Why do we celebrate not only the New Year, but also the Old New Year? Why is the old new year celebrated? Why is the old new year celebrated on January 13
On the night of January 13-14, Russia celebrates a unique holiday for the entire post-Soviet space. And while the whole world looks at this with bewilderment, let’s try to figure out how this holiday arose and what its traditions are.
So, the celebration of the Old New Year came from a change in chronology - when, according to tradition, the holiday was celebrated in the old and new styles. Moreover, for many, the night from January 13 to 14 is the real New Year, because this tradition is much older. The new chronology was introduced in Russia not so long ago - in 1918, while the old New Year is already more than 300 years old. In addition to Russia, the Old New Year is also celebrated in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and other countries inhabited by the Eastern Slavs.
Now about the traditions of the holiday: the Old New Year falls at the very height of Christmastide - a time of fun and matchmaking. According to Orthodox church canons, it is forbidden to work on these days, you cannot baptize children, get married and tell fortunes. It is curious that, despite all the prohibitions, fortune telling is the most popular tradition of the Old New Year: it is believed that this particular period is one of the most mystical of the year and the most suitable for fortune telling. Basically, this is fortune telling for the betrothed - they use everything that comes to hand: candles, mirrors, wax, books, coffee grounds, wax and household items.
Even though the Old New Year is inferior in popularity and scale to the night from December 31 to January 1, it has firmly entered the homes of Russians and has become a full-fledged winter holiday. Perhaps because it provides an opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle, to be close to loved ones and family in a cozy and calm environment.
As psychologist Natalya Kuznetsova said, two new years are like two birthdays, and at the same time they are very different:
“They don’t give up on the old New Year not only because people are always happy to have an additional holiday, but also because it clearly shows the psychological aspects of the holiday, such as the reluctance to part with the old year, the difficulties of coping with losses and separations, and anxiety for the future.
Fortune telling, according to the psychologist, allows you to cope with anxiety about the future:
— I myself, like many girls, also wondered in adolescence. But I stopped when I was 20 years old, when at the next New Year’s fortune-telling I saw the death of one person very close to me, and then I had a dream that night about it. That same year, a terrible event happened... So fortune telling can reduce anxiety, or maybe increase it. Rather, by guessing, we are trying to overcome the fear of uncertainty. It’s curious that the church forbade fortune-telling, but people kept guessing anyway, because the fear of uncertainty is stronger than the ban,” notes Natalya Kuznetsova.
On the eve of the Old New Year, you can do everything that you didn’t have time to do on December 31: make a wish during the chiming clock, go to the city Christmas tree, set off fireworks, clink glasses of champagne again with your loved ones - after all, the holiday should be in the soul, and its origin and traditions, dates and canons = not so important.
Mikhail Lansky
After the usual New Year has died down, and the streets are filled with people again, do not rush to say goodbye to the festive mood, another important one awaits winter holiday- Old New Year. This date is celebrated on the night of January 13-14. And, like any holiday that has taken root among the Slavs, the Old New Year contains a lot of traditions.
In Belarus and Ukraine this holiday is known as “Generous Evening”, and in Russia - “Ovsen”. According to the old calendar, this day fell on January 1 and was called Vasily’s Day, since it was the day of memory of Vasily the Great, and the eve of the memorial day, respectively, December 31, was Vasily’s evening.
Why is it called Old New Year? There is no special meaning in the name of this holiday. This day is called this way only because according to the Julian calendar, the New Year fell from January 13 to 14. Today we use the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in 1918, which is why the holiday is called the “Old” New Year.
In addition, according to calendar tradition, Christmas must precede the New Year.
Where is the Old New Year celebrated Previously, the Old New Year was celebrated in all countries Soviet Union. Today this holiday exists in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
This tradition has been preserved in Switzerland, Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia. In the latter, for example, this holiday is called Serbian New Year. On the night of January 13-14, fireworks are traditionally given on the square in Belgrade.
In Japan, the Old New Year is called “Rissyun” - the beginning of spring; it is celebrated not in the middle of winter, but on February 4th.
Holiday rules
For this holiday they also bought good, beautiful clothes. The evening of January 13 was called “generous”, and therefore the table was set accordingly. People believed that as the table would be, so would the year be. In the morning, women had to prepare porridge made from whole wheat grains. The porridge was seasoned with lard or meat. Or served with jam or honey. Housewives also baked pies, pancakes or dumplings.
