is believed that the more food on the New Year's table, the richer the hosts will be.

Also, if you believe the New Year's traditions, then there must be rabbit or poultry meat on the table. So your happiness cannot fly away or run away.

Olivier salad is no longer considered traditional, although on other holidays all guests demand it.

For the New Year, you need to cook something unusual. So, for example, you can cook or.

They look delicious and New Year's Eve.

On the New Year's table modern traditions should be tangerines.

It is not known why the Russians fell in love with them so much, but this has already become a custom.

The most important is "Soviet champagne", which is opened under the chimes.

Just imagine: the smell of spruce and tangerines, the striking of the clock and the screams of Uraaaaaaa! What could be more fun!

New Year's tradition "Make a wish"

Favorite tradition. After all, everyone believes in a miracle and in New Year's fairy tale. Why not?!

We will tell you exactly how it is necessary to make wishes so that they come true and what customs exist regarding this particular.

How to make a wish for the New Year so that it comes true:

• according to New Year's tradition, it is necessary to write a wish on a leaf, set it on fire and dissolve it in a glass of champagne. It is necessary to drink it while the chimes are beating;
• write 12 wishes on small leaves and place them under your pillows. Get up in the morning and take one of them out. The wish you made will surely come true. If, during sleep, several pieces of paper fell out from under your pillow, then fate will fulfill all your desires;
• another New Year's tradition of making wishes for a stranger. If you spend the New Year in the company of friends, but there is a person whom you see for the first time, then after 12-00 take him by the hand and think of anything;
• run into the sky chinese lantern in which to put a letter with a wish in advance;
• catch a snowflake, and if it does not melt while the chimes are striking, everything will come true (this is feasible when celebrating on the street);
• light a candle and make a wish to the sound of the clock, if the candle burns out to the end without going out, it will come true;
• eat 12 grapes to the chiming clock, having time to spit out the seeds;
• at 00-00 jump up and make a wish;
• cut and write on it your desire, you can make several of them. Then throw them off the balcony.

You can follow all the traditions, but remember, when making a wish - do not wish evil to people, because the New Year is a bright and kind holiday.

New Year's signs

There are many signs, especially those related to the New Year. You can believe in them, or you can ignore them. It depends on your superstition, but if you want your wishes to come true, then follow the New Year's traditions and signs.

• beat the dishes (you will swear all year);
• quarrel (waiting for an unlucky year);
• cook at least 10 dishes (for poverty and hunger);
• throwing food leftovers from the table (drive luck);
• do not invite guests (to lack of money).

Signs that must be followed:

• buy a new broom and tie a red ribbon bow on it, placing it in the corner of the kitchen with a broom up;
• ask everyone for forgiveness;
• put banknote in your pocket (for money);
• hang a wreath on the door;
• leave the brownie a glass of wine and a spoonful of salad in the kitchen;
• before the guests arrive, light a church veche in each room (observe fire safety).

Not less than interesting signs and New Year's traditions are connected with other things.

So accepted new clothes, it is believed that by doing so you lure success to yourself and cash, so bolder shopping.

It is equally important to pay and collect all monetary debts. It is believed that if the debtor did not return the funds to you, then after New Year's Eve he will never return them.

In Russia main holiday- New Year, and the tradition of celebrating Christmas suffered significantly in the atheistic Soviet Union. However, for the last fifteen years we have been celebrating Christmas. A Russian person can never have too much holiday and fun!

Most countries celebrate Christmas with great pomp on December 25th. But in Russia they celebrate the New Year on January 1st. Why?
To begin with, Tsar Peter I ordered the holiday and the calendar beginning of the year to be moved from September 1st to January 1st, so that everything would be like in the West. In 1897, the beginning of the new year was officially declared a holiday, and the first day officially became a day off. In 2004, days until January 5th were declared days off. We rest for ten whole days because Saturday, Sunday and Christmas are added to them.
But all our New Year's traditions, like a Christmas tree and delicious dinner, in most countries are inherent in Christmas. And we love more New Year. This is due to the reform of 1918 - the Bolsheviks did not like the religious background of the holiday. And on January 7th, and not at the end of December, as in Catholic countries, because the authorities adopted the Gregorian calendar, and the Julian one remained at the church.

