The Russian Emperor Peter 1 can confidently be called the legislator of the New Year celebrations in our country. Earlier in Russia New Year was celebrated on September 1, and in ancient times among the Slavs - on March 1. Peter decided that the New Year will be celebrated on January 1 and, without fail, decorate the house with branches of juniper and spruce. There was no tradition of setting up a Christmas tree at that time. The branches were decorated with fruits, vegetables and sweets. The first New Year, with noise and scale, was celebrated in Moscow on the well-known Red Square. Later, street festivities were transferred to St. Petersburg, which Peter founded in 1704.
The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree
It is known that a decorated and sparkling spruce appeared in the fifties of the 19th century in St. Petersburg. Initially, the custom of decorating a coniferous tree was in Germany. The Germans decorated the Christmas tree with sweets and fruits, thus paying tribute to nature and asking for good luck and prosperity in the coming year. Until the 16th century, spruce was not cut down, later this ban was lifted, but there were some limits on the number of trees cut down.
After that, the tradition of decorating trees spread throughout Europe and gradually came to Russia. At that time, there were many Germans who decorated Christmas trees for the New Year. And in a very short time, decorated Christmas trees appeared in Russian houses.
New Year's menu in Tsarist Russia
New Years Eve was called "generous." Hence the abundance of the New Year's table came. It was believed that a rich festive table would bring wealth and prosperity in the coming year. The highlight of the New Year's table was a young pig, cooked on a spit. Even families with modest incomes tried to provide the menu with pork dishes.
Following the meat dishes, fish snacks were popular. And for dessert honey and fruit were served. Alcohol was available mainly vodka, with different strengths. In Russia it was called wine. The imported wines familiar to us were available only to the nobility.
Dressing up in new clothes
Celebrating the New Year in new clothes and shoes is an ancient tradition dating back several centuries. It was believed that if you meet the next year in a new dress and shoes, then the whole next year you will be with new things and prosperity. In addition, before the New Year, complete order was restored in the dwelling, cracked and broken dishes were thrown away, mirrors and windows were washed.
Long live champagne!
The sparkling drink first appeared on the festive tables of Russian people in the early 19th century. After the victory over Napoleon, Russian soldiers appreciated the magnificence of this drink, which was not particularly popular in France. After a very short time, champagne got to Russia and was to the taste of the nobility. And a little later it became a traditional drink during the New Year. Around the same time, the inhabitants of the Russian Empire began to decorate their houses with Christmas trees.
Eventful 20th century
Before the collapse of the Empire, festivities were popular in St. Petersburg, and balls among the nobility. Christmas, which was then celebrated on December 25, was celebrated with the family, and New Year was celebrated on the square or in restaurants. The New Year's menu has expanded to include imported European wines, game, seafood. But, nobody refused from the beloved goose with apples.
In 1917, the outbreak of the Revolution, it would seem, would ban the favorite holidays: New Year and Christmas. It was at this time that the transition to another calendar takes place, according to which Christmas was postponed to January 7, and New Year - to the 14th. Russia was gripped by hunger, it was not possible for many to fill the abundance of the New Year's table. The only thing that has survived is the children's Christmas trees in Petrograd. Literally two years later, the authorities canceled their favorite holidays, making these days work days.
Return of the New Year
After 1934, the New Year holiday returned to Soviet Russia. During these times, a tradition arose to decorate the top of the Christmas tree with a red star. Some abundance and sophistication have returned to the festive tables. However, for many, sausage and fruit were already a joy. And the children dreamed of getting to the main Kremlin Christmas tree of the country.
In the fifties of the last century, they began to celebrate the New Year not only with a family circle, but also inviting noisy companies of friends. It was these years that the traditional New Year's dishes were formed: Olivier, jellied meat, herring under a fur coat and sprats.
In the days of Khrushchev, the New Year was not complete without champagne and the program "Blue Light". The food shortage that appeared later caused a lot of inconvenience to Soviet citizens. But, despite this, people tried to make the feast varied and rich.
After 1991
The story of the New Year does not end even after the collapse of the USSR. In Yeltsin's times, Christmas has returned again, which is celebrated on January 7th. In addition, it has become popular among countries to listen to congratulations from the President of Russia. As before, champagne and tangerines, beloved from Soviet times, are on the tables.
And the abundance and even luxury on the festive table can now be arranged with ease, since the choice of products in stores is incredibly large. Instead of living Christmas trees, the countries put artificial ones, but they dress them abundantly and richly.
The centuries-old history of the New Year has brought to our time many wonderful traditions and customs that every year take place in any Russian family.
