New Year: history and traditions. New Year traditions or New Year in Russian

Numerous polls public opinion unanimously show that the favorite holiday of Russians is New Year. All adults remember all their lives what awe they have in childhood caused the approach of the fabulous New Year's Eve, as children they waited for the arrival of Santa Claus in anticipation of gifts. Many continue to believe in New Year's signs and mature age, which helps maintain Russian New Year traditions and customs.

The history of the New Year's Eve in Russia

Christians in Europe consider Christmas to be the main holiday, paying the main attention to its celebration, and the New Year is already coming as a post-Christmas trail. In our country, the New Year takes precedence over Christmas, which, moreover, happens after its celebration.

• Before Peter the Great in Rus', the New Year began on September 1, but the first emperor of Russia decided that it was no good to lag behind Europe and moved the New Year celebration to January 1.
• Only in 1897 this day was officially recognized as a holiday, and the first day of the new year became a day off.
• In 2004, the first five days of January were declared holidays, and taking into account Saturday, Sunday and Christmas, the New Year holidays stretch for 10 days.

Video about Russian New Year traditions

Festive late dinners in decorated homes in Europe are typical for Christmas, which occurs at the end of December. Once upon a time, all Christians celebrated Christmas at the same time, until in 1582 Pope Gregory the 13th converted Catholics from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. The Orthodox remained with the Julian calendar. Then some of them switched to the New Julian calendar in the 20th century, and Russia switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1918, while the Orthodox Church remained with the Julian calendar. This is how the world celebrates two Christmases every year: one at the end of the year, and the other at the beginning - who likes which one more.

The symbol of the New Year is a Christmas tree

New Year's customs and traditions in Russia, and almost all over the world, are associated with a festively decorated Christmas tree (or other tree). History has not preserved the founder of this tradition. Even in Russia, there is disagreement over who was the first to introduce this tradition into the country - Empress Catherine or the future wife of Nicholas I. At that time, Russia sought to imitate in many ways German culture, so I gladly accepted the idea of ​​a decorated Christmas tree. There is a belief that a good spirit resides in sacred fir trees. This coniferous plant is also associated with immortality, and its cones are associated with good health.

The tradition of decorating this or that tree for holidays has been around for many centuries. Christian tradition chose the spruce tree to celebrate Christmas. There is an interesting legend according to which Saint Boniface, reading sermons among the Druids and trying to convert them to Christianity, tried to prove that it was not the oak that was the sacred tree. To do this, he had to arm himself with an ax and cut down one of the oaks, which, when it fell, knocked down all the nearby trees except the spruce. It was this that Boniface called the tree of Christ.

Initially, various fruits and fruits were hung on Christmas trees as decorations, then candles were added to them. But it was too heavy for the flexible spruce branches, and the candles often set them on fire. Therefore, light and shiny ones gradually came into use. glass balls and garlands.

It is impossible to imagine the modern New Year without a Christmas tree, which has become the most important symbol of the holiday. Moreover, the tree takes an active part in the celebration, because gifts are hidden under it, as well as on its branches, and children dance around it - all these are Russian New Year traditions.

New Year's table traditions

In Russia New Year's table always bursting with food. It is customary for us to think that a rich table promises greater wealth for the family in the future. A variety of meat dishes were served at the festive table, pies with a variety of fillings were baked, mead and compotes were brewed. In the center of the table there was usually a suckling pig, roasted with buckwheat porridge on a spit. Previously, pork was especially popular because people wanted to eat it after abstinence during the Nativity Fast and before the onset of Lent. Typical New Year's dishes were also geese fried with sauerkraut and apples. One of the signs required that there should be rabbit or poultry meat on the table, so that happiness would not run away or fly away from the house. The traditional New Year's decoration for Belarusians and Haiduks was kutia and pancakes. Guests were treated to baked dough figurines of domestic animals.

• In the first half of the 19th century, the New Year's table was simpler than the modern one. On the tables of the nobility one could also see radish salad or pickled cucumbers and fruits preserved from the summer.
• In the second half of the same century, the table became more diverse - red caviar, salmon, and European cheeses appeared.
• At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, alcoholic drinks began to appear on the table: sparkling, German white and fortified Spanish wines, traditional vodka and home-made beer.

In subsequent decades, the assortment of the New Year's table became increasingly enriched, but suckling pig stuffed with buckwheat remained the most desirable dish.