Rich New Year's table

In Russia, it is customary to celebrate the New Year with family or friends. Close people get together on the evening of December 31st to spend Old year and meet the new one. And they gather not just like that, but at the set table, laden with all sorts of festive dishes.
To begin with, they usually remember what happened in the past year - good or, conversely, bad. They tell what happened in life important and wish each other happiness. And of course, do not forget to pay tribute to the goodies and alcoholic beverages, which in most families and companies it is customary to purchase a lot.
Traditional dishes for the Russian New Year's table are salads "Olivier" and "herring under a fur coat." And the most "New Year's" fruit is tangerines. These dishes have become obligatory since Soviet time. In addition, many more intricate, time-consuming dishes are usually prepared, some of which can be tasted no more than once a year.

Champagne - the most New Year's drink

It is believed that the tradition of drinking champagne for the New Year appeared in the 1960s - the authorities decided to provide every Soviet family with at least one bottle of Soviet champagne for the holiday. The tradition has taken root, and no wonder: the color of the drink, the sparkling bubbles in the glass, the cork flying out of the bottle - all this goes well with the seething joy of the holiday.
A glass of champagne must be drunk with the chimes. Don't forget to make a wish!

Christmas tree

The tradition of decorating any tree for a special, holiday came from the depths of time. And decorating a spruce for the New Year or Christmas is already Christian tradition. According to legend, the holy monk Boniface tried to convert the Druids to Christianity and read a sermon about miracles, in particular, he tried to convince the pagans that the oak was not a sacred tree at all. The saint took an ax and cut down one oak tree, and that one, falling, knocked down all the trees in its path. Only the spruce survived, and Boniface called it the tree of Christ.
The tradition of decorating a fir tree came to us from Catholicism. At first, fruits were hung on it, then candles were added, but for fragile branches it was all too hard, and they gradually replaced glass balls and garlands.
Now it is impossible to imagine the New Year without a Christmas tree - it has become one of the most important symbols of the holiday. It is under it that children find gifts on the first morning of the new year. By the way, gifts are another important tradition. If you haven't prepared them for everyone yet dear people, then it's time to start.

Cakes with wishes

In many families, it is customary to bake special pies with wishes for the New Year's table: a piece of paper in foil is wrapped in a pie, on which it is written good wishes. You can wish for anything - fantasy will come to the rescue.
Instead of a wish, there is also a surprise. For example, a coin is placed in one pie from a large batch, one is baked very salty, and another one is very sweet. Anyone who pulls out a pie with a coin to the chiming clock will become rich this year. A salty pie symbolizes difficulties and trials, a sweet one - a “sweet” life.
By the way, it can be not only a pie. In some families, dumplings are cooked for the New Year, among which the “lucky one” will pull out a peppered dumpling. The one who gets this will be lucky in the New Year.

Snowflakes on the windows

You won't see snowflakes on windows outside of Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union. Our snowflakes are special. We cut them out of paper ourselves, stick them on the windows ourselves, so that the atmosphere in the house becomes even more festive.
By the way, you can make snowflakes even with the symbols of the year - for the upcoming 2015, this is a goat or a sheep. It is easy to find stencils on the Internet.

Address of the President

It cannot be said that the New Year's address to the people of the head of state exists only in Russia - in other countries this is also a common thing. Nevertheless, in Russia, the parting presidential speech is treated with special attention. On December 31 at 23.55, the head of the country addresses the citizens with a speech through several channels, where he usually sums up the results of the year.
After the Kremlin chimes beat off 12 strokes, marking the beginning of the new year. Then the national anthem of the country is played, and in all houses and restaurants people raise glasses of champagne, “clink glasses”, congratulate each other. This is how the New Year comes.

Ded Moroz and Snegurochka

Father Frost - main character New Year, a kind magical old man with a white beard in a red, white or blue fur coat and felt boots. Santa Claus rides on a troika of horses, and his granddaughter Snegurochka helps him.
Initially, Santa Claus would have been a powerful pagan god and the personification of Russian frosts. He bound the water with ice, covered the ground with snow, and also protected from enemies - if Rus' was attacked, then he sent terrible cold, which the newcomers could not cope with.
Under the influence of Christianity, Grandfather "got angry" and became just an evil and eccentric spirit. The Bolsheviks “returned” it again as a symbol of the holiday, and since the 1930s it is no longer possible to imagine the New Year without Grandfather Frost. By the way, he has an official residence in Veliky Ustyug, his own mail and birthday on November 18 - according to statistics, around that time the most severe frosts come in Veliky Ustyug.
The Snow Maiden has been accompanying Father Frost since 1937. The origins of her image also lie in pagan mythology. Such a Snow Girl is an exclusive Russian character.

