Modern traditions of celebrating the Old New Year - how to celebrate the Old New Year in our time? Why and how to celebrate the old new year How to celebrate the old new year

Not many people know that the celebration of the Old New Year is a full-fledged event. And if you didn’t have time to do something on New Year’s Eve, January 14 is a great opportunity to implement your plan.

Historically, we celebrate the New Year twice. This is due to the long-standing transition to the Gregorian calendar. However, if you rely on the Julian calendar, the New Year falls on January 14th.

Many people underestimate this holiday and do not consider it necessary to celebrate it at all. Of course, this is an individual decision for everyone, but not everyone is ready to miss the opportunity to celebrate the New Year again.

Features of the Old New Year celebration

New Year's Eve from January 13 to 14 is no different from the usual New Year. But the good thing about the Old New Year is that you can correct all the mistakes of the first New Year’s Eve and do what you didn’t have time to do.

If you decide to celebrate this holiday, you should take into account the features of the year of the Fire Monkey. Therefore, choose the right wardrobe and decorate the table with appropriate dishes, for example, a bowl of fruit.

The peculiarity of this celebration is that it is suitable for meeting in a close circle of relatives or friends. The old New Year does not like noisy companies and large rooms.

On this night you can also make wishes and charge talismans for good luck. One of the most effective ways to find out what will come true from your wishes in the new year is to write your dreams on twelve pieces of paper and put them under your pillow. One piece of paper is intended for one purpose. In the morning, without getting out of bed, you need to pull out just three leaves at random. What is written on them will come true this year.

Those who adhere to church traditions can enjoy a variety of New Year's dishes. Since the celebration of the official New Year, which falls on January 1, is accompanied by strict fasting, and those who observe it limit themselves in food. In the Old New Year, fasting will end, and you can freely enjoy delicious dishes.

During this period, try to let go of all grievances and complete unfinished business. New Year's Eve will help you start over with a clean slate and leave all failures in the past.

Don't miss the opportunity not only to celebrate the New Year again, but also to make wishes and adjust your goals. Think positively and believe only in the best, because these are the qualities that will help you achieve abundance. Dream, do more good and, of course, do not forget to press the buttons and

On the night of January 13-14, Russians celebrate the New Year according to the old style, or as people say, the Old New Year. This amazing holiday has a lot of traditions and signs. Let's understand the history of the Old New Year, how it was celebrated at different times in Russia, and also find out what to cook for the Old New Year, what traditions should be observed, what signs to believe in.

Old New Year - the history of the holiday

New Year in Russia, by decree of Peter I, began to be celebrated on January 1 in 1700, and they began to celebrate the Old New Year in 1918, when Soviet Russia switched from the former Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar adopted in Europe. The tradition of celebrating the Old New Year appeared thanks to believers. Due to the difference between the calendars in Russia, until 1919, Christmas and New Year were celebrated 13 days later than in Europe. But the Russian Orthodox Church did not obey the decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR of 1918 and did not accept the Gregorian calendar. With the official introduction of the new calendar, Christmas, as previously celebrated on December 25 according to the old style, “moved” to January 7. And the Orthodox continued to celebrate the New Year as before - six days after Christmas, that is, on the night of January 13-14.

Interesting:
in 1918, when, during the transition to a new chronology, an amendment of 13 days was introduced, immediately after January 31, 1918, February 14 came in Russia.
The discrepancy between the dates of the Julian and Gregorian calendars increases every century. In the 20th-21st centuries this difference is 13, and from March 2100 it will be 14 days.

On the night of January 13-14, the Old New Year is celebrated(among Belarusians and Ukrainians it is known as a generous evening, in the central and some southern regions of Russia as autumn). This tradition arose after 1918, when a new chronology was introduced in Russia. Once upon a time this day fell on January 1 and was called Vasily's day(memory day of St. Basil the Great, and its eve is December 31 (which became January 13) - Vasilyev’s evening.