Ded Moroz and Snegurochka

But the main New Year traditions in Russia are connected, of course, with the inseparable couple - Father Frost and his granddaughter Snegurochka. This kind wizard from the North wears a long gray beard, a red (blue, white) sheepskin coat, the same hat and is armed with a magic staff, and behind his back he has a large bag of gifts. Santa Claus travels on a sleigh drawn by three horses, and the beautiful Snow Maiden helps the “forgetful” grandfather in everything.

Once upon a time, Santa Claus was a pagan deity, symbolizing the frosty winter, covering the ground with snow and freezing the rivers with ice. He perfectly defended Rus' from enemies - when they attacked, terrible colds set in, and the exhausted invaders retreated.

Christians tried to turn him into evil spirit, but the Bolsheviks returned their beloved Father Frost to the people. Since the 30s of the last century, he has already become an integral character of New Year's celebrations. They even came up with an official residence for him in Veliky Ustyug, where mail addressed to him arrives, and set a birthday for November 18, when severe frosts most often occur in this area. Santa Claus has a granddaughter, Snegurochka, only in Russia, and her origins also lie in pagan mythology.

Modern Russian New Year

What is New Year for? modern generation? This is a fun party all night long, fireworks and festive table. Our ancestors, celebrating the New Year, rattled rattles and made noise to scare away evil spirits. Now they are being replaced by fireworks.

Mirrors and windows are decorated with snowflakes, images of the Snow Maiden, Santa Claus, Christmas tree, etc. On New Year's Day it is also customary to give gifts, and previously they were intended for Santa Claus in order to appease him. Now everything has turned the other way around. Before the revolution, Father Frost hid his gifts in socks, and then began to leave them under the tree.

As before, on the New Year's table you can see a greatly simplified Olivier salad or herring under a fur coat, although there are supporters of lighter dishes that do not contain mayonnaise. But “Soviet champagne” still remains the favorite New Year’s drink of Russians. Unfortunately, the abundant table and half-wall TV killed New Year's competitions and many entertainments. In recent decades, it has become customary to order Father Frost and Snow Maiden to your home so that they can personally congratulate the children.

For more than 70 years, since 1935, when the first congratulations to the Soviet people took place on the radio, state leaders have invariably addressed their fellow citizens before the chiming clock. Traditions are gradually changing, but the New Year remains a favorite folk holiday.

Video about Russian New Year traditions and customs

New Year's customs and signs

• To wear new clothes all year round, you need to wear a new outfit for the New Year.
• At the end of the passing year, you need to forgive people and forget their grievances.
• Before the holiday, the house needs to be washed, old things and broken dishes should be thrown away.
• At the moment when the chimes strike, you need to make a wish. There are also wonderful variations of this sign, for example, having time to write a wish on a piece of paper in a minute, burn it, throw the ashes into champagne and drink the last one.
• On New Year's Eve, it was necessary to freeze water in a spoon: if air bubbles are visible in the ice, then the health of the “experimenter” will be strong, but if a depression forms in the center, then this promises illness.

Do you adhere to Russian traditions of celebrating the New Year? Tell us about it in

New Year in Russia is loved and celebrated with pleasure and joy. This holiday is overgrown with traditions that have developed over many years. Over time, modern customs and practices emerged that are characteristic of our country. Traditions are important for every nation, because they are the connection of new generations with their ancestors, they reveal the essence of the nation, its character. Therefore, we advise all Russians to study New Year traditions in Russia.

Traditions of past centuries

They began to celebrate the New Year according to the new chronology in Russia under Peter I. By his decree, everyone was ordered to decorate their houses with branches of pine, spruce or juniper, have fun and set festive tables, but not to commit any outrages. Fluffy and elegant Christmas tree came to Russian homes in the 19th century. This event is still considered controversial, since according to some sources the Christmas tree was brought future wife Nicholas I in 1830, according to others - Empress Catherine in 1855. In those days, people in Russia worshiped the culture of Germany and its traditions, and therefore gladly accepted such a wonderful custom. It was believed that spruce is a sacred tree in which a good spirit lives. In addition, the evergreen plant was a symbol of immortality, and the cones personified health and strength of spirit.

But Russian people learned how to decorate a Christmas tree beautifully from the French. They hung cookies, apples, bright flowers from multicolored paper. This tradition quickly spread throughout Germany and throughout Europe.

The custom of giving each other gifts on New Year's Day has survived to this day. Only in ancient times, on these days, did young men choose a bride for themselves and try to appease her with all kinds of offerings.

