The custom of celebrating the New Year originated a long time ago, in the third millennium. It originates in Mesopotamia. At the end of March, as soon as the water in the rivers began to rise, all work related to agriculture began. At that time, people cheerfully celebrated the onset of spring time for 12 days, accompanied by carnivals and masquerades. In these days they believed that the holy god Marduk was achieving bright victories over the forces of death and destruction. This wonderful period was symbolized by freedom, the cessation of work and all kinds of punishment. Over time, the tradition of New Year's celebration passed to all peoples of the world.
When did they start celebrating the New Year in Rus'?
In the calendar of the ancient Slavs, years were counted from"creation of the world"which occurred 5508 years BC. The New Year began on March 1- with the beginning of spring work in the fields. In the 10th century (988) the baptism of Rus' took place, and with it came new calendar. Now in Ancient Rus' the New Year began in the church way on March 1, and in the civil way on September 1.
In 6850 (1342), Metropolitan Theognosty abolished the March New Year, leaving only September for both the church and the laity. And on December 15, 1699, when in Rus' the year 7208 was counted from the “creation of the world,” Peter I issued a Decree that ordered “to count the New Year not from September 1, but from January 1 of this year, 1700, and as a sign of that good undertaking and of the new centenary century, in joyful congratulations to each other on the New Year, and the day after December 31, 7208 from the “creation of the world” is considered January 1, 1700 from the “Nativity of Christ”.
On the morning of January 1, 1700, Peter I himself commanded the festive procession, which ended with a thunderous salute from 200 cannons. And in the evening in the dark skyMulti-colored lights flashed. This is how Rus' celebrated the New Year “European style” for the first time - in winter.
From now on and forever, this holiday was enshrined in the Russian calendar. This is how the New Year came to us, with Christmas tree decorations, lights, bonfires (which Peter ordered to be arranged at night from January 1 to 7 by lighting tar barrels), the creaking of snow in the cold, winter children's fun: sleds, skis, skates, snow women, Santa Claus, gifts...
It must be said that the new New Year's customs took root among the Slavs quite quickly, because previously the holiday of Christmastide was celebrated at the same time. And many old rituals: funny carnivals, mummers' pranks, sleigh rides, midnight fortune-telling and round dances around the Christmas tree fit well into the ritual of celebrating the New Year.
Traditions of celebrating the New Year in different countries
In the old days they said that winter releases from under forest snags and rotten logs not only blizzards, but also evil spirits. Therefore, at this unusual time they told fortunes, performed fabulous rituals, and spoke to evil spirits.
Celebrating the New Year is an ancient tradition that exists among all peoples of the world, because “both for the New Year and for the whole year.” That's why we tried to prepare as many treats and gifts as possible.
All peoples of the world celebrate the New Year according to their customs and traditions.
In England, in addition to the Christmas tree, the house is decorated with mistletoe branches. There are even mistletoe bouquets on lamps and chandeliers, and, according to custom, you can kiss a person standing in the middle of the room under a mistletoe bouquet.
In Italy, on New Year's Eve it is customary to get rid of old unnecessary things, and Christmas is marked by the burning of the Christmas log.
In France, Father Christmas - Père Noel - comes on New Year's Eve and leaves gifts in children's shoes. The one who gets the bean baked into the New Year's pie receives the title of "bean king", and on the festive night everyone obeys his orders. Wooden or clay figurines - santons - are placed near the Christmas tree.
In Sweden, before the New Year, children choose the Queen of Light, Lucia. She is dressed in a white dress, and a crown with lit candles is placed on her head. Lucia brings gifts for children and treats for pets: cream for the cat, a sugar bone for the dog, and carrots for the donkey.
Happy New Year in Bulgaria. When people gather around the festive table, the lights in all houses are turned off for three minutes. These minutes are called “minutes of New Year’s kisses,” the secret of which is preserved by darkness.
In Colombia, the main hero of the New Year's carnival is the Old New Year, he walks around on high stilts and tells the children funny stories. Papa Pasquale - Colombian Santa Claus - arranges fireworks.
In Cuba, before the New Year, all jugs, buckets, basins and bowls are filled with water, and at midnight the water is poured out of the windows. So they wish the outgoing year a path as bright as water. While the clock strikes 12 times, you need to eat 12 grapes, and then goodness, harmony, prosperity and peace will accompany a person all year.
In Mexico, the New Year is celebrated with festive fireworks, firing from rocket launchers, and the ringing of special New Year's bells. And children are given delicious gingerbread dolls at midnight.
In Japan, bells are rung 108 times on New Year's Eve. Each strike of the bell corresponds to one of the vices. There are six of them in total: greed, stupidity, anger, frivolity, indecisiveness and envy, but each vice has 18 different shades, which in total amounts to 108 strokes of the bell.
In Myanmar, the New Year comes during the hottest time of the year, so its arrival is celebrated with the so-called “water festival”, when people throw water on each other when they meet. The tradition of pouring water is a kind of wish for happiness in the New Year.
How old is Santa Claus?
Imagine that in some countries the ancestors of Santa Claus are considered to be local gnomes singing Christmas songs, medieval wandering jugglers, and wandering sellers of children's toys.
There is an opinion that among the relatives of Father Frost is the East Slavic spirit of cold Treskun, aka Studenets, Frost. The image of Santa Claus has evolved over centuries, and each nation has contributed something of its own to its history.
However, among the elder’s ancestors there was also a very real person. In the 4th century, Archbishop Nicholas lived in the Turkish city of Myra. According to legend, he was very kind person. So, one day he saved three daughters of a poor family by throwing bundles of gold through the window of their house. After the death of Nicholas, he was declared a saint. However, soon after this, the church in which he was buried was robbed by Italian pirates. They stole the remains of the saint and took them to their homeland.
The parishioners of the Church of St. Nicholas were outraged. An international scandal broke out. This story caused so much noise that Nicholas became the object of veneration and worship of Christians from different countries of the world.
In the Middle Ages, the custom of giving gifts to children on St. Nicholas Day, December 19, was firmly established, because this is what the saint himself did. After the introduction of the new calendar, he began to come to the children at Christmas, and then on New Year.
The Santa Claus costume also did not appear immediately. At first he was depicted wearing a cloak. By the beginning of the 19th century, the Dutch depicted him as a slender pipe smoker, skillfully cleaning chimneys through which he threw gifts to children. At the end of the same century, he was dressed in a red fur coat trimmed with fur. In 1860, the American artist Thomas Knight decorated Santa Claus with a beard, and soon the Englishman John Tenniel created the image of a good-natured fat man.
We are all very familiar with this Santa Claus.