Old New Year

And one more feature inherent only in Russia and the CIS countries is the Old New Year. This funny oxymoron and amazing tradition appeared due to differences in the Julian and Gregorian calendar. The Church continues to use the Julian calendar, and New Year comes "according to the old style", so that it falls on the Nativity fast.
And in Russia they love holidays. So, after the decree of Peter I, the Russians happily began to celebrate the secular New Year on January 1st, but they didn’t forget the “church” holiday in January, in order to certainly observe all the traditions. And it got accustomed - for 300 years we have been celebrating both holidays.

Christmas traditions

Christmas Vigil Service

Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7, and the 6th is Christmas Eve (from the word "sochivo" - a special porridge made from wheat grains and seed juice). Christmas Eve is the last day of the Advent (which is rarely observed in Russia, because its middle just falls on the New Year) and the eve of the Nativity of Christ.
On the night of January 6th to 7th, All-Night Services are served in all Orthodox churches in Russia. It starts in the evening and lasts about three hours. Then they serve the liturgy, and immediately after it comes Christmas. People congratulate each other and go home to fast. On the morning of January 7th, another liturgy is served.

Christmas divination

On Christmas Eve, it is customary for Russian girls to guess: the pagan tradition has survived to this day. It is believed that on this special night you can find out exactly your fate and find out when and whom you will marry, what life will be like and so on. Some sources say that one should guess not on Christmas, but on Christmas Eve.
Fortune-telling is an interesting, fun, but sometimes creepy activity. What is worth only one fortune-telling with mirrors on the betrothed! On Christmas night, one should sit between two mirrors, light a candle and peer into the "corridor of reflections" from where the groom should come. In the old days, such fortune-telling was considered dangerous - supposedly something evil could appear from the corridor. Say, nonsense, not scary at all? And you try. The fortuneteller should be alone in the house, no friends in the next room. Young people can also guess at their future wife this way.
Do not take Christmas divination seriously, of course. But it's definitely great way have fun and celebrate Christmas, especially for girls: there are also collective fortune-telling, usually accompanied by jokes and laughter.

Christmas table

At Christmas, it is customary to set a special table, which is very different from New Year's. On Christmas Eve, you need to cook juicy. You can’t eat on this day until the first star appears in the sky.
Also at Christmas they bake wafers - thin round slices of unleavened dough. They are placed on clean hay in the middle of the table. The wafer symbolizes the Christ child in the manger. During dinner, you should break the wafer with your companions and wish them all the best from the bottom of your heart.
First they eat juicy. Hearty appetizers like salads and herring are then served. Then - soup and pies. And at the end of the meal, sweet dishes are put on the table - honey gingerbread, poppy seed rolls, nuts, jelly, cookies.
It is important to taste each dish, at least a little. And yes - no alcohol, meat, milk or sour cream. If a guest comes, then he must certainly be invited to the table - it is customary to feed everyone on Christmas. Some also feed birds and homeless animals.

Carols - Christmas festivities

Now caroling is quite rare, especially in big cities, but earlier it was a fun and beloved period that came immediately after Christmas and lasts until Epiphany. It's called Saints. At this time, they used to dress up in different costumes, staged in the streets funny Games, sang, danced and congratulated everyone on the fact that winter has finally subsided and things are moving towards spring.
Carols were fun, festivities. People rode down the hills and arranged plentiful feasts. However, nothing prevents us from returning the tradition and having fun from the heart in last days new year holidays.

Special Christmas Decorations

Christmas decorations are similar to New Year's, but there are differences. For example, at Christmas, candles are placed throughout the house, stars and wreaths are hung, and the house is decorated with images and figurines of angels. In fact, one can simply add Christmas decoration Houses. It is better to remove the garlands - candles will be enough.
The traditional Christmas colors are red and gold. The more of them, the more festive the atmosphere will be.