Carols and fortune telling in the month of Prosinets

In the old days, January was called “Prosinets” for the clear and blue sky between the clouds. At this time, everyone monitored the weather and events to determine the future in the coming year. The girls wondered about the betrothed-mummers, for good luck. The young people had fun from the heart, caroled and collected rich gifts, congratulating the owners on the New Year and Merry Christmas. Carols are a glorious tradition of the New Year holidays. This Slavic spirit joy and fun. Basically, the carols sang goodness, wealth and generosity, asked for good luck and prosperity for themselves and for those to whom the carolers came. In gratitude for good wishes the owners gave money and goodies.

Everyone tried to celebrate the holiday with pure soul and without debt. Be sure to wear new clothes, gave money, made peace with relatives and neighbors, asked each other for forgiveness.

New Year in modern Russia

Before the New Year, we are all preoccupied with preparations for the holiday - we are looking for gifts, trying to time our vacation to coincide with New Year's Day, emptying supermarket shelves, standing idle in traffic jams. And still, with trepidation and joy, we wait for the enchanted night to meet at the festive table new joy, new happiness. Modern customs include garlands, sparkling balls, Olivier salad, surprise pies, and sparklers with champagne, and making wishes during the chimes. In many houses, small garlands are hung on the windows so that they flicker welcomingly in the dark, reminiscent of the holiday. In some houses, snowflakes, Father Frost and the Snow Maiden are painted on mirrors and glass.

In cities loving parents invite you home fairy tale characters so that they congratulate the children on the holiday and give them gifts. Someone goes abroad to celebrate the New Year on the golden sands of the beaches.

Whatever the old traditions or the new ones that have arisen, this holiday will always be in a special place for Russians. Maybe it's all about beautiful traditions? After all, belonging to rich history fills any event with special meaning. New Year is no exception. We, too, will someday become part of the past for our descendants. Let them know only good things about our lives.

In Russia main holiday- New Year, and the tradition of celebrating Christmas suffered significantly in the atheistic Soviet Union. However, for the last fifteen years we have also been celebrating Christmas. Russian people can never have too much holiday and fun!

Most countries celebrate Christmas on December 25th. But in Russia they celebrate the New Year on January 1st. Why?
To begin with, Tsar Peter I ordered to move the holiday and the calendar beginning of the year from September 1 to January 1, so that everything would be like in the West. In 1897, the beginning of the new year was officially declared a holiday, and the first day officially became a day off. In 2004, days until January 5th were declared holidays. We rest for ten whole days because Saturday, Sunday and Christmas are added to them.
But all our New Year traditions, like the Christmas tree and have a delicious dinner, in most countries are inherent in Christmas. And we love more New Year. The reason for this is the reform of 1918 - the Bolsheviks did not like the religious background of the holiday. And on January 7th, and not at the end of December, as in Catholic countries, because the authorities adopted the Gregorian calendar, and the church remained with the Julian calendar.

Rich New Year's table

In Russia, it is customary to celebrate the New Year with family or friends. Close people get together on the evening of December 31st to celebrate the Old Year and celebrate the New Year. And they gather for a reason, but at a set table, laden with all kinds of festive dishes.
To begin with, they usually remember what happened in the past year - good or, conversely, bad. They tell each other what important things happened in their lives and wish each other happiness. And of course, they don’t forget to pay tribute to the goodies and alcoholic drinks, which most families and companies tend to purchase a lot of.
Traditional dishes for the Russian New Year's table are “Olivier” and “herring under a fur coat” salads. And the most “New Year’s” fruit is tangerines. These dishes became mandatory back in Soviet time. In addition, many more intricate, labor-intensive dishes are usually prepared, some of which can be tried no more than once a year.

Champagne is the most New Year's drink

It is believed that the tradition of drinking champagne on New Year's Eve appeared in the 1960s - the authorities decided to provide every Soviet family with at least one bottle of Soviet champagne for the holiday. The tradition has taken root, and no wonder: the color of the drink, the sparkling bubbles in the glass, the cork flying out of the bottle - all this goes well with the seething joy of the holiday.
A glass of champagne must be drunk with the chimes. Don't forget to make a wish!