About celebrating Christmas
If on New Year it was customary to congratulate all acquaintances, then on Christmas visits were made only to close relatives and friends, which once again tells us about the family nature of the holiday.
Rules of decency of the late 19th century. were not allowed to avoid these visits, since it was believed that« to maintain good relations » they are simply necessary. At Christmas it was customary to give sweets or some useful things.
If you want the Christmas holiday to return again, let it into your home, into your family. Start by telling your children about the origins of the holiday and how it was celebrated in Russia in the past. Children will be interested in the Christmas Eve ritual with its lit candle on the window and unusually simple and very tasty food. The table can be decorated with original compositions of branches and candles.
At the table, after eating, you can arrange readings aloud, which children also love. To do this, it is good to choose stories and fairy tales that are called that way in literature - Christmas, Christmas.
During the Christmas holidays, do not forget about visits to the families of your relatives and friends, about the gifts that children can receive from the beautiful Christmas tree. Be sure to include in your holiday program a walk through a winter city or park, a visit to the theater or a concert. Create your own tradition, which your children would know about from childhood, feel its warmth and respect it, and would like to continue it in their families in the future.
Classic look of Santa Claus
According to the description of ethnologist Svetlana Vasilyevna Zharnikova, the classic Santa Claus is characterized by the following features:
Shirt and pants - white, linen, decorated with white geometric patterns (symbol of purity).
Fur coat - long (ankle-length or shin-length), always red, embroidered with silver (eight-pointed stars, geese, crosses and other traditional ornaments), trimmed with swan down. Surely, many have seen a gray-haired wizard in a blue or green fur coat. If so, know that this is not Santa Claus, but one of his many “younger brothers”. If the fur coat is short (the lower leg is open) or has pronounced buttons, this means that you are looking at a costume of Santa Claus, Pere Noel or one of the foreign analogues of Father Frost. But replacing swan down with white fur, although not desirable, is still acceptable.
Cap - red, embroidered with silver and pearls. Trim (creased), swan down (white fur) with a triangular cutout made on the front part (stylized horns). The shape of the hat is a semi-oval (the round shape of the hat is traditional for Russian tsars, just remember the headdress of Ivan the Terrible).
T long-fingered gloves and mittens - white, embroidered with silver - a symbol of the purity and holiness of everything that he gives from his hands. Three-fingered is a symbol of belonging to a higher divine principle.
Belt - white with a red ornament (symbol of the connection between ancestors and descendants).
Shoes - boots made of silver or red, embroidered with silver. The heel is slanted, small in size or completely absent. On a frosty day, Father Frost puts on white felt boots embroidered with silver. White color and silver are symbols of the moon, holiness, north, water and purity. It is by shoes that you can distinguish a real Santa Claus from a “fake” one. A more or less professional performer of the role of Santa Claus will never go out to the public in boots or black boots! As a last resort, he will try to find red dancing boots or ordinary black felt boots.
Staff - crystal or silver “like crystal”. The twisted handle is also silver-white. The staff is completed with a moon (a stylized image of the month) or a bull's head (a symbol of power, fertility and happiness). Nowadays, it is difficult to find a staff that matches these descriptions: the imagination of decorative artists and props makers has almost completely changed its outline.
Snow Maiden - This is a unique attribute of the image of Santa Claus. None of his younger or foreign brethren have such sweet accompaniments. The image of the Snow Maiden is a symbol of frozen waters. As a rule, this is a girl dressed in white clothes. No other color is allowed in traditional symbolism. Her headdress is an eight-rayed crown embroidered with silver and pearls. The modern costume of the Snow Maiden most often corresponds to the historical description. Violations of the color scheme are extremely rare, and, as a rule, are justified by the inability to make the “correct suit”.
Like this amazing story and interesting traditions for the New Year!
There is very little time left before the holiday. Salads are being prepared, the house is being decorated, and everyone probably already has an elegant outfit. Christmas tree. But few people know where these pleasant holiday worries came from to Russia.
The tradition of celebrating the New Year in Russia was introduced in Russia by Peter I. Before that, the New Year in Rus' fell on September 1, and even earlier on March 1. However, the tsar, wanting to keep pace with the West, forbade celebrating the New Year in the fall, moving the holiday to January 1 by a special decree. The capital then was Moscow, St. Petersburg had not yet been built and all the celebrations took place on Red Square. However, in 1704 the holiday was moved to the northern capital. True, the main thing at the New Year's holiday in those days was not the feast, but mass festivities. Peter not only took part in the festivities himself, but also obliged the nobles to take part in this. Those who did not attend the festivities under the pretext of illness were examined by doctors. If the reason turned out to be unconvincing, a fine was imposed on the offender: he had to drink a huge amount of vodka in front of everyone.
After the holiday, the inexorable king invited a narrow circle of especially close associates (80-100 people) to his imperial palace. Traditionally, the doors of the dining room were locked with a key so that no one would try to leave the premises before 3 days later. This agreement was in force at the insistence of Peter. They reveled immensely these days: by the third day, most of the guests quietly slid under the bench, without disturbing the others. Withstood this New Year's feast only the strongest ones. That's who introduced the tradition of drinking alcohol on New Year's Day.
Christmas trees and masquerades
Empress Elizabeth I continued the tradition of celebrating the New Year started by her father. She was a great lover of balls and entertainment, and organized luxurious Christmas trees and masquerades in the palace, which she herself loved to attend. men's suit. On January 2, 1751, Petersburg Vedomosti described in detail the New Year's ball given in the imperial palace. The nobles arrived at the masquerade in rich dresses and gathered in the large hall, “where at eight o’clock the music began with two orchestras and continued until 7 o’clock in the morning.” After the dances, tables were set, “on which a great many pyramids of sweets were placed, as well as cold and hot food.” More than 15 thousand people took part in the masquerade, who were “satisfied with various vodkas and the best grape wines, as well as coffee, chocolate, tea, horchata and lemonade and other drinks.”
Culinary masterpieces on the New Year's table
Under Catherine II, the New Year was also celebrated on a grand scale. In the 18th century Russian New Year's table became more refined and tasty: the desire to surprise and amuse guests with unusual and unusual dishes came into the art of cooking. Historians tell a legend about a strange dish that the French court chef prepared for the empress as a surprise for the New Year's meal. A very intricate treat was not cheap and required extraordinary skill from the cook. The recipe for the dish was as follows: instead of pits, pieces of anchovies were put into fleshy olives; the olives were a filling for a gutted lark, which should be put into a fat partridge, and that into a pheasant. The last shell was a piglet. At first, the secret of the “royal” New Year’s treat was kept strictly secret, but then a rich nobleman found it out. This roast was called “Empress” and was a great success among the St. Petersburg nobility.
