Every country knows what date the Old New Year is celebrated in 2022. This is the night of January 13-14. And although the holiday is not a red day of the calendar, TV channels are actively repeating New Year's broadcasts and a rich table is again laid in every house. This historic holiday arose from a discrepancy between the old Julian and the new Gregorian calendars.
history of the holiday
Until 1918, chronology in the Russian Empire was carried out according to the Julian calendar. With the advent of Soviet power, it was decided to switch to the Gregorian chronology.
The difference between the two calendars is 13 days, by which the year start date was shifted. But it was impossible to eradicate the habit, so 2 holidays appeared in the Soviet Union: according to the new and the old style.
Traditions and rituals of the holiday
Preparations for the holiday began on the evening of January 13, when the hostesses cleaned the house and laid the table with treats. The menu included a variety of meat and vegetable dishes, pies, pancakes, desserts, as well as traditionally cooked kutia.
Putting poultry or fish dishes on the table was considered a bad omen, since happiness and good luck this year can fly away (float away) from home.
When celebrating the old New Year, it is important not only to feed, but also to surprise the guests sitting at the table. The most demanded entertainment was fortune-telling. Therefore, when preparing for the holiday, housewives often hid small objects in dishes with the help of which the future was predicted:
- the coin promised profit;
- button - a new thing;
- thread - travel;
- beans - an early addition to the family;
- a pea of black pepper - indicated various adventures.
Old New Year was considered a calm family holiday, so at the table it was impossible to swear, sort things out, and even raise your voice when talking.
At midnight, it was customary to start up fireworks, light Bengal candles and, most importantly, make wishes. It was believed that on this night, higher powers walk the earth, which will help to fulfill a dream or predict the future.
Among the customs of the holiday that have become widespread, stand out:
- Generosity (or caroling) - the youth went from house to house, sang ritual songs in which the owners wished happiness and prosperity. It was customary to present generous recipients with sweets or coins.
- Didukh is a sheaf that consisted of the ears of the last year's harvest. It was installed in the courtyard on the eve of the holiday, and then burned, thereby cleansing the house from troubles and evil spirits.
- "Sowing" - on the morning of January 14, men were considered the hosts of the holiday. They went to relatives or neighbors and "sowed" the floor with grain (millet, barley or oats). At the same time, ritual songs were sung, in which the owners of the house were praised. It was believed that this would bring happiness to the house. The sowers wished the families prosperity and health, and the owners in return presented them with sweets, pies, fruits or money. After "sowing" the grain could not be swept away with a broom. It was necessary to collect it with the palms and mix with the seeds prepared for future sowing.
Old New Year is a holiday with primordial Russian traditions that give a feeling of magic and goodness. It closes the fun period and prepares people for workdays.
What not to do on the old New Year
In popular beliefs, the prohibitions observed during the preparation or during the celebration of the old New Year have also been preserved:
- on the eve it is impossible to mention the number "13" in conversations;
- take out the trash - because you "take out" happiness;
- on the morning of January 14, one cannot consider a trifle, since all other months will be petty and tearful;
- in order not to be in debt, you should not borrow anything on the eve of the holiday;
- whoever gets sick on this day will be sick for a long time.
Since the old New Year is a family holiday, it is customary to ask for forgiveness from loved ones. You cannot refuse to reconcile or hide grievances on this day.
Signs and beliefs for the old New Year
Old New Year's Eve is rich in various signs indicating what the next 12 months will be like:
- If a man enters the house on the first evening, then happiness and good luck awaits the family in the coming year, and if a woman, then trouble may happen.
- A happy and successful marriage will be the engagement of which was concluded on January 13th.
- In order to have a rich harvest, it was customary to wear a new dress or shirt that evening.
- In wealth there will be those houses that have large banknotes in their wallets on a festive night.
- A good harvest is indicated by the snow that falls on the night of the holiday. Morning snow signals that spring will be late.
- A rich life was promised to those who were born on January 14th.
- A rich harvest of apples will be if you shake off the snow from the apple tree on a festive night.
- If the branches of the trees are covered with fluffy frost in the morning, then a good harvest of honey is expected.
Old New Year's night is full of mysticism. Our ancestors believed that wishes made for the holiday come true, and the secret becomes apparent. Even now, this date remains an important event in every family.