Christmas tree

The tradition of decorating a tree for a special holiday came from time immemorial. And decorating a spruce tree for the New Year or Christmas is already Christian tradition. According to legend, the holy monk Boniface tried to convert the Druids to Christianity and preached a sermon about miracles, in particular, he tried to convince the pagans that the oak was not a sacred tree at all. The saint took an ax and cut down one oak tree, and when it fell, it knocked down all the trees in its path. Only the spruce survived, and Boniface named it the tree of Christ.
The tradition of decorating the spruce came to us from Catholicism. At first, fruits were hung on it, then candles were added, but all this was too heavy for the fragile branches, and glass balls and garlands gradually replaced it.
Now it is impossible to imagine the New Year without a Christmas tree - it has become one of the most important symbols holiday. It is under it that children find gifts on the first morning of the new year. By the way, gifts are another important tradition. If you haven't prepared them for everyone yet dear people, then it's time to start.

Pies with wishes

In many families, it is customary to bake special pies with wishes for the New Year's table: a piece of paper in foil with the written word on it is wrapped in the pies: nice wishes. You can wish for anything - your imagination will come to the rescue.
Instead of a wish, there is a surprise. For example, a coin is placed in one pie from a large batch, one is baked very salty, and another is baked very sweet. The one who pulls out a pie with a coin during the chiming clock will become rich this year. The salty pie symbolizes difficulties and trials, the sweet one - the “sweet” life.
By the way, it can be not only a pie. In some families, dumplings are prepared for the New Year, among which the “lucky” person will pull out a peppered dumpling. Whoever gets one will have good luck in the New Year.

Snowflakes on the windows

You won’t see snowflakes on windows outside of Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union. Our snowflakes are special. We cut them out of paper ourselves and stick them on the windows ourselves to make the atmosphere in the house even more festive.
By the way, you can even make snowflakes with symbols of the year - for the coming 2015 it is a goat or a sheep. It's easy to find stencils on the Internet.

Address by the President

It cannot be said that the New Year's address to the people by the head of state exists only in Russia - in other countries this is also a common thing. However, in Russia the presidential farewell speech is treated with special attention. On December 31st at 23.55, the head of the country addresses citizens through several channels with a speech, where he usually sums up the results of the year.
Afterwards, the Kremlin chimes strike 12 strokes, marking the beginning of the new year. Then the national anthem of the country plays, and in all the houses and restaurants people raise glasses of champagne, clink glasses, and congratulate each other. This is how the New Year begins.

Ded Moroz and Snegurochka

Father Frost - main character New Year, a kind magical old man with a white beard in a red, white or blue fur coat and felt boots. Father Frost rides on three horses, and his granddaughter Snegurochka helps him.
Initially, Father Frost would have been a powerful pagan god and the personification of Russian frosts. He bound the water with ice, covered the ground with snow, and also protected from enemies - if Rus' was attacked, he sent terrible colds that the newcomers could not cope with.
Under the influence of Christianity, Grandfather became “angry” and became simply an angry and eccentric spirit. It was again the Bolsheviks who “returned” it as a symbol of the holiday, and since the 1930s it is no longer possible to imagine the New Year without Grandfather Frost. By the way, he has an official residence in Veliky Ustyug, his own post office and a birthday on November 18th - according to statistics, around then the most severe frosts occur in Veliky Ustyug.
The Snow Maiden has been accompanying Father Frost since 1937. The origins of her image also lie in pagan mythology. This Snow Girl is an exclusive Russian character.

Old New Year

And one more feature inherent only in Russia and the CIS countries - the Old New Year. This funny oxymoron and amazing tradition appeared due to differences in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The Church continues to use the Julian calendar, and the New Year begins “according to the old style,” so it falls on the Nativity Fast.
And in Russia they love holidays. So, after the decree of Peter I, Russians happily began to celebrate the secular New Year on January 1st, but they also did not forget the “church” holiday in January, in order to certainly observe all the traditions. And it took root - for 300 years now we have been celebrating both holidays.

Christmas traditions

Christmas vigil service

Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th, and the 6th is Christmas Eve (from the word “sochivo” - a special porridge made from wheat grains and seed juice). Christmas Eve is the last day of the Nativity Fast (which is rarely observed in Russia, because its middle falls on the New Year) and the eve of the Nativity of Christ.
On the night of January 6th to 7th in all Orthodox churches All-night service is being served in Russia. It starts in the evening and lasts about three hours. Then the liturgy is served, and immediately after it comes Christmas. People congratulate each other and go home to fast. On the morning of January 7th, another liturgy is served.