Champagne
At the beginning of the 19th century, champagne became popular in Russia - a drink that today not a single New Year's feast can do without. True, at first Russians viewed sparkling wines with suspicion: they were called “the devil’s drink” because of the flying cork and foamy stream from the bottle. According to legend, champagne gained wide popularity after the victory over Napoleon. In 1813, upon entering Reims, Russian troops, as victors, devastated the wine cellars of the famous house of Madame Clicquot. However, Madame Clicquot did not even try to stop the robbery, wisely deciding that “Russia will cover the losses.” The insightful madam looked into the water: the fame of the quality of her products spread throughout Russia. Within three years, the enterprising widow was receiving Russian Empire more orders than at home.
Christmas tree
The reign of Emperor Nicholas I dates back to the appearance of the first public New Year tree in Russia and St. Petersburg. Before this, as already mentioned, Russians decorated their houses only with pine branches. However, any tree was suitable for decoration: cherry, apple, birch. In the mid-19th century, only Christmas trees began to be decorated. The first dressed-up beauty lit up the room with lights in 1852. And by the end of the 19th century, this beautiful custom had already become familiar not only in Russian cities, but also in villages.
Table decoration
In the ceremonial feast of those times, the beauty of the table decoration was valued no less than the quality of the prepared food. Moreover, not only the setting and served dishes had to be beautiful. The art of composing and designing menus came into particular fashion during the reigns of Alexander III and Nicholas II. The dishes were named beautifully and sumptuously, and the menu cards were decorated with exquisite drawings, monograms, and vignettes. The menu has turned into a masterpiece of applied art. Often, menu cards remained in the family archive, as a memory of the holiday at which they ate.
New Year's entertainment
At the beginning of the 20th century, according to tradition, Russians celebrated New Year and Christmas at home, with their families. But after New Year's Eve, they booked tables in restaurants or entertainment venues. There were a great variety of restaurants at that time, especially in St. Petersburg - for every taste and budget. There were aristocratic restaurants in the northern capital: “Kyuba” on Bolshaya Morskaya Street, or “Bear” on Bolshaya Konyushennaya. The more democratic “Donon” gathered writers, artists, scientists, and graduates of the School of Law at its tables. The traditional drink here was zhzhenka. The attraction of this restaurant was the “Diner's Album”, in which minutes of meetings, impromptu remarks, jokes, and caricatures were recorded. The capital's St. Petersburg elite - people of art and literature - held their evenings in the fashionable "Contan", on the Moika. The evening program includes a lyrical divertissement with the participation of the best Russian and foreign artists, a virtuoso Romanian orchestra; Ladies were presented with free flowers. Literary youth preferred artistic cabarets to ordinary restaurants. The most colorful of them was “Stray Dog” on Mikhailovskaya Square.
Painting: Robert Duncan
We think that New Year has always been celebrated. However, this is not true. The history of this holiday dates back at least 25 centuries.
This custom first appeared in Mesopotamia (Mesopotamia). According to some scientists, it is here, in ancient civilization Sumerians, for the first time (in the third millennium) began to celebrate the New Year.
The New Year firmly entered the life of the ancient Babylonians. All agricultural work began at the end of March, after the water in the Tigris and Euphrates arrived. For 12 days, a solemn event was celebrated - the onset of the time of victory of the bright god Marduk over the forces of destruction and death. The holiday was accompanied by processions, carnivals and masquerades. At this time, it was forbidden to work, punish, or hold court.
How did the Slavs learn about this ancient holiday?
Scientists have proven that the Jews, who were in Babylonian captivity (during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar), borrowed this story and included it in the Bible. From the Jews, the tradition of New Year's celebration passed to the Greeks, and through them to the peoples of Western Europe.
The time of the New Year holidays is the time of a beautiful, kind fairy tale that comes to every home at the end of every year with the onset of winter cold. The New Year brings us hope for the best and gives us many gifts. At this time, we begin to feel like heroes of a fairy tale. A child awakens in each of us, we begin to perceive what is happening through children's eyes, although we have long since grown up. But we also want to believe in Father Frost and the Snow Maiden, who will definitely come to our house someday. To believe that somewhere far away, in the endless expanses dominated by snow and ice, lives the beautiful Snow Queen. You may not agree with me, but in the soul this happens to everyone. And the New Year is to blame - the time when the most cherished desires and dreams come true. We just need to believe in the good, the good, and everything will work out for us.
Celebrating the New Year carries the most joyful feelings and is associated with peace, love and mutual understanding. This holiday, like many others, has its roots in ancient times. On this day, the closest people gather. The charm of New Year's Eve will be remembered by everyone for a long time.
In Russia The New Year began to be celebrated by decree of Peter the Great on January 1, 1700. Previously, the beginning of the new year was celebrated on September 1. This holiday with a Christmas tree (although under Peter the Great the Christmas tree was not decorated, but paws and twigs), decorations, and carnivals were very much loved by the Russian people. Now this is one of our favorite holidays. Did you know that earlier, instead of a Christmas tree, other trees were decorated. These were cherries specially grown in tubs. Previously, people believed that all trees were endowed with good powers, that good spirits lived in them. And by hanging treats and gifts on the trees, they tried to appease these spirits. Well, the evergreen spruce occupied a special place among all trees. She was the sacred center, the “world tree,” symbolizing life itself and a new rebirth from darkness and gloom. Previously, instead of toys, various fruits were hung on trees, for example:
apples - a symbol of fertility
nuts - the incomprehensibility of divine providence
eggs are a symbol of developing life, harmony and complete well-being.
As is known, custom of decorating a home with fir branches, came from Peter the Great. In the 30s of the 19th century, Christmas trees were put up for the holiday only in the houses of St. Petersburg Germans. By the end of the 19th century, Christmas trees became the main decoration of both city and country houses, and in the 20th century they were inseparable from winter holidays until 1918, when, due to the affiliation of the decorated tree with Christmas (that is, the religion of the church), it was banned for as long as 17 years (until 1935). It was only in 1949 that January 1 became a non-working day. So putting Christmas trees in houses is not such an ancient invention as it might seem. In Rus', he is 60-65 years old (no more).
Not a single New Year's holiday can be imagined without a richly and brightly decorated Christmas tree. In many countries, in addition to the Christmas tree, the house is decorated with bouquets of mistletoe. This custom originated from England. On a festive evening, English houses are decorated with these plants. There are even mistletoe bouquets on lamps and chandeliers, and, according to custom, you can kiss a person standing in the middle of the room under a mistletoe bouquet.