Since Saint Basil was considered the patron saint of pig farmers, pork dishes were the main dish on the festive table.
In the evening, people went to their neighbors to celebrate the Old New Year in peace. It was considered especially important that the “right” person come home first, and this was a young man from a large, respected family with a large household. In the morning, young people jumped over burning sheaves of hay to drive away evil spirits.
In some villages, carolers attended the holiday. Performers of carol songs were traditionally presented with treats.
Antique Belarusian folk ritual"Carol Kings"
Traditional signs for the Old New Year The signs of this holiday were associated with both the weather and New Year's table. For example, if the prepared holiday porridge turned out fluffy, beautiful and tasty, then you have to wait have a nice year. If the pot cracked in the oven or the porridge turned out tasteless, you have to wait a bad year.
It was also believed that if the wind blows from the south at night, then next year it will be prosperous and warm, but if from the west, you should expect an abundance of milk, as well as fish, but if from the east, then there will be a good harvest of fruits in the year.
People said about the night: “Vasil’s night is starry - for the harvest of berries.” To ensure that the overall harvest was successful, they shook it off the fruit trees in the morning. If the weather is frosty but dry in the morning, then you shouldn’t expect much mushrooms next year.
Signs for the Old New Year - 2018
Those born on January 14, 2018 should wear jasper stone for good luck and wealth. Also, before the evening of January 13, you must remove from the house holiday tree and pay off all debts so as not to be in debt for the entire 2018 year. And, of course, it is necessary to make peace with everyone with whom you were in a quarrel, and forgive everyone with whom you held a grudge.
What should be on the table for the Old New Year According to ancient traditions, there should have been generous kutya or sochivo on the table on Vasilyev's evening. They did not spare halva, nuts, honey and raisins: the more generous the dish, the richer and richer the new year.
In addition, there was always a pig, rooster or hare on the table. All three meats carried different meanings: pork promised wealth, rooster dishes - freedom, and hare - success in all matters.
It was also important what was included in the filling of holiday pies and, most importantly, dumplings for the Old New Year. For example, mushrooms in the filling - to a long and happy life, meat - for prosperity, rice - for prosperity, cabbage - for money, and dill - for good health.
What not to do on St. Basil's Day
A week before the Old New Year it was forbidden to dress up in new clothes, this can only be done on the holiday itself. On this day you cannot say congratulations on negative particle“no” - this can frighten away desire and luck. Also, you cannot celebrate this holiday exclusively in the company of women - this can lead to an unlucky year.
There should be no crayfish or other creatures on the holiday table that are moving backwards, since past problems can be carried over into the New Year. It is also strictly forbidden to clean this one, because you can take good luck and happiness out of the house.
Fortune telling for the Old New Year Girls on the night of January 13-14 told fortunes different subjects. Vasiliev's evening was considered the most successful for predictions. People believed that everything predicted and wished for at this time would come true. However, the Orthodox Church does not approve of fortune telling.
On the night of January 13-14, many countries celebrate everyone's favorite holiday - the Old New Year. From year to year, many generations organize feasts on this day. The most interesting thing is that few people think about the history of the holiday. Believers who observe fasting on the Old New Year can celebrate the holiday from the heart and enjoy delicious dishes.
The Old New Year appeared after the change of chronology - this tradition is based on the divergence of two calendars: Gregorian and Julian.
Previously, in Rus', the New Year was celebrated on the day spring equinox, namely - March 22. After Christianity was adopted, the Byzantine calendar began to supplant the old one, after which the New Year was celebrated on September 1.
It is worth saying that until the 15th century a single date for the holiday was not established. Some celebrated it in the fall, while others celebrated it in the spring. In 1492, the date of the New Year was set in Rus' - September 1.
In December 1699, Peter the first moved the holiday to January 1, after which the next year of 1700 began four months later.
The Orthodox Church celebrates the New Year, Christmas and other holidays according to the Julian calendar. As a result of this discrepancy, Russian residents celebrate the New Year twice - in the old and new styles.
There are many customs and traditions associated with this holiday. On this day, the Orthodox Church remembers the day of St. Basil the Great. People also call the holiday as Vasiliev's Day; this day was very decisive for the year.
On this day, the children scattered wheat, rust and oats around the house, and also said:
“Give birth, O God, to every life according to the grain, that according to the grain and according to the great, and it would become a life for the whole baptized world.”