Christmas post

Advent fast lasts from November 28th to January 6th. During this period, you should refrain from plentiful food, exclude meat, dairy products and eggs from the diet. True, in view of the fact that fasting falls just on the New Year, it is difficult to resist.
But if you still want to touch this sacrament, keep in mind: fasting is not only abstaining from certain foods. John Chrysostom said that "true fasting is the removal from evil, the curbing of the tongue, the laying off of anger, the taming of lusts, the cessation of slander, lies and perjury."
This is true. Holidays, especially New Year and Christmas, are an opportunity to become kinder, enjoy life more and forgive all old grievances. This is an opportunity to start life new page. That is what the most main tradition. Be kind, and have a nice holiday!
With coming!

Among all official holidays New Year's Eve takes a special place. Each of us, for sure, remembers the feeling of a real miracle left from childhood, when, as children, we tried our best not to fall asleep before midnight and see Santa Claus, who would bring long-awaited gifts under the Christmas tree.

The older we get, the more our attitude towards holidays changes. So, many, upon reaching a certain age, stop celebrating their birthdays, because they remind of the transience of life. But the New Year, even for adults, remains unusually beautiful, fabulous holiday when miracles are possible and any wish can come true.

New Year Traditions

It is believed that the tradition of celebrating the New Year came to us from ancient rome. It was among the Romans, during the heyday of the empire, that the custom appeared to give each other symbolic gifts and wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year. Each gift symbolized a specific wish. The one who gave candles (in those days it was a rather expensive gift) wished prosperity, gold - wealth, and honey - happy life. But the Germanic tribes were the first to use Christmas trees as a New Year's symbol. According to their mythology, it was believed that powerful spirits live in spruce paws, on which human happiness and health depend.

Christmas decorations in ancient times also had not so much a decorative as a practical meaning. They were a kind of offering to the spirits. Among the Druids, by the way, the evergreen spruce was considered a symbol of immortality. So do not neglect the customs of your ancestors - be sure to dress up Christmas tree on holiday.

Do not neglect the customs of the ancestors - be sure to dress up the New Year tree for the holiday

Main Christmas decorations the star at the top and the balls are considered. This star has nothing to do with the Kremlin stars and the symbol of the revolution - it is nothing more than star of bethlehem, which broke out in heaven at the time of the birth of the Savior and showed the Magi the way to the Lord.

The balls on the New Year tree symbolize the fruit of the paradise apple, the forbidden fruit that our first parents, Adam and Eve, ate. And in the old days, small gingerbread cookies were hung on the Christmas tree, which were supposed to remind people of the unleavened bread eaten during communion. Associated with the New Year and a lot of signs and rituals. It is impossible to fit them all into one article, and therefore now we will only talk about some of them.

To have a good New Year

If during the year you at least once saw a star falling, and managed to say at the same time a “quick word” (it sounds like this: “I KNOW”), then on New Year's Eve go outside, look at the sky and make a wish - it will surely come true .

If you want to live in abundance and prosperity for the whole coming year, then on December 31, tap the table with a spoon and say: As it is now full on the table, So the whole year would be full. Or tap the butt of an ax on the threshold and say: Life, health, bread.

On New Year's Eve, just before midnight, you can ask the twelve apostles for blessings for the entire coming year. To do this, you will need the icon of the twelve apostles, which is placed on the table, and twelve are lit around it. church candles. Then, in a quiet but distinct voice, slowly and without confusing the words, cast the spell.

You can ask the 12 apostles for blessings for the whole coming year

Feel the solemnity of this moment, because you do not just pronounce names and titles, but bless every month of this year. The spell words are:

“Andrew the First-Called - January. Peter Simon - February. James the Elder - March. John the Evangelist - April. Philip - May. Bartholomew - June. Matthew the publican - July. Thomas - August. Jacob Alfeev - September. Thaddeus - October. Simon the Zealot - November. Judas Iscariot – December.”