For a family with children, it is not the joint celebration of the New Year that is important, but the joint preparation for it. Even the smallest children can be involved in decorating the Christmas tree (by the way, if children are not yet 5 years old, it is better to decorate the Christmas tree with unbreakable large toys that will not suffer from being tasted or thrown on the floor), hanging tinsel, coming up with fancy dress costumes and learning songs and poems about winter, New Year and Santa Claus. At the same time, it’s worth telling your child how the change of year occurs, why it’s cold in winter, where Santa Claus lives, and what traditions of celebrating the New Year there are in other countries - you’ll get a festive, unobtrusive lesson in geography and regional studies. Tell me what's going on France To celebrate the New Year, a bean is baked in gingerbread. And the best New Year's gift for a fellow villager is a wheel. French Santa Claus - Père Noel - comes on New Year's Eve and leaves gifts in children's shoes. The one who gets a bean baked into a New Year's pie at the New Year's Eve receives the title of "bean king" and on the festive night of the New Year, everyone obeys his orders. Santons are wooden or clay figurines that are placed near the Christmas tree before celebrating the New Year. According to tradition, a good winemaker must clink glasses with a barrel of wine, congratulate it on the New Year and drink to the future harvest. The New Year itself, which the French call “St. Sylvester’s Day,” is a very cheerful holiday; it is customary to celebrate it with a large circle of friends. The windows of cafes and restaurants, painted with attractive drawings and inscriptions, invite everyone to try New Year's dishes, exquisite French delicacies, the cooking features of which are passed down from generation to generation.
New Year's holidays in Italy quite simplified. Old traditions are rarely observed, mainly in villages. On the day before Christmas they work only until lunch, and after lunch they decorate the trees and prepare gifts.
Germans They love holidays and celebrations and celebrate them with special solemnity. In the villages, many ancient customs and rituals have been preserved, especially carefully observed during the celebration of the New Year, Christmas, which is considered the biggest holiday. The atmosphere of the holiday is released onto the streets of cities long before its onset. The Germans decorate their houses with pine and spruce wreaths, in which they place candles, lighting one every Sunday from the first of December.
Spain. Sparkling spirit, joy and fun, endless imagination - these are the main features of Spanish holidays. People celebrate the dates of major holidays throughout the year both as the main participant and as a spectator, realizing themselves simultaneously in these two forms. Folklore is an expression of the deepest spiritual feelings and joys of the Spaniards. Almost all regions of the country have a rich, original treasury where they keep their own dances, songs and traditions that inspire many performers of lyrical performances, as well as spectators.
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IN Czech Republic And Slovakia Young girls are looking forward to this holiday with great impatience, because it is on the night before Christmas that they will find out whether they will get married this year? The proof is... a house slipper, which they must throw over their heads towards the door. If the slipper falls with its toe towards the door, the groom will soon appear, and if towards the room, the bride will have to wait another 1 year.
In the country rising sun - Japan- all residents of cities and villages on the morning of February 1 go out to watch the sunrise. When the first sun rays illuminate the earth, the Japanese congratulate each other on the new year and exchange gifts. And the evening is usually spent with family. And in order not to let evil spirits into their homes, they hang wreaths of straw in front of the entrance to the house. They believe it brings them happiness. They also have a custom - to laugh at the beginning of the New Year.
In another eastern country - Vietnam- New Year is celebrated at night. At dusk, Vietnamese people light bonfires in parks, gardens or on the streets. Several families gather around them and cook special rice delicacies over the coals. On this night, all quarrels are forgotten, all insults are forgiven, because the New Year is a holiday of friendship! The Vietnamese spend the entire next day with their families. The Vietnamese believe that the first person who enters their house in the New Year will bring them good luck, or vice versa - grief and misfortune. Therefore, my advice to you is that these days, meet only trusted people, just in case.
New Year's Eve at Tibet called Losar. New Year is celebrated at the end of January or beginning of February - during the new moon. The two days before the New Year, which are called Gutor, are especially important. On the first day of Gutor, it is customary to do a thorough cleaning of your home. Moreover special attention is given to the kitchen as, according to Buddhists, the most important place in the house. In Sri Lanka, New Year's Eve is celebrated on April 13 or 14. Before the New Year holiday, housewives clean their houses so that all the troubles of the outgoing year go away along with the garbage. On the last day of the old year, before the New Year, it is not customary to eat anything. And also turn on the lights in houses. The first New Year's dish that you can try after 12 midnight is rice with milk. Moreover, it must be prepared by the father or male head of the family.
Very beautiful during the New Year celebrations in China. The whole country looks like a big glowing ball. And this happens because during the festive procession that flows through the streets of China on New Year's Eve, people light a lot of lanterns. This is done in order to light the way into the New Year. Since they believe that the New Year is surrounded by evil spirits and evil spirits, they scare them away with the help of crackers and fireworks.
A thousand-year-old Chinese tradition says that on New Year's Eve you should gather with your family. In the northern part of the country, dumplings are always served for dinner, while niangao (sticky rice slices) are more popular among southerners. Celebrating the New Year is accompanied by many signs that in other countries would be called superstitions. But the Chinese (not only villagers, but also more than half of the townspeople) strictly observe them. For example, on the first day of the year you cannot say words that have a negative meaning: death, poverty, disaster, etc. - so that these misfortunes do not actually happen to a person. The house must have red decorations (in China it accompanies any joyful event). It is strictly forbidden to throw away garbage, so as not to sweep away your future wealth with it.
Since the predominant religion Egypt Since Islam is Islam, Christian holidays like New Year or Christmas are not widely celebrated here. But for tourists, New Year's celebrations with a gala dinner, shows and fireworks are planned in every Egyptian hotel. During the celebration, the customs of all religions are mixed, and together with Santa Claus you can see a half-naked girl performing an exotic belly dance. And the festive Egyptian feast can amaze any gourmet: whole roasted lambs, baked sea fish the size of a decent shark, stuffed pigeons, fragrant oriental sweets and some insane amount of cakes, pastries and pies. The imagination of local chefs knows no bounds - for example, they mix beef and oranges in salads, but it turns out delicious.
IN Mongolia The New Year coincides with the cattle breeding holiday, so it is characterized by sports competitions, tests of dexterity and courage. Even Santa Claus comes to them dressed as a cattle breeder.
IN Burma The New Year comes at the hottest time of the year, so its arrival is celebrated with the so-called “water festival”, when people pour water on each other when they meet. The tradition of pouring water is a kind of wish for happiness in the New Year.
