Old New Year- a holiday that is incomprehensible to foreigners. And not every modern Russian is able to explain how this celebration actually differs from the traditional one, celebrated on the first day of January. Despite the fact that the difference between the holidays is only in the discrepancy in dates, we continue to celebrate the Old New Year, which gives many pleasant emotions. Now it is perceived as a continuation of the usual, when everyone can afford to continue celebrating their favorite holiday on the night of January 14th.
History of the holiday
Previously, the New Year in Rus' was celebrated on March 22, which had a direct connection with agriculture. When Christianity was adopted, the Byzantine calendar began to gradually replace the old one, and the holiday moved to the first day of September. Peter I decided to eliminate the confusion by moving the celebration to January 1 according to the old style. In this form it existed until the Bolsheviks came to power, who decided to change the chronology system. In 1918, the Soviet government decided to switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. The Old Style New Year moved to January 14, which led to the emergence of a new holiday.
One of the reasons why the celebration was not quickly forgotten is due to the stubbornness of the Russian Orthodox Church, which continues to celebrate all such events according to the Julian calendar. However, this insistence is in fact not very justified precisely because even clergy should keep up with the times.
Now the clergy say that they do not intend to change their traditions, and calendar differences should not be given much importance. They refer to statements by astronomers who claim that the current calendar is also not ideal, and people will repeatedly make changes to the chronology system.
It would seem that the contradictory and meaningless combination “old New Year” has become so familiar that it surprises no one and rarely makes one think. However, in moments of philosophical mood, questions begin to arise in your head: what is the Old New Year, why is the New Year celebrated twice in a number of countries, and where did this unusual folk holiday come from?
How the New Year appeared on the calendar
Celebrate New Year on January 1st in Russian Empire started only in 1700. Before this, there was no organization - the New Year was celebrated throughout the country on different dates. Some continued to do this in March on the day of the vernal equinox, and others on September 1, the date adopted in the state in the 15th century.
The initiator of the introduction of a single day at the beginning of the year was the founder of many innovations - Peter the Great. By decree of the sovereign, it was ordered to establish January 1 as the first day of the year and to celebrate this day festively, congratulating all loved ones and just people we met. The king commanded people to decorate Christmas trees, give each other gifts, have fun and rejoice. The decree also stated that new year holidays the people did not abuse strong drinks and did not commit massacres.
Of course, such a strict framework initially caused indignation among the people, but after a whole week was declared non-working, residents of large and small cities calmed down and quickly fell in love new holiday. At night, in honor of the beginning of the new year, bonfires were lit, fireworks were displayed, songs were sung, and musical instruments were played.
By the way, the custom of decorating a Christmas tree was borrowed from the pagans. Ancient people decorated coniferous trees on the longest night of the year. They hung gifts and ribbons on fir branches, trying to appease the spirits and beg them for good harvest, well-being and health. The cheerful tradition of dressing up in carnival costumes also has these same roots - pagans changed their image in order to hide from the evil forces descending on the earth on New Year's Eve.
Why did New Year's Day change?
The shift in the date of the beginning of the year in Russia occurred due to the transition from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar after the revolution. The difference between the two calendars is 13 days - exactly the same amount of time that passes from the day of the official New Year celebration to New Year's Eve according to the old style.
Perhaps the transition to a new calendar would forever change the start date of the year, and no one would remember that it was once celebrated on a different day. However, the Russian Orthodox Church opposed the transition to the new chronology adopted by the Bolsheviks in 1918, and continued to live according to the Julian style. For this reason, everyone moved church holidays and important dates.
Traditions in modern times
The Old New Year becomes more and more popular every decade. Of course, this holiday is not on the calendar, and it is unlikely that it will ever appear on it, but people gather on the night of January 13-14 at a set table, give each other gifts, make toasts and congratulations. In many houses, decorated Christmas trees are not removed until the Old New Year. holiday decorations. On television that night, repeats of New Year's programs and traditional films are broadcast.
Christians who adhere to the Nativity Fast cannot afford festive foods on New Year's Eve. modern style. For them, the Old New Year is the only chance to set a delicious table with gourmet snacks and meat dishes.
According to church customs, a special porridge is cooked on this night. All family members take part in the preparation, and in the morning it is eaten for breakfast at the common table. This custom, as well as visiting guests on New Year’s Eve, came from the ancient Russian calendar, when Vasily’s Day was celebrated on this date.