The evening on the eve of the Old New Year was popularly called generous. On the morning of January 13 (the day of Melania (Melanka)) it was necessary prepare porridge made from whole wheat grains. It could be seasoned with meat or lard, or topped with honey, sugar or jam. In addition, the hostesses baked pancakes, prepared pies and dumplings with cottage cheese to thank the guests. The most important dish for the Old New Year was considered pork dishes, by the way, a saint Basil the Great was considered the patron saint of pig farmers. “A pig and a boletus for Vasily’s evening”, “a pig is not a clean animal, but God has nothing unclean - Vasily will sanctify winter!”, say the proverbs about this day. This animal symbolized fertility and well-being. On this day, it was customary to set the table generously: a generous table on this day means prosperity throughout the year.

In the evening, people visited their neighbors to celebrate the New Year in peace and harmony.. According to popular beliefs, it was considered important who will be the first guest in the house in the New Year. It was a good sign if the first was a young man from a respected large family with a good household. And on the morning of December 14, young people walked to the crossroads burn “Grandfather” or “Didukha” - sheaves of straw. Young people jumped over the fire, which symbolized cleansing from wickedness.
Signs and traditions for the Old New Year on January 14

We prepared for Vasilyev's evening in advance. They sewed or bought beautiful clothes for him. The housewives put all the best things in the house on the table: pies, kutya, meat, wine, beer, vodka. Traditionally, a pig was prepared for this evening. It was a symbol of the fertility of the earth and the fertility of livestock in the coming year. Our ancestors, just like modern Russians, believed “how you celebrate the New Year is how you will spend it”: it was believed that an abundance of food on the first day of the year would bring prosperity for the whole year.

Another custom associated with cooking is cooking porridge. The ceremony was performed before dawn; When the porridge was ripe, the housewife took the pot out of the oven, and the whole family began to look at it. If the pot cracked or the porridge turned out unsuccessful, this boded ill. If the porridge turned out fluffy and tasty, happiness was expected for the whole house.

In some parts of Russia they caroled on this day. For example, in the Tver, Yaroslavl, Moscow, Tula, Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Orenburg regions, the roundabout ritual of bunting was popular. The tradition got its name from the song that was sung while walking from house to house - “Osen”. People walked from house to house and sang songs. Participants in the walk-through approached from house to house and asked the owners for permission: “Can I call the oats?”, and they answered: “Click!” Then the ritual participants sang autumn songs to each family member individually. The most important “ovsen”, designed to ensure the well-being of the home and family, were addressed to the owner and his eldest sons. At the end, the generous owners of the house presented gifts to the performers.

  • Gardeners shake snow off apple trees at midnight for harvest.
  • If at night the wind blows from the south, the year will be hot and prosperous, from the west - to an abundance of milk and fish, from the east - expect a fruit harvest.
  • Vasily's night is starry - for the harvest of berries.
  • A lot of fluffy frost on the trees foreshadowed a good honey harvest.

What to cook for Old New Year

It is customary to spend the evening and night from January 13 to 14 with family at the festive table. Our ancestors always cooked for the New Year's table pig in its own juice, and made a dish of hare and rooster. All this was very symbolic:

  • the pig promised wealth and prosperity in the house next year;
  • hare - speed and success in business;
  • rooster - flying lightness and freedom.

If you want to set your festive table this evening according to ancient traditions, prepare generous kutya or sochivo. It is believed that the more varied, tasty and satisfying the kutia is, the greater the wealth in the family will be next year. So try and make it really generous and rich: don’t skimp on nuts, raisins, halva, honey, etc. In previous years, kutya was cooked from buckwheat, wheat, and barley, but ordinary rice will also be quite suitable. When choosing wheat, try the grain on the tooth; it should fall apart easily; hard grain is not suitable for kutya. All Sochiv products have a symbolic meaning:

  • the grain symbolizes new life;
  • honey - well-being and health;
  • poppy - wealth in the house.

Traditional kutia recipe

Ingredients for traditional kutia:
Wheat - 2 tbsp., poppy seeds - 200 g, walnuts - 200 g, raisins - 150 g, honey - 3 tbsp.
How to prepare traditional kutya:
Soak the peeled and washed wheat grains overnight in cold water. In the morning, drain the water, rinse the wheat, add hot water and cook over low heat until tender. Add a little water as needed. The porridge should turn out soft and crumbly. Cool the finished porridge and mix with a tablespoon of honey. Pour boiling water over poppy seeds and raisins for 30 minutes, each separately. Then strain the poppy seeds, add 1 tablespoon of honey and grind in a blender to obtain poppy milk. It’s better, of course, to do it in makitra - for authenticity. Roast the nuts until crispy. Strain the raisins. Mix all ingredients, add honey. If the kutia is thick, then it should be diluted not with water, but with uzvar, the recipe for which we have given at the end of the article.