“Father, Creator, King of Heaven and earth! Have mercy and save my child (name), grace with Your wisdom, grant Your merciful protection, keep Your servant (name) from all temptations and cover Your robe from all troubles. Be the protection of the soul and body, may Your servant (name) not be subjected to sudden death at the hands of the enemy. Grant a guardian angel strong for preservation from any illness, danger and temptation. Lord, enlighten the heart and soul of my child with the light of Your wisdom, let it shine in him your name. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Signs for the New Year

I would also like to tell you a little about the signs associated with the onset of the New Year. Since ancient times, people, preparing to celebrate the New Year, used to say: “As you meet it, so you will spend it.” Is this just another pointless superstition or necessary rule to which we are all in Lately started to be a little frivolous?

Let's figure it out. The night between December 31st and January 1st is the end of the old year and the beginning of a new one, this is the time when you complete another stage of your life and, getting rid of excess, unnecessary baggage, get ready to move on. In general, the time from December 21 (day winter solstice) until January 7 (Christmas) is very strong energetically, and it is very important during this period to carefully work on yourself, try to cleanse yourself, get rid of everything bad, old, unnecessary for a long time - both materially and spiritually.

Old things tucked into the far corners of a closet or pantry tend to accumulate not only dust, but also negative energy, which is why you should always get rid of those items that you have not used for a year. (Of course, I don’t mean some things dear to your heart and souvenirs that lift your spirits just by looking at them, but it’s unlikely that such things include an old rusted pot, cracked skis, or an ancient one that hasn’t been around for a couple of decades. working refrigerator).

In general, the ability to part with old things is a very important skill, because this is how you part with the past, which often burdens people, does not let them go, does not allow them to move on. In Italy, for example, there is a wonderful custom - on New Year's Eve to throw out of the house old furniture. You may object: we are not as rich as the Italians, and we cannot afford to throw something away. But after all, if we cannot throw something away, this thing can always be washed, cleaned, varnished or dragged. And feel free to carry all unnecessary utensils and clothes in the trash. You will be surprised how much easier it will be for you to breathe in own house after such cleaning - of course, because you have cleansed the house of negative energy.

In Italy, there is a wonderful custom - on New Year's Eve, throw old furniture out of the house.

Therefore, be sure to spend before the New Year general cleaning, throw away all the junk, spend energy cleansing apartments. By the way, you should throw away not only old and unnecessary things, but also things that bring you sad memories, even if they are new or expensive. Sadness and longing are bad fellow travelers, and in the new year you will definitely do without them.

So, we have already dealt with one sign. Now let's talk about others. Well, who among us has not heard: “Be sure to forgive all offenders”, “Make peace with relatives”, “Repay debts” (only they must be repaid before December 31), etc. It is easy to guess that, following these simple rules, we we are spiritually cleansed, we get rid of internal negativity. It is very important to enter the new year spiritually renewed, cleansed of negativity, free from evil and resentment, open to all that is good.

If we do not do all this, if we do not reconsider in these few days our attitude to life in general and to ourselves in particular, then it will be useless to make wishes for happiness and wealth. Remember one thing simple rule: Like attracts like.

Directly on December 31, before celebrating the New Year, dress in everything new. At this time, you can’t work too hard, especially do dirty and hard work, otherwise you will spend the whole coming year in worries.

It is very good if on December 31 and on the first day of the new year (January 1) you have some amount of money in your house - this way you will attract prosperity and prosperity to the house. If you are engaged in trade and went to work on January 1, then be sure to give the first buyer the goods at a big discount - then throughout the year you will not
know the problems, the goods will leave easily and quickly, and the profit will be high.

Please remember next rule and always follow it: do not give anything to anyone from home either on December 31 or January 1 (the same applies to days such as January 6 and 7). Otherwise, you will give away your own happiness, luck and prosperity.

Many have heard a sign that the festive table should be plentiful. Therefore, many believers, celebrating the New Year, which always falls on Philip's fast, face difficulties. But, believe me, a tasty and beautiful treat can be prepared from vegetables, and even without oil, it is not at all necessary to serve meat on the table. The main thing is to do everything with soul and from pure heart wishing to please family and friends. It is very good to invite guests for the New Year - in this case, you will live the whole coming year surrounded by faithful and cheerful friends who will not forget about you for a day.

It is very good to invite guests for the New Year

Do not forget, before setting the table, sprinkle it with seeds of rye, wheat and oats (they are symbols of fertility, wealth and health) and only then cover it with a new white tablecloth. It’s good if you have bread on your table that day (it’s best to bake it with your own hands) and salt, because bread has been a symbol of prosperity since ancient times, and salt has always been an excellent amulet against evil and evil spirits.