And in Iran New Year is celebrated on March 21. There, people plant wheat grains in small pots several weeks before New Year. By the New Year they emerge - this symbolizes the beginning of spring and the New Year.
Happy New Year in Bulgaria. When people gather around the festive table, the lights in all houses are turned off for three minutes. These minutes are called "minutes of New Year's kisses", the secret of which is preserved by darkness.
IN Romania It is customary to bake various small “surprises” into New Year’s pies - small money, rings, hot pepper pods. If you find a ring in the cake, it means that the New Year will bring you happiness.
For residents of the capital Netherlands Amsterdam's main New Year's event is the appearance of the local Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, in the city port. The guest arrives in the country by sea, through Rotterdam, and a meeting is organized for him in the tiny fishing village of Monnikendam not only by ordinary citizens, but also by city authorities, including the mayor of the capital. This usually happens in early December. And throughout the subsequent New Year's Eve, Dutch children try not to play pranks in order to earn long-awaited gifts from Nicolas and his servant, nicknamed “Black Pete.”
In this country, holiday celebrations are held very traditionally, except for the obligatory skating on the city skating rink, built specifically for the holiday period. By the way, a similar skating rink exists in Copenhagen, and many Danes specially come to the capital with their families to “test the ice.”
For the rest of the Scandinavian peoples, the New Year's week between Christmas and December 31 is especially fairy-tale-like. In the small town of Lapland, Romaniemi, on the very Arctic Circle, according to legend, the real Santa Claus lives. It is from here that he sets off on his journey on Christmas night in order to have time to distribute gifts to children all over the planet.
Very exotic New Year celebrations take place in Australia. The absence of snow, Christmas trees, deer and other usual attributes of the holiday does not sadden the inhabitants of the continent at all. Father Christmas marks the start of the New Year with his own appearance on a special, brightly decorated surfboard on Sydney beaches. Moreover, following the traditions of the Old World, his clothes always include a white beard and a red cap with a pompom at the end; as for the rest, the tanned body of the gift giver is covered by a swimming suit.
New Year celebration traditions
In Rus', for the New Year, domestic animals were baked from dough: horses, cows, bulls. And when they came to the house to carol, the guests were presented with these figures, various sweets, and nuts. They also believed that the New Year should be celebrated in a new dress and shoes - then wear new clothes all year. Usually, before the New Year, all debts were repaid, all insults were forgiven, and those who were in a quarrel were obliged to make peace.
Folk signs for the New Year
Whoever sneezes a lot during the New Year's party will live happily all year. “The number of times you sneeze, the number of girls will love you.”
If the echo goes far in January, the frosts get stronger
Clouds go against the wind - towards snowfall.
How you celebrate the New Year is how you will spend it.
On New Year's Eve with new clothes, wear new clothes for a whole year.
You cannot give money away before the New Year, otherwise you will have to give it away the whole year.
When celebrating the New Year, French women always wear new red underwear. They believe that this will scare away evil and calculating men, and will attract decent gentlemen.
On New Year's Day, the sky is starry - for the harvest.
By the New Year, they try to finish all their affairs, especially unpleasant ones, so that they do not carry over into the next year. However, haste and the inevitable weakening of attention to the surrounding environment are your main enemy on New Year's Eve. Take a realistic look at life: whatever you don’t have time to do before 17:00, let it go to another year.
The New Year is coming - the time for gifts and congratulations, banquets and feasts, green fluffy Christmas trees and the same fluffy white snow.
Organizing the New Year is one of the most interesting and exciting areas in organizing holidays, because it is the kindest and most fabulous holiday, the time frame of which has recently extended to a whole week, connecting New Year and Christmas.
Let's celebrate the New Year dressed as Father Frost (Snow Maiden)!
Have you ever felt envy at the sight of Santa Clauses and Snow Maidens? They walk through the streets in such a businesslike manner, they are so welcome. They know some secret, despite the “cotton wool beard” and cheap makeup. Most do not dare to imagine themselves in their place, but in vain. Who's stopping you from getting a Santa Claus (Snow Maiden) costume and going outside? In this form, you can come to any company, to any restaurant or club - you are unlikely to be asked for an ID. You will receive so much attention, such a portion of smiles and compliments that you will want to celebrate the New Year every weekend. In addition, you will be in a more advantageous position than the “real” Santa Clauses and Snow Maidens: you will not have to entertain anyone, and the Zarya company will not require you to report on gifts.
An ideal option for those looking for new acquaintances. You will be out of competition.
How to celebrate the New Year of the Pig 2007
Trust the old legend that says: how you celebrate the New Year is how you will spend it. Celebrate the holiday to the fullest and do not deny yourself anything, at least one day a year.
Do you want to celebrate the New Year with many friends according to all imaginable and inconceivable rules? Great, then book a banquet hall, there will be enough space for everyone and there will still be some left over. Decorate the hall balloons, always warm colors.
To keep you and your friends from getting bored, order an entertainment program. Dancing, music, a fun show will certainly put you in the right mood. Don't forget to place the main symbol of the coming year - a figurine of a pig - in a prominent place. The size and material of your figurine does not matter, the main thing is that it is there. Rejoice and make everyone around you happy, infect everyone around you with the virus good mood.
Don't forget that New Year is a holiday of good mood and, of course, gifts. Call and congratulate, at least in words, all your friends and relatives. And for those closest to you, prepare pleasant and original surprises that will bring them a lot of pleasant sensations and linger in their memory for a long time. A gift is a must New Year's fairy tale. It doesn't matter whether Santa Claus brought it under the Christmas tree, or the gnomes put it in a stocking, or you bought it at " Children's world"together - the gift is important in itself, as a symbol of change.
For all people. Each region has its own customs and traditions associated with this celebration.
It is also noteworthy that in each state the New Year is celebrated at its own time. Many peoples, including Russians, live according to the Gregorian calendar. They celebrate the New Year on the night of December 31st to January 1st. Taking into account standard time, the first to celebrate here are the inhabitants of the island of Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean. But in Europe, the main holiday is considered to be Christmas, which is celebrated on the night of December 24-25. In China, the holiday coincides with the winter new moon, which occurs between January 21 and February 21. Very interesting traditions of celebrating the New Year in different countries. Next we will talk about them.