Christmas fortune telling

On Christmas night, Russian girls usually make fortunes: pagan tradition has survived to this day. It is believed that on this special night you can find out exactly your destiny and find out when and who you will marry, what life will be like, and so on. Some sources say that fortune telling should be done not on Christmas, but on Christmas Eve.
Fortune telling is an interesting, fun, but sometimes creepy activity. What is it worth just to tell fortunes with mirrors for your betrothed! On Christmas night, you need to sit between two mirrors, light a candle and peer into the “corridor of reflections” from where the groom should come. In the old days, such fortune telling was considered dangerous - supposedly something evil might appear from the corridor. You say, it’s nonsense, it’s not scary at all? And you try it. The fortuneteller should be alone in the house, no friends in the next room. Young people can also guess about their future wife in this way.
You shouldn’t take Christmas fortune-telling seriously, of course. But it's definitely great way have fun and celebrate Christmas, especially for girls: there are also collective fortune telling, usually accompanied by jokes and laughter.

Christmas table

On Christmas, it is customary to set a special table, which is very different from New Year's. On Christmas Eve you need to cook it juicy. You cannot eat food on this day until the first star appears in the sky.
Also at Christmas they bake wafers - thin round slices of unleavened dough. They are placed on clean hay in the middle of the table. The wafer symbolizes the infant Christ in the manger. During dinner, you should break the wafer with your companions and wish them all the best from the bottom of your heart.
First they eat juicy. Then they serve hearty snacks like salads and herring. Then - soup and pies. And at the end of the meal, sweet dishes are placed on the table - honey gingerbread, poppy seed rolls, nuts, jelly, cookies.
It is important to taste each dish, at least a little. And yes - no alcohol, meat, milk or sour cream. If a guest comes, then he must certainly be invited to the table - on Christmas it is customary to feed everyone. Some also feed birds and stray animals.

Carols - Christmas festivities

Nowadays, caroling is quite rare, especially in big cities, but previously it was a fun and beloved period for everyone, coming immediately after Christmas and lasting until Epiphany. It's called Christmastide. At this time they used to dress up in different costumes, staged on the streets funny Games, sang, danced in circles and congratulated everyone on the fact that winter had finally subsided and things were moving towards spring.
Carols were fun, festivities. People rode down the slides and had lavish feasts. However, nothing stops us from bringing back tradition and having fun from the heart in last days New Year's holidays.

Special Christmas decorations

Christmas decorations are similar to New Year's decorations, but there are differences. For example, on Christmas, candles are placed throughout the house, stars and wreaths are hung, and the house is decorated with images and figurines of angels. In fact, you can simply complement the New Year's decorations at home. It is better to remove the garlands - there will be enough candles.
Traditionally, red and gold are considered Christmas colors. The more there are, the more festive the atmosphere will be.

Christmas post

The Nativity fast lasts from November 28th to January 6th. During this period, you should refrain from eating large amounts of food and exclude meat, dairy products and eggs from your diet. However, due to the fact that the fast falls just on the New Year, it is difficult to resist.
But if you still want to touch this sacrament, keep in mind: fasting is not only abstaining from certain foods. John Chrysostom said that “true fasting is moving away from evil, curbing the tongue, putting aside anger, taming lusts, stopping slander, lies and perjury.”
This is true. Holidays, especially New Year and Christmas, are an opportunity to become kinder, enjoy life more and forgive all old grievances. This is an opportunity to start life on a new page. This is the most main tradition. Be kind and have a nice holiday!
With coming!

New Year is rightfully considered the most beloved and most long-awaited holiday. After all, we all remember very well the thrill with which each New Year's gift in childhood, the impatience with which every child waits for Santa Claus and waits for what he will bring us. But that was in childhood! Having matured, people begin to dream not about gifts, but about the fulfillment of their most cherished, most secret desires, and for this, one way or another, ancient Russian New Year traditions, customs, and signs come in handy.

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Photo gallery: Russian New Year traditions, customs, signs

We celebrate the New Year on January 1 because three centuries ago Tsar Peter I issued a decree ordering us to celebrate this holiday on December 31. It was this decree that became the reason for the emergence of many Russian traditions, customs, and signs. The spruce, for example, became the main symbol of the New Year holiday, as was customary in all European countries.

The next royal decree read: “... Along large thoroughfares, noble people in front of the gates should make decorations from juniper and pine branches... and poor people - at least one tree or spruce branch place it on everyone's gate..." For the first time on this New Year's holiday, all Muscovites decorated their houses with branches of juniper, spruce and pine according to the patterns that were decorated in the royal guest courtyard.