Generous rice kutia recipe

Ingredients for generous rice kutya:
1 cup rice, 100 g honey, 100 g nuts, 100 g raisins, 150 g poppy seeds, butter to taste, salt to taste
How to cook sochivo (kutya):
Prepare fluffy rice as usual. Roast nuts, if necessary, peel and chop. You can use any according to your taste. Wash the raisins and steam with boiling water. Also steam the poppy seed with boiling water and let it stand until it swells. Drain the water and grind in a mortar or coffee grinder. You will get milk of poppy seeds. Melt the butter and season the porridge with it. Send nuts, raisins, milk of poppy seeds and liquid honey there. If the honey is thick, you can dilute it slightly with water or cream. Mix everything and let the kutya stand. The taste of this sweet porridge can be varied with homemade jam, vanilla, candied fruits and so on.
Recipe for generous wheat kutia

Ingredients for generous wheat kutia:
200 grams of wheat, half a glass of poppy seeds, 100 grams of walnuts, sugar to taste, sweets (raisins, candied fruits, marmalade) to taste
How to cook kutya:
Wheat must be washed well, pour warm water over the grains, allow them to swell a little and cook in a large amount of water into a crumbly porridge. Add water (or uzvar), sugar (honey), crushed nuts, raisins to the steamed and ground poppy seeds and combine all this with wheat. The finished kutya can be put on low heat again and warmed up (5-7 minutes).
Dumplings with a surprise for the Old New Year

The Old New Year is a quiet, family holiday with its own traditions. One of them is to make dumplings with surprises. This is a long-standing tradition that originated from the custom of telling fortunes during Christmastide week. The filling in the dumplings symbolizes good wishes for the next year. Or rather, the filling is made as usual - cottage cheese or potato, and when molded, “surprises” are added. You can avoid putting your guests’ teeth in danger and fill the dumplings with oranges or cabbage - such fillings also have a special meaning.

Important! Be sure to warn your guests if you put hard objects in the dumplings!

Recipe for dumplings with a surprise

If you are short on time, you can use store-bought unleavened frozen dough and make dumplings from it.

Ingredients for dumpling dough:
1 egg, 4 cups flour, 1 cup water, 4 tbsp. l. vegetable oil, 2 tsp. sugar, salt
How to cook dumplings with a surprise:
Mix flour with sugar and salt and make a mound.
Make a depression on the top and break the egg into it, pour in the water and oil.
Knead the stiff dough, knead until it becomes smooth and homogeneous.
Place in the refrigerator for two hours, covering with film to prevent drying. Meanwhile, prepare the filling.
Sprinkle the table with flour, roll out the dough into a thin layer, and cut it into circles with a glass.
Place the filling in the middle of the circle, fold the dough in half, and pinch the edges.
Cook by throwing into boiling water.

Meanings of surprise fillings

Orange - for pleasure
Peanuts - for a love affair
Cherry - good luck
Peas - home peace
Walnut – health
Buckwheat – favorable and profitable news
Mushrooms - for a long and happy life
Big money - big win
Grain - to wealth
Raisins - to great temptation
Cabbage - for money
Caramel - for love
Potatoes - for a promotion at work
Cranberry - for unexpected changes in life
Ring - for the wedding
Red pepper - unfortunately
Dried apricots - to joy
Bay leaf - to fame (career growth)
Honey - health
Coin - a prosperous year in material terms
Carrots - for new acquaintances
Torment - to suffer
Meat - for well-being
White thread - long journey (long and long journey)
Green thread - the road abroad
Thread with knots - for a difficult year
Black thread - a short and not very long trip
Cucumber - for a strong man, good sex
Nut - immediately to two fans (admirers)
Pepper - a thrill
Ground allspice – to “spicy”, i.e. an eventful life, major changes
Button - for a new thing
Millet - futile efforts
Rice - prosperity in the home
Sugar - sweet life (easy, favorable year)
Seeds - to new fruitful plans
Salt - to quarrels and failures (tears)
Capsicum peppers - for sexual pleasures
Cheese - to win
Cottage cheese - to new friends
Dough, beans, or fish scales - for a new addition to the family
Dill - to good health
Hazelnuts - for successful acquisitions
Bread - the year will be full and good
Chain - strengthening family ties
Black peppercorns - to friends (to new friendly relations)
Garlic - for a marriage of convenience
Apple - for a well-deserved reward