Also on the table you should have poppy seeds, which symbolize longevity, garlic, which protects the house from unclean, hostile spirits, sunflower seeds, which are symbols of great friendly family and health. It can be advised to serve dishes of peas and beans on the festive table - this is a symbol of strength and health, friendship and good relations in family. Pepper protects from quarrels in the family, nuts symbolize health, intelligence and longevity, and pumpkin is a symbol of fertility.

By the way, do not forget to entangle the legs of the festive table with a rope: this is done so that the people who have gathered behind it are together all year long: no one quarreled, did not leave home, did not get seriously ill.

by Notes of the Wild Mistress

The Russian New Year is over three hundred years old! Tsar Peter I issued a decree that since 1700 the years should be counted from the Nativity of Christ, and the New Year should be celebrated on the first of January. The same decree said: “In front of the gates, make some decoration from trees and branches of pine, spruce and juniper. But for poor people (i.e., the poor), at least put a tree or a branch over the gates or over their mansions. The dressed-up spruce was first lit up with lights in 1852 in St. Petersburg in the premises of the Ekaterininsky (now Moscow) station.

New Year's Eve, Christmas, Epiphany... Reverence and superstition, reckless festivities and awe before the almost physically felt presence of the mystery. Everything these days is fateful, everything bears the seal of the future: the flame of a candle, and porridge in the oven.

The only one Slavic holiday, which is celebrated at the state level in the Slavic states - this is the New Year. Once upon a time, the god of severe cold Morok walked through the villages, sending hard frosts. The villagers, wanting to protect themselves from the cold, put gifts on the window: pancakes, jelly, cookies, kutya. Now Morok has become good grandfather Frost, who distributes gifts himself. It became so quite recently, in the middle of the 19th century.

The solemn cycle of New Year's rites in Rus' began with memories of the past (singing of ancient epics), and ended with fortune-telling about the future. It was the end of Christmas time, the famous "Epiphany evening", which was considered the most convenient time to question fate.

And how many signs are associated with the New Year ?! IN new year's eve with update - whole year walk around in new clothes. You can’t give money before the New Year, otherwise you will have to give it all year. Usually, before the New Year, they paid off all debts, forgave all insults, and those who were in a quarrel were obliged to make peace. Until now, it is believed that it is impossible to borrow on New Year's Eve, otherwise you will spend the whole year in debt. You can’t sleep either, otherwise you’ll oversleep all year, the table should be full of dishes and wines, you can’t be left alone, etc. Before the New Year, they threw out all broken dishes from the house, washed windows and mirrors. Winter holidays in Rus', from time immemorial, they were the richest and most cheerful.

The evening before the New Year was called generous. A plentiful festive table, according to ancient belief, provided well-being for the whole coming year and was considered the key to the wealth of the family. In the center of the New Year's table, they put the meat of a pig (often a two or three week old pig roasted on a spit), which, due to its fertility, was perceived as a symbol of beauty.

At the beginning of the century, for the New Year, figurines of domestic animals were baked from dough: horses, cows, bulls. And when they came to the house to carol, the guests were presented with these figurines, various sweets and nuts.

After the 1917 revolution in Russia, the celebration of the New Year was canceled, but people, though not so noisy, still met him at home. It was then, perhaps, that the tradition of sitting at the table arose. And since then, the New Year in Russia has been considered more of a family and home holiday.

When the table is already set, and everyone is assembled, the TV turns on - a constant participant in the New Year's celebration. From its screen, the head of the country greets his people and says holiday wishes. At that moment, when the chimes on the Spasskaya Tower strike midnight, you need to have time to make a wish.

It is believed that it will definitely come true. The same integral part of the New Year holiday as the congratulations of the head of state, for the whole country for 30 years now, has been the cult film directed by Eldar Ryazanov - “From light steam! On the night of December 31 to January 1, his different time"twist" on several television programs. If you want to know how the New Year is celebrated in Russia, just watch this wonderful film.

New Year's Russian feast is not an easy test. Of course, in our time, it is impossible to list all the dishes that can decorate it. Kulebyaka, fried goose with apples or baked hare have remained traditional Russian dishes from time immemorial to this day.