After this, the mistress of the house collected all the grains from the floor and stored them until sowing.
Another unique ritual is boiling porridge. On New Year's night, the woman brought cereal to the house, and the man brought water from the well. Until the stove was heated up, touching the cereal and water was not allowed. Then the older woman stirred the porridge in the pot.
When stirring the porridge, she said special words. Then the hostess put the porridge in the oven with a bow. If the porridge turned out rich and the pot was full, then they ate it and waited for a happy year and a big harvest.
If the pot cracked or the porridge went beyond its limits, it was thrown away.
The girls performed various fortune telling for the Old New Year. These fortune tellings were considered the most truthful, because you could see your betrothed.
To do this, girls combed their hair before going to bed, put a comb under their pillow and uttered the magic words: “Mummer, come and comb my head.”
No less interesting was the ritual of going home; people treated guests to pork dishes. According to tradition, guests had to be fed pies and other dishes containing pork.
Saint Basil was the patron saint of pig farmers, as well as any pork products. Everyone believed that an abundance of pork dishes that night would be the key to abundance and profit.
There is also a tradition of making dumplings with a surprise. Everyone is interested in who will get what surprise.
On holidays it is not customary to lend money, because then there will be no wealth. At the same time, receiving money on this day was considered a good omen - it meant profit.
On Vasilyev's evening, everyone put on new clothes so that they could dress well all year. The year will be happy if you spend it fun.
If the sky is starry and clear on Vasily's Day, then you can expect a rich harvest of berries and nuts. Fluffy snow also indicated a bountiful harvest.
The tradition of celebrating the Old New Year is associated with the divergence of two calendars: the Julian - the "old style" calendar and the Gregorian - the "new style" calendar according to which people live modern people. This discrepancy in the XX-XXI centuries is 13 days, and the New Year according to the old style is celebrated on the night of January 13-14.
From March 1, 2100, the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars will be 14 days. From 2101, the Old New Year will be celebrated a day later.
Almost all Protestant states of Europe switched to the Gregorian calendar back in the 18th century, removing a few extra days from the calendar. Russia switched to new calendar only in 1918, by the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of January 26, 1918, after January 31, 1918, February 14 immediately came.
As a result of the transition to a new chronology, the start date of the New Year has changed. January 1 according to the new style falls on December 19 according to the Julian calendar, and January 14 according to the new style is January 1 according to the Julian calendar.
The Russian Orthodox Church continues to celebrate everything church holidays according to the Julian calendar: both the Circumcision of the Lord (until 1918, which coincided with the civil New Year), and the Nativity of Christ. The modern New Year falls on the pre-Christmas fast - the Orthodox forty-day fast in honor of Christmas. According to the old style, everything went as usual - the Nativity Fast preceded the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, after which six days later people celebrated the New Year.
Therefore, the Old Style New Year is important for Orthodox believers living in countries where the church continues to use the Julian calendar.
In Russia, until 1918, the arrival of the New Year fell during the Christmastide period, so all folk New Year's signs are more applicable specifically to the Old New Year. People believed that if a woman comes to the house first on the morning of New Year's Day, then this will inevitably bring misfortune, if a man - happiness. If you have money in the house on New Year's Day, you won't need it all year, but only if you don't lend it to anyone. In addition, the following signs were known: “If the first day of the year is cheerful (happy), then the year will be like that”; “Snow or fog that falls on New Year’s Day foreshadows the harvest”; “A full hole of water and fog on New Year’s Day foreshadow a big flood”; “If there is wind on New Year’s Day, there will be a nut harvest”; "New Year - turn to spring"; "New Year - sleigh on the move"; "The New Year is picking up the first hour of the day."
In addition, January 14 (January 1, old style) in the old days was called Vasily’s Day - the celebration of the memory of St. Basil the Great of Caesarea - and was decisive for the whole year.
On this day, it was customary to perform all kinds of fortune-telling and ancient rituals. The evening before (now January 13) was called Vasilyev's evening. Especially waiting for him were unmarried girls, who at that time willingly told fortunes. They believed: whatever you predict on Vasily’s Day will definitely come true.
Saint Basil was considered the “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 on the night before St. Basil’s Day, then these animals would breed in abundance and bring good profits to their owners.
Therefore, the main festive dish on Vasily’s Day was a pig, which was roasted whole; a hare and a rooster were also prepared. According to legend, roast pig ensures prosperity for the coming year; They ate hare meat to be as agile as a hare, and rooster meat to be as light as a bird.