Fortune telling for the Old New Year

Vasilyev's evening was recognized as the most successful time for predicting the future. They said that everything predicted at this time would certainly come true. However, the Orthodox Church does not approve of fortune telling.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year on a ring, bread and hook: the listed three things are placed in a vessel along with pieces of bread, coals, pebbles and other small objects. The vessel is covered with a towel, after which each young lady, without looking, drags the first thing she comes across (the pulled out item is then returned to the vessel). If he pulls out bread, the husband will be rich, if the ring is handsome, if the hook is disabled or poor.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year using bulbs It is carried out like this: all the girls take an onion and place them with their roots in the water, after which they observe - whose onion will give green sprouts first, which girl will be married sooner.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year by dogs. The girl is left alone in the room, after which the dog is allowed in. If the dog immediately runs up to the girl, then family life will be happy; if it starts sniffing the floor first, then the husband will be angry, and family life will be unhappy; if the dog begins to caress, then the husband will be affectionate.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year using the names of passersby. You need to leave the house and call out to the first male person you meet, asking what his name is. Whatever name he gives, that’s what his future husband will be called.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year using a comb. Before going to bed, the girl puts a comb under her pillow with the words “Betrothed, mummer, come and comb my hair.” If in a dream she sees a man combing her hair, then this year she will be married to the person in the dream.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year using conversations. They went to eavesdrop under the windows of their neighbors and, based on what they heard, judged their future marriage. If they scolded in the hut, then the husband will be angry, if they laughed, he will be a merry fellow, if they drank, he will be a drunkard, etc.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year from a book. To do this, take a book and each girl in turn asks a question, and then names the page number and line (bottom or top) where the answer is contained. The answer is read in the book. The works of classics of Russian literature are great for fortune telling (just be careful with Dostoevsky! But Tolstoy or Pushkin are simply ideal). It is better to formulate the question so that it requires a detailed answer, rather than “yes-no”.

The tradition of celebrating the Old New Year in Ukraine comes from the discrepancy between the Julian calendar (or otherwise the “old style” calendar) and the Gregorian calendar - the one by which almost the whole world now lives. The calendars differ by 13 days. Thus, the Old New Year 2018 is celebrated on the night of January 13-14.

The Old New Year is a rare historical phenomenon, an additional holiday that appeared as a result of a change in chronology. This holiday is celebrated mainly in those countries where the Orthodox Church continues to use the Julian calendar.

Previously, in Rus' they used the Julian calendar, consisting of 12 months, the names of which were associated with natural phenomena. Until the twentieth century, the calendar of the Russian Empire (which included the territories of Ukraine) was 13 days behind Europe, which had long ago switched to the Gregorian calendar. To reduce this gap, in 1918, by decree of the Council of People's Commissars, a transition was made to the Gregorian calendar - a new style, and January 14 - St. Basil's Day - turned out to be the old New Year.

How to celebrate the Old New Year

The whole family sits down for dinner, just like on Christmas Eve. It is very important that clothes on this day are thoroughly washed and clean. After dinner, you should definitely go to your neighbors and ask for an apology for any possible guilt to each other, so that you can celebrate the New Year in peace and harmony.

The evening before the New Year also gives a chance to those guys who failed during matchmaking. It is this evening that you can make a second attempt. True, for this you need to find the girl at home, and this is very difficult, since gangs of generous girls are already walking around the village. The girls could only be generous under the windows of houses, and then only towards the end of the Generous Evening, that is, until midnight.

If you go out into the yard at midnight, you can feel how the New Year is driving away the Old. On the first day of the New Year, the most common ritual was, and still is, the sowing ceremony. It is believed that this ritual came to us from pre-Christian times, since our ancestors celebrated the New Year not in winter, but in spring, and therefore the sowing ritual is associated with hopes for a good harvest. It was mainly children who sowed, and the most generous gifts were given to those who came to the house first.