It is interesting that the New Year's date according to the Julian calendar in a century that is not a multiple of four is postponed by one day. Based on this, from 2101 New Year's Eve according to the old style will have to shift to January 14. Whether such a shift will occur among the people, and when people will celebrate the second New Year, time will tell.
Which countries celebrate the Old New Year?
Some are sure that the tradition of celebrating the New Year in the old style exists only in Russia and the Slavic countries that were part of the Soviet state. This is actually a misconception. The Old New Year is celebrated magnificently not only in Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova, it is adored in Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Switzerland, Georgia and Armenia. Some residents of the Baltic countries, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan do not forget to celebrate the beginning of the new year according to the Julian calendar.
The Berber calendar, followed by residents of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and some other countries, celebrates the beginning of the new year on January 14th. It is known that their calendar is in many ways similar to the Julian calendar, but is slightly shifted due to errors accumulated over many years.
Holiday January 14 - Old New Year. The story of the Old New Year. Celebrations and traditions for the Old New Year 01/13/2018 14:33
On the night of January 13-14, Russians celebrate the Old New Year - a holiday incomprehensible to many foreigners. No one can really say - how does the Old New Year differ from the traditional, familiar New Year? Of course, from the outside it would seem that the issue is only a discrepancy in dates. However, we all treat the Old New Year as a completely independent holiday that can prolong the charm of the New Year. Or maybe this is the first time to feel it, because the situation can be different, but on this day the holiday is calmer, there is no fuss, so characteristic of the holiday on January 1st.
There are two reasons for the appearance of a unique New Year - a change in the date of the beginning of the New Year in Rus' and the stubbornness of the Russian Orthodox Church, which did not want to switch to the New Style.
History of the Old New Year
In pagan times, the New Year was celebrated in Rus' on March 22 - the day of the vernal equinox, and this was associated with the agricultural cycle. With the adoption of Christianity in Rus', the Byzantine calendar began to gradually supplant the old one, and now the New Year began on September 1. For a long time Discord still persisted, and in some places the New Year continued to be celebrated in the spring. Only at the end of the 15th century in Rus' the beginning of the New Year was officially determined - September 1.
By decree of Peter I in 1699, the New Year was moved to January 1 according to the old style, that is, to January 14 according to the new style. After the revolution in 1918, the Bolsheviks “abolished” another 13 days a year, which made up the difference between our calendar and the European one.
This is how two New Year celebrations were formed - according to the new and old styles.
Church about the Old New Year
The custom of celebrating the Old New Year on the night of January 13-14 in Russia is due to the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church continues to celebrate both the New Year and the Nativity of Christ according to the Julian calendar, which still differs from the generally accepted Gregorian calendar by 13 days. But starting from March 1, 2100, this difference will be 14 days. From 2101, Christmas and Old New Year in Russia will be celebrated a day later.
Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, said that the Russian Orthodox Church does not yet intend to make adjustments to its calendar.
"Indeed, the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars increases by one day every 100 years, when the number of hundreds in the year from the Nativity of Christ is not a multiple of four. And if the Lord allows this world to exist for another 100 years, then the Orthodox will celebrate Christmas on January 8, and Celebrate the Old New Year on the night of 14 to 15," Chaplin said.
According to him, one should not attach of great importance calendar differences. “The Gregorian calendar is also not entirely accurate, so the Russian Orthodox Church continues to use the Julian calendar,” Chaplin explained.
“If agreement can be found in calendar disputes, then only after the development of a new, absolutely accurate calendar,” concluded the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate.
For many believers, the Old New Year has a special meaning, since they can celebrate it from the heart only after the end of the Nativity Fast, during the Yuletide festivities.
Scientists' opinions about the Old New Year
The Old New Year is an unscientific date, astronomers say. However, the current calendar is not ideal, according to specialists from the Astronomical and Geodetic Society of Russia. According to them, the strict mechanics of planetary movement forces people to make changes to the calendar. The Julian calendar, which was in force in our country until 1918, is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, according to which Europe lives. The fact is that the Earth does not rotate around its axis in exactly 24 hours. Additional seconds to this time, gradually accumulating, add up to days. By the beginning of the twentieth century, they turned into 13 days, which made up the difference between the old Julian and new Gregorian systems. The new style more accurately corresponds to the laws of astronomy.