New Year - a holiday from ancient times
No one can say for sure how old this holiday is. But it is known that it existed already in the 3rd millennium BC. The tradition of celebrating the New Year on January 1 was established by the Roman ruler Julius Caesar. In those days in Ancient Rome On this day, the god Janus was especially revered - the lord of choice, doors and all beginnings. He was depicted with two faces: one was turned back (the past year), and the other was turned forward (the new year). As now, different countries around the world have had their own traditions of celebrating the New Year many centuries ago. Back then, people firmly believed that their lives were controlled higher powers. This is reflected in traditions and customs. So, in our country, Santa Claus had predecessors - the spirit Zimnik, the evil deity Karachun, the Slavic god of bad weather and storms Pozvizd. As a rule, they were feared. They brought with them hail, blizzards, destruction and death. The ancient Celts celebrated Samhain on the night of October 31st. This day was considered mystical. People believed that the border between the world of the living and the world of the dead was being erased at this time. A horde of evil is falling upon the earth. On Samhain it was necessary to light bonfires, sing, walk and have fun. Then the evil spirits will not dare to come out. Later, this holiday replaced the well-known Halloween.
New Year in Russia
Residents of our country love this holiday. After all, he is the kindest, cheerful, bright. It is noteworthy that on January 1 in Russia it began to be celebrated in 1700. Then Tsar Peter 1 issued a corresponding decree. True, our country then lived according to the Julian calendar. Since 1919, Russia began to be celebrated in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The most important attribute of our celebration is a dressed-up christmas tree. On the evening of December 31st, all relatives and friends in many families gather to celebrate old year and meet a new one. Traditional dishes on the table this holiday: Olivier salads and herring under a fur coat, cabbage rolls, dumplings, fried chicken and, of course, tangerines. On this day, kind Grandfather Frost comes to the children. He is dressed in a red, blue or silver fur coat with patterns, a hat and large mittens. A long, gray beard, shaggy eyebrows whitened by frost, rosy cheeks... Who doesn’t recognize Santa Claus? He has a staff in his hand and a large bag of gifts behind his back. Sometimes he is accompanied by his granddaughter, the beautiful Snow Maiden.
All the children wait for this event all year, sending wishes for future gifts and gifts. These are the traditions we have for celebrating the New Year. It has its own meaning for children in different countries.
China
If in Russia the New Year holiday is associated with winter cold, snow, frost, then in other countries it has a different meaning. So, in China it is called the Spring Festival and is celebrated between January 21 and February 21, when the moon completes its full cycle and the new moon occurs. The celebrations here last 15 days and end. Both adults and children participate in the events. From the very morning, people clean their houses because they believe that cleanliness is not a place for evil spirits. At this time, the streets are dazzling with bright festive clothes, fair goods and lights. In the evening, people gather in a close family circle for dinner, where they often give each other not gifts, but red envelopes with money. It is customary to give such gifts even to children and work colleagues. When it gets dark, people go out into the streets to set off fireworks, fireworks, and burn incense. Chinese unusual traditions of celebrating the New Year are interesting. In different countries of the world, customs are usually associated with folk epic. China is no exception. Residents of this country believe in the ancient legend about the terrible monster Nian, who came on New Year's Eve to eat all the people's livestock, supplies and grain, and sometimes even children. One day people saw how Nian was afraid of a child dressed in red clothes.
Since then, they began to hang red lanterns and scrolls near their homes on New Year’s Eve to scare away the beast. Festive fireworks and incense are also considered good repellers of this monster.
Vibrant India
The traditions of celebrating the New Year in different countries of the world are original and mysterious. In India, the main holiday of the year is called Diwali, or the Festival of Lights. It is celebrated at the end of October or beginning of November. What can you see on this day on the streets of Indian cities? All houses and statues of gods and animals are decorated with bright flowers, lights, lanterns and lit candles. The holiday is dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi - the embodiment of wealth, abundance, prosperity, good luck and happiness. On this day, it is customary to give everyone interesting gifts. Gifts for children are placed on a special tray intended for this purpose, and then they are brought to it with eyes closed. In the evening, when it gets dark, people go out into the streets to set off festive fireworks and firecrackers.
Land of the Rising Sun
Japan also has its own traditions of celebrating the New Year. In different countries of the world, treats are prepared for children on this day. Japan is no exception. Both children and adults adore the sweet delicacy mochi. These are round small loaves or cakes made of rice flour, decorated with orange fruit on top. Giving mochi means wishing a person prosperity and wealth in the coming year.
On this day, the Japanese also eat boiled seaweed, fish pie, sweet potato puree with chestnuts, and sweet soybeans. And, of course, the New Year celebration is not complete without songs and dances. In Japan, there is a tradition of everyone getting together and playing games: hanetsuki (shuttlecock game), board game with sugoroku chips, uta-garuta and others. The streets are crowded on holiday. The shops are full of New Year's souvenirs: hamaimi (arrows that drive away evil spirits from the house), kumade (bamboo rakes like a bear's paw), takarabune (boats with rice for good luck). As a rule, on holidays, children here, as well as in China, are given not gifts, but money placed in a special envelope called potibukuro.
In France and England
We look at what traditions exist for celebrating the New Year in different countries. I wonder how this day is celebrated in Europe? For example, in England, houses are decorated not only with Christmas trees, but also with mistletoe branches. They are hung everywhere, even on lamps and chandeliers. The front door is also decorated with a mistletoe wreath. It is believed that this plant brings happiness to the house and protects its inhabitants from diseases. In France, it is not Father Frost who comes to children, but old man Père Noel in a fur coat, a red cap and wooden shoes. He moves on a donkey. Children believe that Père Noel climbs into the chimney and puts gifts for them in shoes specially prepared for this in front of the fireplace.
On this day, adults dance in red caps, fool around, have fun, joke, and sprinkle confetti on each other. As you can see, the traditions of celebrating the New Year are similar in Europe. In different countries on English the most short congratulations sounds like this: “Happy New Year!”, which means: “Happy New Year!”
Italy
In this country, the celebration begins on January 6th. On the eve of the holiday, children hang stockings near the fireplace. They hope to receive many delicious and wonderful gifts. Only they are given here not by Santa Claus, as with us, but by a kind and affectionate fairy named Befana. Children believe that she flies in on her broom at night, opens all the doors in the house with a special golden key and fills their stockings with all kinds of gifts. Befana loves obedient and well-mannered children. The one who spent a whole goal just being naughty and playing pranks will receive only a black coal and a handful of ash as a reward. Adult Italians don't believe in witches. But they are convinced that the New Year is a time to pay tribute to centuries-old traditions. For example, residents of this country throw out old and unnecessary things from the house when the clock strikes, thus getting rid of the problems of the old year. They believe that new items purchased to replace those thrown away will bring them good luck and happiness. Here, as in many countries, on the eve of the holiday people give each other gifts. In the provinces you may be presented with an olive sprig in water taken from a spring. It is believed that such a symbolic gift brings happiness. Every family must have lentils, nuts and grapes on the table on this day. In order for good luck to accompany you in all matters throughout the year, you must eat them. It is also worth noting that Italians are very superstitious people. They believe in all sorts of omens. For example, it is believed that if a priest is the first to meet on the way on the morning after New Year's Eve, then the year will be unlucky. If a child gets in the way, that’s also not good. But the hunchbacked grandfather, who comes to the meeting, promises health and good luck for the whole next year.