There are also modern culinary traditions. As a rule, the New Year's table is not complete without Olivier salad, sturgeon, caviar and champagne. But it is absolutely impossible to imagine a Russian table without good vodka. Gastronomic diversity and abundance is a big burden for the body, so it will be well saturated with vitamins. The Russian custom of eating vodka with pickles is also very correct. They contain those salts and minerals that alcohol is washed out of the body.

Russians are not conservative. Despite the fact that many of them prefer to celebrate the New Year at home, there are also many who are not averse to “going out”. Young people like to gather in big noisy companies, visit or celebrate this holiday in restaurants, in the forest, on the squares and streets of their cities near decorated Christmas trees. There are those who celebrate the New Year in the center of Moscow, on Red Square. On the streets of the capital this night is crowded and fun. In Russia, they are very fond of holidays, and they have special hopes for the New Year, and regardless of social status and age on this day waiting for a miracle.

The history of the holiday "New Year" comes from ancient times - from the times pagan Rus' ninth century. Among the ancient Russian peoples, the new year came with the beginning of the awakening of nature, and it was supposedly celebrated on the day spring equinox March 22.

Together with the adoption of Christianity in Rus' in 988, a new chronology appeared, and March 1 was adopted as the beginning of the year. But later, in the XIV century Orthodox Church moved the beginning of the year to September 1 in commemoration of peace from all worldly worries associated with agricultural work. This custom was adopted from Byzantium. From September 1, they began to count not only the church, but also the civil year.

New Year customs the Slavs took root quite quickly. Many old rituals, tricks of mummers, sleigh rides, round dances and fortune-telling that used to accompany Christmas time (the period after Christmas to Epiphany, from January 7 to January 19), fit well into the fun of the New Year!

In the Moscow Kremlin on the day of the New Year holiday, the ceremony "On the Beginning of a New Summer" was held. On the cathedral square of the Kremlin, a platform was arranged, which was covered with Persian carpets. Analogues for icons were installed on the platform. Opposite the lectern, two places were placed for the patriarch and the king. The king went out festive clothes. The patriarch asked about the health of the king and blessed him. The clergy and boyars took their places according to their rank. After the service, all those present congratulated each other, and after the king, the whole square congratulated.

In 1699, Peter I issued a decree according to which January 1 was considered the beginning of the year. The king saw to it that New Year's celebration was in tsarist Russia no worse and no poorer than in other countries. Christmas trees were decorated with fruits, vegetables, sweets and nuts, and they began to dress up much later.

The first New Year with a changed date began with a parade on Red Square in Moscow. And in the evening the sky was decorated with colorful fireworks, people danced, sang, had fun and gave each other New Year's gifts. . It was from January 1, 1700 that New Year's festivities received their popular recognition. The celebration of the New Year has become secular.

The main element of the celebration was. A pig acted as a sacrificial animal, which symbolically meant wealth, fertility and prosperity in human life. New Year's pig was considered the property of the peasant world and a separate family. Everyone in the peasant community could come and eat his tender meat, but each of those who came had to bring some money for the owner. The next day, the collected funds were transferred to the parish church.

There also existed family ritual eating a pig. On the evening of January 1, all households gathered at one table, put a candle in front of the icon and prayed to the church writer and theologian Basil the Great. After the prayer, the owner would cut off the head of the pig, break the roast and give it to the family members in parts. After eating the meat, the hostess took the bones to the pigs. This rite was magical meaning: he should have called good harvest and family well-being.

Not a single New Year in Rus' was complete without the rite of caroling. Crowds of boys, having gathered on January 1 before mass, went from house to house and congratulated the owners on the holiday. Entering the hut, the boy bowed to the owner and sprinkled the room with millet or oats, saying "for happiness, for health, for the new summer." Then the sprinkled grain was collected with special love and stored until the spring sowing. Guests, especially children, were treated with special cordiality, because it was believed that they bring wealth to the house and happiness to the family. As a token of gratitude, they were presented with money or pies.

The tradition of celebrating the New Year in Rus' originated in the 9th century and still has not lost its relevance. New Year's customs have changed over time, but we can observe most of them in our time. People still have fun on New Year's Day, congratulate each other and give gifts!