According to Edward Kononovich, associate professor of the Department of Astrophysics at Moscow State University, the main thing is that the calendar accurately reflects the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun. Today there are many enthusiasts offering their own version of timekeeping. Their proposals are mainly related to changing the traditional week: some propose making a week of five days or doing without weeks at all, and introducing ten-day periods. However, from a scientific point of view, there are probably no ideal proposals - experts have come to this conclusion different countries, studying applications for changes in chronology received even by the UN. Scientists consider it inappropriate to carry out any calendar reforms now.
Celebrating the Old New Year
And yet, despite the fact that this day, unfortunately, is not even a day off, the popularity of the Old New Year is growing. According to the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion, the number of people wishing to celebrate the Old New Year has already exceeded 60%. Among those who are going to celebrate the “old” New Year are the majority of pupils and students, workers, entrepreneurs, housewives and, in general, people under 40 years old, with secondary specialized and secondary education, with relatively high incomes.
Traditions for the Old New Year
In the old days, this day was called Vasilyev's Day, and was of decisive importance for the whole year. On Vasilyev's Day, they celebrated the holiday of agriculture, which was associated with the future harvest, and performed the ritual of sowing - hence the name of the holiday "Osen" or "Avsen". This ritual differed in different regions of the country: for example, in Tula, children scattered spring wheat around the house, while saying a prayer for a rich harvest, and the housewife then collected it and stored it until sowing time. Ukrainian rituals were distinguished by fun, dancing and songs.
And there was also a peculiar ritual - cooking porridge. On New Year's Eve, at 2 o'clock, the eldest of the women brought cereal from the barn, and the eldest man brought water from a well or river. It was impossible to touch the cereal and water until the stove burned out - they simply stood on the table. Then everyone sat down at the table, and the eldest of the women began to stir the porridge in the pot, while pronouncing certain ritual words - the cereal was usually buckwheat.
Then everyone got up from the table, and the hostess put the porridge in the oven - with a bow. The finished porridge was taken out of the oven and examined carefully. If the pot was simply full, and the porridge was rich and crumbly, then one could expect a happy year and a rich harvest - such porridge was eaten the next morning. If the porridge came out of the pot, or the pot cracked, this did not bode well for the owners of the house, and then trouble was expected, and the porridge was thrown away. This was the program - either for troubles or for prosperity, and it is not surprising that it was often implemented - after all, they believed in it seriously.
An interesting ritual is going from house to house to treat yourself to pork dishes. On the night of Vasily, guests certainly had to be fed pies with pork, boiled or baked pork legs, and in general any dishes that included pork. It was also necessary to put on the table pig's head. The fact is that Vasily was considered a “pig farmer” - the patron saint of pig farmers and pork products, and they believed that if there was a lot of pork on the table that night, then these animals would breed in abundance on the farm and bring good profits to the owners. This sign is much more positive than the ritual with porridge, especially for zealous and hardworking owners. The surprisingly sonorous and coherent saying: “A pig and a boletus for Vasilyev’s evening” also contributed to the mood of the owners for economic prosperity and abundance.
But the tradition of making dumplings with surprises for the Old New Year appeared not so long ago - no one remembers exactly where and when, but it is happily observed in many regions of Russia. In some cities, they are made in almost every home - with family and friends, and then they arrange a cheerful feast and eat these dumplings, eagerly waiting to see who will get what kind of surprise. This comic fortune telling is especially popular with children. They even bring dumplings with them to work to cheer up their friends and colleagues; and local food factories often produce such dumplings - just for the Old New Year.
The Old New Year is one of the unique holidays, celebrated on the night of January 13-14 in many countries, including in the post-Soviet space
Many generations from year to year arrange a feast for the Old New Year and do not even think about the history of its origin.
For many believers, it symbolizes the end of Lent and is good reason Celebrate this with all your heart.
Story
Old New Year is a holiday that is celebrated unofficially. This holiday arose as a result of a change in chronology. The tradition of celebrating the Old New Year is associated with the divergence of two calendars: the Julian - “old style” and the Gregorian - “new style”.
New Year's decorations on the Christmas tree
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Almost all European countries switched to the Gregorian calendar back in the 18th century, removing a few extra days from the calendar. By the twentieth century, the Russian calendar 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 to the Gregorian calendar was carried out - a new style. In fact, after January 31st, February 14th came immediately. As a result, January 14 - St. Basil's Day turned out to be the old New Year.
The Orthodox Church continues to celebrate all church holidays according to the Julian calendar. The modern New Year falls on the pre-Christmas fast - the Orthodox forty-day fast in honor of Christmas.
Santa Claus is photographed with children near the New Year tree in one of the parks of the Georgian capital
Focusing on the Julian chronology, one can trace the natural order of the holidays - the Nativity Fast preceded the holiday of the Nativity of Christ, after which six days later people celebrated the New Year.