In Ireland
We continue to travel around Europe. The traditions of celebrating the New Year in different countries have a lot in common. In English, congratulations on the occasion can also be heard in Ireland. Here this holiday is considered not only a family one. On the eve of it, the doors of all houses open wide. Anyone can enter any of them and join the celebration. The guest will definitely be seated in the place of honor, the best delicacies will be placed in front of him and toasts will be made to “World Peace!” It’s hard to imagine the Irish New Year without the traditional treat here, called seed cake. This is a cumin cake. Local housewives also prepare a special pudding for the festive table. After a rich feast, everyone goes for a walk outside. By half past twelve, the Irish gather in the central square of the city, on which stands big Christmas tree. The real fun begins with songs, dances, and jokes.
Bulgaria
There are traditions for celebrating the New Year here. In different countries, treats are prepared for children on this day. In Bulgaria it could be candied pumpkin, caramel apples or homemade marmalade. A traditional New Year's dish is bannitsa. This is a puff pastry. And in Bulgaria there is a tradition of placing a loaf of bread with a coin in it on the festive table. After the loaf is cut, everyone looks for a coin in their piece. After the feast, both adults and children here make dogwood sticks, decorating them with dried fruits, nuts, heads of garlic, coins and tying them with red thread. They are called suruvachki. This item must be hit on everyone in the family to bring them health and good luck. Sometimes they go to their neighbors with survachkas to wish them all the best. And then the young people pour out into the street singing and dancing.
When the clock on the city tower strikes midnight, marking the beginning of the year, the entire city turns off the kissing lights for three minutes. There are even competitions to see who can kiss the most.
In Cuba
We are used to celebrating the New Year with snow and frost. I wonder how this holiday is celebrated where it is always summer? The customs of celebrating the New Year in different countries of the tropical zone, such as, for example, Cuba, are unique. Here on this day they decorate an araucaria coniferous tree or even just a palm tree. Instead of champagne, people drink rum, diluting it with orange juice, liqueur and adding ice. In Cuba there is interesting tradition on the eve of the celebration, fill all buckets, jugs and basins in the house with water. At midnight this water is poured out of the windows. It is believed that in this way people protect their home from adversity and misfortune. Before the clock strikes 12, everyone must have time to eat twelve grapes and make a wish. Then you can be sure that good luck and peace and prosperity will accompany you all year. There is also a Santa Claus here. Only he is not alone, like with us. There are three of them in Cuba: Balthasar, Gaspar and Melchior.
On the eve of the holiday, the child writes notes to them with wishes about what gifts they would like to receive from them. All night Cubans walk and have fun, sing, joke and throw water on each other. Here they believe that this brings happiness to a person and charges him with positive energy.
Sultry Brazil
The life of this country has always been closely connected with the ocean. For many centuries, the goddess of the seas, Iemanja, played a leading role in local folklore. It is with her that the local customs of celebrating the New Year are associated. In different countries of the world on this day people cast magic spells and perform ritual ceremonies. In Brazil, on the eve of the holiday, residents try to appease the goddess Iemanja so that she will show favor and patience to them throughout the next year. She is depicted as a beautiful woman in long blue robes with flowing hair the color of lunar silver paths. Many Brazilians try to dress the same way on this day. Iemanja is very fond of fun and dancing. Therefore, people go to the beach in the evening, sing, walk, congratulate each other and perform magic ritual for luck. It consists of sending small rafts into the ocean with fruits, rice, sweets, mirrors, scallops and lit candles. While doing this, people pray and sing ritual songs, trying to appease the formidable goddess. Women in long robes throw themselves into the ocean waters bright flowers, making wishes. The action ends with a half-hour fireworks display. These are the unusual traditions of celebrating the New Year in different countries, where there is eternal summer.
In Australia
Tired of snow and cold? Where to go We continue to look at the traditions of celebrating the New Year in different countries. Comic performances are usually staged everywhere. Australians celebrate this holiday among the first on the planet. The celebration here, as a rule, takes place in the open air. Beach parties, loud songs, fun dancing, fantastic fireworks, music festivals with the participation of world stars: all this can be seen in Melbourne and Sydney on New Year's Eve. Santa Claus in a red cap and pants on a surfboard on the beach... You can only see this in Australia.
At exactly midnight, city streets are filled with the sounds of car horns and the ringing of bells. This is how Australians try to ring in the New Year for their visit. As you can see, the traditions of celebrating the New Year in different countries are very different.
Colombia
To remember summer and enjoy its beauty in winter period Let's go to Colombia. It has its own interesting customs for celebrating the New Year. In different countries of the world, the main character is Santa Claus, whose arrival marks the beginning of the new year. And in Colombia, the main hero of the holiday is the Old Year, who walks the streets and amuses the local children. Often his role is played by a scarecrow on a long stick, which is burned on the beach at midnight. It is believed that after this the old year left the country forever and gave way to the new one. There is also a Santa Claus here. His name is Papa Pasquale. He is dressed in a red fur coat and hat, just like our main character of the holiday. Only he walks on long stilts, which makes both adults and children incredibly funny.
Seeing him, the city residents begin to whistle, throw firecrackers and fire guns into the air. He doesn't bring gifts. But everyone knows that Papa Pasquale is a master at arranging fireworks. It is believed that it is he who decorates the New Year's sky with multi-colored fireworks and lights.
New Year in Africa
The traditions of celebrating the New Year in different countries are interesting. Curious, how is the celebration celebrated in African countries? After all, this continent is considered the birthplace of this holiday. If we decorate a Christmas tree for the New Year, palm trees are often decorated here, not only with toys, but also with fresh fruits
In many African countries, there is a tradition of scattering green nuts along the streets. It is believed that whoever finds such a nut will definitely be happy this year. As a rule, this holiday in the countries of the “black” continent is celebrated on January 1. But there are exceptions, for example, Ethiopia. The celebration takes place here on September 1st. This time in the country marks the end of the rainy period and the beginning of the ripening of fruits. On the eve of the main holiday of the year, young and old try to swim in the river. People believe that in this way they leave all sins in the past and enter the New Year with a pure soul. The holiday itself takes place with songs, celebrations and dances around a set fire to a sheaf of palm branches, decorated with yellow flowers.