An interesting ritual was going from house to house to treat yourself to pork dishes. 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.
There was also a custom on Vasily’s day to cook porridge with special rituals. IN New Year's Eve, at 2 o'clock, the eldest of the women brought cereal from the barn (usually buckwheat), 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.
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 was small and white, and 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.
In the old days, on Vasiliev's Day, peasants went from house to house with congratulations and wishes for well-being. At the same time ancient rite, known as different names: autumn, autumn, autumn, etc. Its essence was that the children of the peasants, having gathered together before mass, went from house to house to sow grains of oats, buckwheat, rye and other grains from a sleeve or from a bag and at the same time sang a sowing song.
The owners of the house gave the sprinkler something as a gift, and the grains scattered by him were carefully collected, stored until spring and mixed with other seeds when sowing spring crops.
There is also a tradition in Russia on the night of the Old New Year to make and cook dumplings, some of which contain surprises. In each locality (even in each family), the meanings of surprises may differ.
According to signs, if the night before Vasily’s Day the sky is clear and starry, it means there will be a rich harvest of berries. By folk beliefs St. Basil the Great 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!”
Some regions of Russia have their own traditions of celebrating the Old New Year. For example, in Yalga, a suburban village of Saransk (Mordovia), residents gather around the New Year's bonfire, dance in circles and, along with old things, burn all the troubles that have accumulated over the year. They also have a tradition of comic fortune-telling with an old boot or felt boot. Yalgin residents stand in a circle and pass to each other " magic shoe", which contains notes with good wishes. They believe that a note pulled from a boot will definitely bring good luck.
The tradition of celebrating the Old New Year has been preserved not only in Russia, but also in the former Soviet republics. In Belarus and Ukraine, the evening before January 14 is called “generous”, since it is customary to prepare “generous kutya” - a rich table after the Nativity fast. Both Georgia and Abkhazia celebrate the Old New Year.
In Abkhazia, January 13 is officially listed as Azhyrnykhua or Khechhuama - Day of the Creation of the World, renewal. It is a holiday and non-working day. The holiday of renewal or creation of the world originates in the pagan past of the country and is associated with the veneration of the deity Shashva, the patron saint of blacksmiths. Traditionally, on this day, roosters and goats are slaughtered as a sacrifice to Shashwa. The holiday brings together all paternal relatives under the roof of the family sanctuary - the “smithy”. Representatives of other people's clans - wives and daughters-in-law - remain at home.
The Old New Year is also celebrated in some other countries.
In the former Yugoslavia (Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia) the Old New Year is also celebrated on the night of January 13-14, since the Serbian Orthodox Church, like the Russian, continues to live according to the Julian calendar.
Serbs call this holiday "Serbian New Year" or Little Christmas. Sometimes Serbs on this day bring “badnjak” into the house - one of the two logs that they prepared on Christmas Eve for Christmas and Little Christmas.
In Montenegro, it is customary to call this holiday “Prava Nova Godina”, which means “correct New Year”.
Basilica is prepared for the Old New Year: round pies made of corn dough with kaymak - cream curdled like cheese. Sometimes they prepare another dish from corn dough - parenitsa.
On the night of January 14, people gather at the festive table to celebrate the arrival of the New Year in Greece. This Greek holiday is called St. Basil's Day, famous for his kindness. While waiting for this saint, Greek children leave their shoes by the fireplaces for St. Basil to put gifts in them.
In Romania, the Old New Year is celebrated more often in a narrow circle of family, less often with friends. For the festive table, they make New Year's pies with surprises: coins, porcelain figurines, rings, hot peppers. A ring found in a pie promises great luck.
Old New Year is also celebrated in northeastern Switzerland in some German-speaking cantons. Residents of the canton of Appenzell in the 16th century did not accept the reform of Pope Gregory and still celebrate the holiday on the night of January 13-14. On January 13, they celebrate the old day of St. Sylvester, who, according to legend, captured a terrible monster in 314.
It was believed that in the year 1000 a monster would break free and destroy the world, but this did not happen. Since then, on New Year's Day, Swiss residents dress up in fancy dresses, fancy structures reminiscent of doll houses or botanical gardens and call themselves Sylvester Klaus. Walking along the streets, local residents make noise and shout, thereby driving out evil spirits and inviting good spirits.