The discrepancy between the old and new chronology in the XX-XXI centuries is 13 days, so the New Year according to the old style is celebrated on the night of January 13-14. The difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars will gradually increase and from March 1, 2100 will be 14 days, so from 2101 the Old New Year will be celebrated a day later.
Where do they celebrate...
For many years in the countries of the post-Soviet space, including Georgia, the custom of celebrating the Old New Year has been preserved, which, as it seemed to us, was incomprehensible to the rest of the world.
In fact, the Old Style New Year is known and loved in different parts of our planet, and there are countries that also celebrate the arrival of the New Year twice a year.
This custom can be found among residents of the former Yugoslavia. The reasons are also similar - church ministers count all significant dates according to the Julian chronology system.
Serbs call this holiday "Serbian New Year" or "Little Christmas". In Montenegro, it is customary to call this holiday “Prava Nova Godina”, which means “Correct New Year”.
The inhabitants of Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria have a similar custom. They live according to their own Berber calendar, similar to the Julian calendar. As a result of many deviations and errors, they celebrate the second New Year on January 12.
The night of January 14 is considered fabulous in Romania and some cantons of Sweden. In Greece, on this night they gather for festive table to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. This Greek holiday is called St. Basil's Day, famous for his kindness.
Old Style New Year is celebrated in the small Welsh community in Wales in the west of the UK, where they celebrate Hen Galan on 13 January. "Hen Galan" is a holiday of good neighborliness and " open doors“According to the traditions of the ancestors, they are greeted with songs, folk festivals and local home-made beer.
And then, two New Years are an excellent occasion to once again gather the whole family and friends at one table and have a good time.
Customs and traditions
On January 14, the Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappodacia. In the popular calendar it is called Vasiliev's Day and was of decisive importance for the whole year.
There are many traditions and customs associated with the Old New Year in Rus'. On Vasilyev's Day they celebrated the holiday of agriculture, which was associated with the future harvest, and performed the ritual of sowing - hence the name of the holiday "Osen" or "Avsen".
On this day, the children scattered grains of wheat, oats, and rye around the house, saying: “O God, give birth to every life according to the grain, that is according to the grain, and according to the great, and it would be a life for the whole baptized world.” The mistress of the house collected grains from the floor and stored them until sowing.
And there was also a peculiar ritual - cooking porridge. On New Year's Eve, at about two o'clock, the eldest of the women brought cereal from the barn, and the eldest man brought water from a well or river. It was impossible to touch the cereal and water until the stove burned out - they simply stood on the table.
Then everyone sat down at the table, and the eldest of the women began to stir the porridge in the pot, while pronouncing certain ritual words - the cereal was usually buckwheat. Then everyone got up from the table, and the hostess put the porridge in the oven - with a bow.
The finished porridge was taken out of the oven and examined carefully. If the pot was simply full, and the porridge was rich and crumbly, then one could expect a happy year and a rich harvest - such porridge was eaten the next morning.
If the porridge came out of the pot, or the pot cracked, this did not bode well for the owners of the house, and then trouble was expected, and the porridge was thrown away.
On the night of the Old New Year, the girls told fortunes about their betrothed - after all, the Christmastide period continued, the best time of year for all kinds of fortune-telling and predictions. People believed that fortune telling on the night of January 13-14 was the most truthful and it was at this time that you could see your future spouse in a dream.
Toys and decorations on the New Year treeNew Year tree
Celebrate the New Year and stay alive!
To do this, the girls combed their hair before going to bed, put a comb under their pillow and said the magic words: “Mummer, come comb my head.”
The ritual of going from house to house to treat yourself to pork dishes is also interesting. On the night of Vasily, guests certainly had to be fed pork pies, boiled or baked pork legs, and in general any dishes that included pork.
A pig's head was also required to be placed on the table. The fact is that Vasily was considered a “pig farmer” - the patron saint of pig farmers and pork products, and they believed that if there was a lot of pork on the table that night, then these animals would breed in abundance on the farm and bring good profits to the owners.
But the tradition of making dumplings with surprises for the Old New Year appeared not so long ago - no one remembers exactly where and when, but it is observed with pleasure in many regions of Russia. In some cities, they are made in almost every home - with family and friends, and then they have a fun feast and eat these dumplings, eagerly waiting to see who gets what kind of surprise.