Different countries have their own traditions of celebrating the New Year. Photo, interesting facts from many corners of the planet: everything can be found in our article.
When it comes to the New Year, then thoughts themselves take every person back to childhood or another happy, carefree time.
A time in which a long-awaited gift from Santa Claus is sure to lie under a dressed-up forest beauty, beautiful hostess conjures her magic in the kitchen over the next culinary masterpiece, and all the other family members are also preening and waiting.
What? Of course, a miracle. Ordinary New Year's miracle. Haven't you heard of this?
Tomorrow everything will be better than yesterday
That's right. Every person, sitting down at a laid New Year's table, is sure that the coming morning will be the most extraordinary in his life, truly new, better than any other of the year, and that everything will start from scratch.
There are very few people who would not love this big holiday, who would not make grandiose plans for the next year and would not try to spend it as interesting and soulful as possible.
It all starts on the evening of December 31st. New Year's Eve is always a result, completion, a charge to “reboot”, I’m not afraid of this word.
Probably, analysis of the past year and a positive attitude towards the coming year is the first unspoken tradition of the New Year. Don’t repeat mistakes, implement your idea, become happier, wiser.
For most adults, the New Year is a more important, meaningful and long-awaited holiday than a birthday, for example.
For the younger generation, this is also one of the best days of the year: guests all with gifts, the usual sweets, entertainment, vacations, fireworks, beautiful houses and streets.
In fact, in our country, New Year is considered the most grandiose holiday. Easter and Christmas, no less great and wonderful dates, are still inferior to it, at least a little.
Probably because you don’t need to understand the meaning of the New Year, you just need to live, have fun, have fun - there is nothing religious, canonized, or obligatory in it. It relaxes and gives a peculiar feeling of freedom.
A little history
It is no secret that the New Year, as a holiday, has very often changed the date of celebration over the centuries-old history of its existence, but in one form or another it has been from time immemorial, as a starting point, as a new round.
For many peoples, not excluding the Slavs, the New Year celebration fell on the first month of spring - March. There is nothing surprising in this - another revival of nature, a new harvest.
Only in 1492 in Russia, the New Year, by decree of John III, was moved to September 1. The Grand Duke ordered this day to be considered the beginning of both the civil and church year - it coincided with the holiday of harvesting and all taxes.
Only on this day were absolutely all representatives of the upper and lower classes allowed to contact the prince personally with petitions and pleas for intercession.
For the next 206 years, no changes occurred. And only Peter the Great violated the established order. As part of one of his many reforms, namely the “window to Europe”, the New Year was ordered to be celebrated in the European style - on January 1.
By his decree it was established to decorate estates and huts with pine paws, light fires, fire cannons and muskets, set tables for the rich, and spend the day in imposingness and fun - for which special thanks to him.
So, since 1700, all of Russia, in the image and likeness established by Peter the Great, to this day celebrates the New Year on the first day of January.
There were, however, the troubled revolutionary Bolshevik years, the transition from the Julian chronology (from the day of the creation of the world) to the Gregorian (from the Nativity of Christ), thanks to which the Russian paradox appeared in the form of the Old New Year.
There was a period from 1929 to 1935 when the celebration of the New Year was prohibited as an echo of “bourgeois ideas.”
However, in 1935, P. Postyshev was indignant about why worker-peasant children were worse than bourgeois children and ordered the return of Christmas trees to all schools, orphanages and kindergartens - for which special thanks also go to him.
New Year - traditions
So how do we celebrate the New Year? What traditions do we try to observe so as not to lose that magical spirit of the best holiday in a year?
There are many New Year traditions today, there are generally accepted ones, there are family traditions, there are rare old ones, originally Russian ones, which not everyone knows about, and there are newfangled ones, inspired by America and Europe. Let's try to generalize.
1. The first and most important tradition of the New Year is the confidence that the coming year will definitely be especially good, cheerful and especially successful.
2. General cleaning – in thoughts and premises. Yes, this is a real tradition.
It’s a rare family that doesn’t start cleaning closets for the New Year (especially when trying on outfits for the holiday), washing windows, tiles, mirrors, dishes, washing curtains, polishing parquet and other processes characteristic of a “small natural disaster.”
3. Creating an appropriate atmosphere - everything should remind you of the holiday, everything should be perfect. Beautiful clothes, new tablecloth and napkins, candles, cutlery, high spirits.
4. Gifts. Give everyone and everything New Year's gifts- this is a wonderful tradition that, fortunately, never becomes outdated or forgotten.
5. A bottle of champagne and a bowl of Olivier. At the mention of the legendary salad, many will smile indulgently, but their smiles will fade when a friendly chorus of fans of this Soviet dish say: “yes, yes, Olivier is a must!”
6. A rich table is an indispensable attribute of the New Year in every home.
7. The President’s speech is traditionally not so much a speech as the process of pouring champagne to accompany it.
8. The chiming clock, the first sip of a sparkling drink and a cherished wish.
9. The best friends and family at the same table - in Europe we celebrate Christmas, but in our country the tradition of spiritual feasts is more typical for the New Year.
10. New Year's characters. True, today the Snow Maiden and Grandfather Frost walk hand in hand with Santa Claus in many Russian cities, but there is nothing wrong with that.
11. Calling everyone on New Year's Eve and congratulating them on the holiday is a good tradition, but it’s a little sad that the fashion for cards has only just begun to return.
12. Strictly follow the saying: “ How you celebrate the New Year is how you will spend it».
These, of course, are not all the traditions, but they are the ones that evoke the warmest and best associations with this incredible holiday.
Meanwhile, our foreign neighbors...
I wonder, do people abroad also eat Olivier and drink champagne, or do they have their own “fads”?
In Austria they drink punch made from wine, sugar and cinnamon, and it is also customary to give piggy banks to friends and family so that the coming year will definitely bring financial well-being.
In Greece A new deck of cards is always added to gift champagne.
In Spain, when the chimes strike, they don’t drink champagne, but eat grapes – exactly 12 of them, one for each month.
About Italian tradition Everyone knows throwing unnecessary rubbish out the windows, but this is an unsafe business, so the custom is gradually fading away.
It is being replaced by a new one: be sure to wear red underwear on New Year’s Day (it doesn’t matter whether you are a man or a woman).
Among the Poles not a single New Year's table is complete without , whose head is eaten by the head of the family, and members of the household quietly throw scales from the fish they eat into the father's wallet, so that next year they will all become gold coins.
There are a lot of interesting New Year traditions around the world, but it’s better to see them once than to read them a hundred times.