Girls' fortune telling deserves special attention. Whatever the representatives of the weaker half did, just to find out what capricious fate had in store for them. Try at least this: before going to bed, put a comb under your pillow, while saying: “My betrothed mummer, comb my head!” The one who scratches his head in a dream will be the one who is betrothed.

What not to do on Old New Year

It is believed that on this day one should not say the word “thirteen” or count small coins. They say counting coins will bring tears for the whole year. Also, many people still believe that you cannot lend anything on the Old New Year and St. Basil’s Eve, otherwise you will spend the whole year in debt.

There is also a stranger sign - if you take out your dirty laundry on January 14, you will also take happiness out of your home. Superstitious people believe that on the first day of the Old New Year a man should be the first to enter the house, which is why only boys go to sow.

Folk signs for the Old New Year

. If the sky is clear and starry, there will be a rich harvest of berries.

If on Christmas Eve (January 6) they prepared Rich Kutya, then on Melanki (January 13), the day that precedes Vasily, or the New Year according to the old style - generous, which was seasoned with lard. That is why this evening is called Generous.

If there is fog on Vasily - for the harvest.

The blizzard on Vasilyev's evening promises a large harvest of nuts.

If Vasiliev's night is starry, then the summer will be berry-filled.

Text: Yarmolik Ekaterina 22162

Two weeks after the night of New Year's festivities, we again gather at the festive table to once again congratulate each other on the holiday. But this time Happy Old New Year. This is a great opportunity to realize ideas that didn’t come true on New Year’s Eve, or to get together with the family again, or perhaps to meet those we wanted, but couldn’t see on New Year’s Eve. Therefore, the Old New Year is filled with special meaning. relax.by figured out what kind of holiday this is and how you can celebrate it!

Why do we celebrate the Old New Year?

If anyone suddenly forgot, we remind you: we celebrate the Old New Year on the night of January 13-14. Moreover, this is not a worldwide celebration; it is difficult for foreigners to understand its essence. The tradition was born in 1918. The fact is that a new calendar has begun in Russia and the celebrations have moved forward two weeks. But the people still have the tradition of celebrating according to the old calendar, and, oddly enough, exists to this day. On this holiday, residents of our country, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Georgia again wish each other good luck in the new year and raise their glasses to the passing year.

How to do it: 10 ideas

Unfortunately, this is not a red day on the calendar. You will most likely spend the entire day of January 13 in business and worries. But this is no reason not to have fun in the evening. Organize a holiday for yourself and spend it the way you couldn’t celebrate the New Year. A sort of second take for December 31st.

1. Warm circle of friends. Invite someone who was not there (but would like to be there) on New Year's Eve. For example, a friend living in another city.

2. Have a grand family feast.
After all, New Year is a family holiday. But everyone, as a rule, has their own plans that night. And few people plan personal affairs for the Old New Year. Take advantage of this and invite all your relatives - we're not talking about parents (that goes without saying). Send invitations to aunts, uncles, sisters and their significant other. Moreover, you have not seen each other for a long time (the last time was at a relatives’ wedding, probably).

3. Visit your hometown.
Even if you live in it. Discover the city at night, because you can celebrate the Old New Year under the starry sky! Wander through familiar streets, dance crazy dances to New Year's rhythms in the square along with a crowd of people. And then build a snowman with a carrot nose in the yard. And if you live in another city, then be sure to go home. We think your family will be very pleased to see you.

4. Have a romantic evening.
On New Year's Eve you didn't manage to stay alone with your loved one? You have a chance to fix this. Arrange it. Just no herrings under a fur coat or Olivier. Order sushi or prepare your signature dish and light some candles. And closer to 12.00, take a bath together, congratulate each other and drink a glass of champagne.

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5. In the best restaurant traditions...
Many establishments in the city, cafes and restaurants, offer a special program and menu on this holiday. Even if you don’t find a suitable establishment, go to your favorite restaurant or book a table where you’ve been wanting to visit for a long time, but somehow it didn’t work out.

6. Winter style: at the skating rink
By this time . Choose the location closest to your home. It’s great if you go to the skating rink with a big group, but even just two of you, or even one, will have fun there. And then, at home or in a cozy cafe, warm yourself and your friends with warm mulled wine.