Signs
On New Year's Day they did not lend money so that there would not be a shortage of it throughout the year. It was considered very lucky to receive money on this day - it foreshadowed profit in the new year.
To dress well all year round, on Vasilyev's evening to celebrate the New Year, one should wear good new clothes.
One of the women's and men's clothing stores in shopping center in the capital of Georgia
In the old days there was a belief that if you carry out old year and meet the new one as cheerfully as possible, then it will pass happily.
The clear, starry sky on Vasily's Day foreshadowed a rich harvest of berries. A fierce snowstorm on the evening of January 13 indicated a bountiful nut harvest.
Also, fluffy snow on tree branches in the morning and thick fog on Vasily’s Day indicated a bountiful harvest in the new year.
By folk beliefs Saint Basil protects gardens from worms and pests. On the morning of the Old New Year, you need to walk through the garden with the words of an ancient conspiracy: “As I shake off (name) the white fluffy snow, so Saint Basil will shake off every worm-reptile in the spring!”
In the old days they believed that on January 14, a man should be the first to enter the house, then the year would turn out to be prosperous; if a woman enters, it would mean trouble.
There are many beautiful things in our country winter holidays. We celebrate New Year twice. We fill the glasses with champagne again on the night of January 14, sit down at the festive table and take our time to clean up.
Historical phenomenon
New Year in Russia is one of the most interesting holidays from a historical point of view. Until the 15th century (1495), the new year began in March and was associated with the awakening of the earth from hibernation. In 1495, everything changed: the date of the new year moved to September 1.
Later, Peter the Great, who decided to keep up with Europe, ordered to celebrate the New Year on January 1. In December 1699 he issued an Edict requiring the meeting of 1700 to take place on 1 January rather than in September. The text of the Decree contained strict instructions: to decorate houses with spruce, juniper or pine branches, to fire rifles and muskets into the air at midnight, to light bonfires in the streets throughout the holiday week and to arrange fireworks on Red Square.
Alexei Tolstoy in the historical novel " Peter I"described the condition common people and the boyars, whose usual way of life was collapsing. It seemed to many that the trumpet of the Last Judgment would soon sound. Gradually everyone got used to the decorated fir trees and the hectic holiday, which began to be celebrated annually on January 1 according to the Julian calendar, i.e. according to the "old style". This calendar was introduced by the emperor Ancient Rome Julius Caesar, taking the solar year as a basis, not the astronomical one. To Russia Julian calendar came from Byzantium.
That's how it was before October Revolution 1917. Most other countries have long lived according to Gregorian calendar . It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII on October 4, 1582 (XVI century) so that there were no discrepancies with astronomical data. The difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars today is thirteen days.
In 1918, the Bolshevik government decided to switch to a single calendar throughout the world. V.I. Lenin issued a corresponding Decree on the transition to the Gregorian calendar. This eliminated confusion and difficulties in international relations: diplomacy, mail, train schedules, etc. The Russian Orthodox Church preserved the traditional calendar and continued to live according to the old calendar. She dated the holidays according to the old style, emphasizing her uniqueness.
Today, in some reference publications, the dates of birth and death of people, various events of pre-revolutionary Russia are given according to two calendars, i.e. according to the new and old style. This happened with the New Year, which begins on January 1 (14). On the Old New Year, Orthodox people do not have to deny themselves food and fun. According to the Julian calendar, it occurs after (January 7), i.e. after graduation from strict. According to the Gregorian calendar, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th.
Local orthodox churches some foreign countries(Jerusalem, Russian, Serbian, Georgian) also use the Julian calendar in our time. Some monasteries and parishes live according to the Julian calendar in those countries where the Gregorian calendar is adopted for church services (for example, Mount Athos in Greece). In addition, the Julian calendar is adopted in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and in the Russian Greek Catholic Church.
Vasilyev evening
On the night of January 13-14 it is celebrated Vasilyev evening , and January 14 - Vasiliev's day (Kolyada). You can read about this fun holiday, generous with food and drink, in the article.
Everyone likes the holiday: girls tell fortunes about their betrothed, and gardeners shake apple trees in their orchards for a good harvest.
This year we will again congratulate our family and friends not only on the New Year, but also on the Old New Year! Wish them happiness, love, health and joy! Give gifts, sit late evening at the festive table and at midnight to raise a glass of champagne. It’s so good that there is a reason for this!
P.S.
With each century, the Gregorian and Julian calendars diverge more and more in time. The difference is accumulating, and by 2100 it will be not 13, but a full 14 days.
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