In addition, Old Style New Year is celebrated in the small Welsh community in Wales in the west of Great Britain. On January 13th they celebrate "Hen Galan". There are no fireworks or champagne on this day. "Hen Galan" is greeted according to the traditions of their ancestors with songs, carols and local home-made beer.
Since 1752 in the United Kingdom The Gregorian calendar is in effect, where the New Year begins on January 1. But a small community of Welsh farmers centered in a village called the Vale of Guane celebrates the New Year according to the Julian calendar, and unlike the rest of the country, January 13 is their official day off.
The reason why the Gwayne Valley and its surrounding farms fell behind the times is now unknown. Some say that it was the will of a local feudal lord opposed to the Catholic Church. Others believe that it was the will of the entire community, which decided to defend its traditional way of life.
The children start the holiday. From early morning they carol throughout the valley, collecting gifts and money. For adults, the fun comes in the late afternoon. The whole village and nearby farms gather at the local pub. Outside visitors are not allowed. The ancient pub, one of the few in the UK where beer is brewed and then poured into jugs, serves nothing but beer. Local residents bring their own food. In the pub, people, to the accompaniment of an accordion, sing songs in Welsh that were sung by their grandfathers and great-grandfathers.
For local residents, "Hen Galan" is a celebration of good neighborliness and "open doors" - but open to their own. According to legend, in ancient times the inhabitants of the valley danced and sang from house to house to visit.
On the night of January 13-14, the Old New Year is celebrated in Russia, as well as in many neighboring countries. AiF.ru explains how and when this holiday appeared.
The Old New Year is a rare historical phenomenon, an additional holiday that resulted from a change in chronology. Because of this discrepancy in calendars, we celebrate two “New Years” - according to the old and new styles.
How did the Old New Year appear?
The date of creation of the world (according to the ancient translation of the Old Testament) was previously considered March 1, 5508 BC. e. Therefore, the New Year began on the first day of spring (March 14 according to the new style).
However, in the era of Constantinople, this date was recalculated more accurately, and September 1, 5509 BC was considered the day of the creation of the world. e. Therefore, the New Year henceforth began on the first day of autumn.
In pagan times in Rus', the New Year was celebrated on March 22 - the day of the spring equinox. After the adoption of Christianity in Rus', the Byzantine calendar began to gradually replace the old one, and the New Year now began on September 1. This date is still interpreted today by some teachings as the true birthday of Christ. D For a long time, New Year's inconsistency persisted in Rus' - some continued to celebrate the New Year in the spring, others in the fall. And only at the end of the 15th century - in 1492 - was a single date for the beginning of the New Year in Rus' officially determined - September 1.
Only 2 centuries later, on December 19, 1700, Peter I promulgated the decree of summer to be calculated from January 1 from the Nativity of Christ (that is, according to the “new” style - January 14). Thus, in the Russian state, 1699 lasted only 4 months, from September to December.
By the twentieth century, the calendar of Russia, which continued to use the Julian 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 was made to the Gregorian calendar - a new style, and January 14 - the day of St. Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea of Cappodacia - turned out to be the Old New Year.
What other countries celebrate the Old New Year?
The Old New Year is celebrated not only in the CIS. January 13th is also covered festive table in the following countries:
- Greece;
- Macedonia;
- Romania;
- Serbia;
- Montenegro;
- Switzerland.
The Old New Year is also celebrated in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. True, it is celebrated according to the Berber calendar, which is the Julian calendar with minor differences. As a result of accumulated errors, the eve of the holiday falls on January 11th.
Old New Year today
On the night of January 13-14, everyone can afford to “pre-celebrate” their most favorite holiday. Indeed, for many believers, the Old New Year has a special meaning, since they can wholeheartedly celebrate the beginning of the new year only after the end of the Nativity Fast.
Today, the popularity of the Old New Year is growing from year to year, and Russia is no exception. More and more people treat it as an independent holiday, which prolongs the charm of the New Year or allows them to feel this charm for the first time. After all, this holiday is calmer, it is not characterized by the bustle that is an inevitable companion of the New Year.
When will New Year be celebrated in 90 years?
Interestingly, the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars increases every century when the number of hundreds in the year after Christ is not a multiple of four for one day. Currently, the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars is 13 days. And from March 1, 2100, this difference will be 14 days. And from 2101, Christmas and Old New Year will be celebrated a day later.