7. Ski resort
Have you ever wanted to go skiing or snowboarding? Or fly down a tube slide? will help you implement this idea. If time and opportunities allow, go outside the city: to Silichi, Lagoisk or to the Yakut Mountains in Dzerzhinsk. Well, if in the city you can visit the Solnechnaya Dolina active recreation park, located in Kurasovshchina.

8. Exotic countries or “Happy New Year!” to the sound of the surf
This is an option for those who have a couple of days off and their wallet is not completely empty after the holidays. The Old New Year in Turkey, Egypt or the Emirates will certainly be remembered.

9. Theme party or carnival!
The main thing is to warn guests about the dress code. This evening, entry without masks and costumes is strictly prohibited. It could be a Venetian ball or a Disney theme. And by the way, the party doesn’t have to be noisy, because you can organize a family carnival or invite friends and children.

10. Fortune telling: on coffee grounds and more...
Perhaps the most mysterious idea. You only need to guess after dark. One of the most popular fortune telling is on wax. They drop it into the water and use the shapes formed from the drops to determine the future. Sometimes, to recognize it, you need to use your imagination.

They say that in order to find out the name of the future groom, you need to go out that evening and ask the name of the first person you meet.

There is also a funny fortune telling using homemade dumplings. In certain dumplings they put not a tasty filling, but a predictive one. Peppercorns, coins or beans serve as messengers.

Beans, for example, promise wealth, sugar - a sweet life, a button - a new thing, a coin, respectively, money, a bay leaf - fame.

Celebrate the Old New Year fun and on a grand scale.

On the night of January 13-14, Russia will celebrate the Old New Year, that is, the New Year according to the old calendar. This day is not considered an official holiday, but, according to the results of numerous surveys, almost half of the country’s population celebrates the New Year for the second time. The second New Year in our country appeared due to a change in the order of chronology at the beginning of the last century, so it is not only a reason to have fun, but also an independent cultural and historical phenomenon.

How the holiday appeared

In 1918, instead of the previously used Julian calendar, the Gregorian calendar was introduced, which was in effect in the West. After Vladimir Lenin signed the decree on the transition to a new chronology, Soviet citizens, having fallen asleep on January 31, 1918, woke up on February 14 of the following year. Since then, the habit has developed of celebrating the New Year twice.

Moreover, celebrating the New Year from January 13 to 14 is more suitable for Orthodox believers, since according to religious canons it should be celebrated six days after Christmas at the end of Lent. At first, many of them did not accept the new tradition of celebrating the New Year from December 31 to January 1, since it fell during the Nativity fast, which did not allow them to set a sumptuous table, drink alcohol and have full-fledged fun.

Let us note that the Russian Orthodox Church still celebrates all holidays according to the old Julian calendar. If the church also switched to the Gregorian calendar, Christmas in Russia would be celebrated on December 25, as in the West.

Signs and traditions

A century ago, when the custom of celebrating the holiday a second time arose, it acquired its own signs and traditions, different from those inherent in the official New Year on the night of January 1.

New Year's Eve was popularly called generous. It was customary to set a rich table, which symbolized prosperity throughout the next year.

In the evening before the New Year, many also liked to do fortune telling. This day fell during the Christmastide period, which was considered the best time of the year to predict the future. There was a belief that fortune telling on this night was the most truthful, and the girls believed that it was on this night that one could see one’s betrothed in a dream.

In the evening of the next day it was customary to go to visit neighbors and friends. According to popular belief, it was considered important who would be the first guest in the house in the New Year.

In some regions of Russia they caroled on this day. People walked from house to house and sang songs, and generous owners gave them gifts in gratitude.

What to serve

On the morning of January 14, it was customary to prepare porridge from whole wheat grains; it was eaten with meat or lard, or seasoned with honey, sugar or jam. Pancakes, pies and dumplings with cottage cheese were also placed on the table. The main thing on the festive table was usually pork - this animal was associated with fertility and prosperity.

If you want to move away from the New Year's dishes that have become boring during the January holidays and set the table according to ancient traditions, you can prepare classic kutya. Kutia is a porridge made from wheat grain, buckwheat or barley with honey, raisins and other dried fruits, jam, poppy seeds, nuts, butter, milk. In ancient times, it symbolized wealth and prosperity.