This custom was borrowed by the Russians from the Germans, who considered the spruce a sacred tree, in the branches of which lives the good “forest spirit” - the defender of justice, goodness and truth. The constantly green spruce symbolized longevity, eternal youth, courage, dignity and loyalty. Fir cones were a symbol of the fire of life, as well as the restoration of health.

The evening before the New Year was considered “generous.” The abundant festive table was decorated with everything that one wanted to have in abundance. For the New Year, they cooked various compotes, infusions, and beer, served a lot of meat, cereal and flour dishes, and baked pies with a wide variety of fillings.

In the center of the table, it was customary to place the meat of a two or three week old pig, roasted on a spit, which was perceived as a symbol of beauty. Surely, more than once you have heard such a concept as “kolyada”. This word refers to all pork products that were prepared for Christmas or New Year. Each owner tried to stock up on pork, since this product fed the whole family until Lent.

The New Year's table should not include dishes made from poultry, game birds or hare, because there was a belief that happiness could fly away or run away from home. Ukrainians, Belarusians, Russians and Moldovans considered pancakes and kutia to be a traditional New Year's dish. Guests were treated to nuts, sweets or figurines baked from dough in the shape of domestic animals: cows, bulls, horses.

It was customary to celebrate the New Year in a new dress and shoes (it was believed that then you would wear new clothes all year). Before the New Year, we tried to forgive all offenses and pay off all debts. On the eve of the holiday, windows and mirrors were washed in houses and broken dishes were disposed of.

In Rus', it was customary to prepare a very intricate dish for the New Year's table. It was not only expensive, but also required a lot of work from the cook. high level skill. This was the recipe in general outline: a piece of anchovies was placed instead of pits in fleshy olives, which served as a filling for a gutted lark, which was placed in a fat partridge, and that in a pheasant. The last “wrapper” of the olives was suckling pig. This work of culinary art was invented by the French court chef and dedicated to the beautiful Catherine II. Soon, a rich nobleman found out the secret of this extravagant New Year's treat and quickly spread it among the nobility. Inviting guests to the Empress roast has become very prestigious.

But now let’s move on from traditions to the rituals of the New Year holiday...

At midnight, when the chimes strike 12 times, we all wish for the most cherished desires which must come true in the coming year. Many people also observe a more complex ritual. When the clock strikes 12, a wish is written on paper, then the paper is burned and the ashes are stirred into a glass of champagne. Champagne must be drunk before the clock strikes the last stroke.

There are many other things associated with the New Year celebration, quite interesting signs. On New Year's Eve, in severe frost, water was frozen in a spoon. ABOUT good health and longevity is evidenced by ice in the bubbles, and illness or even death is indicated by a hole in the center.

There is one more no less interesting custom: on New Year's Eve part from festive dinner the girl put it under her pillow. Before going to bed, she invited her betrothed to come and taste the prepared dish. The lover was supposed to appear to her in a dream.

Popular with for a long time there are New Year's signs. I think it won’t hurt you to know some of them:

1. On New Year's Eve you cannot lend money, otherwise the whole next year You will desperately need them.

2. If you want good luck to accompany you everywhere in the New Year, wear something new.

3. In order for there to be prosperity in the house, the New Year's table must be bursting with food and drinks.

4. If on January 1 the first guest in the house is a man, the year will be happy, and if a woman is the opposite.

5. Remember, how you celebrate the New Year is how you will live it. Try not to swear, quarrel, cry or go to bed early on New Year's Eve.

6. To avoid causing trouble for yourself and any family members, do not do laundry on New Year's Eve.

7. If you throw trash out of your house before the New Year, expect troubles in the coming year and forget about well-being.

The most pleasant moment in celebrating the New Year is, of course, receiving gifts. If you want your gift to bring joy and pleasure to your family and friends, please note useful tips according to their choice.

Women do not like to be given: cheap perfume, lipstick, jewelry, sets of cheap soap, blouses, tights, frying pans, kitchen utensils and everything that reminds them of household. The exception is pre-agreed situations.

It is not advisable for men to give gifts: flowers, cufflinks, a tie, strong-smelling aftershave lotion or cologne, underwear, handkerchiefs, socks.

The child will be upset if you give him: clothes (without a toy), smart book(“Encyclopedia of a schoolchild”), school supplies, a souvenir that cannot be played with, but can only be placed on a shelf.

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 king, wanting to keep pace with the West, forbade celebrating the New Year in the fall, by special decree moving the holiday to January 1st. 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 New Year's holiday in those days there was not a feast, but mass celebrations. Peter not only himself took part in folk festival, but also obliged the nobles to do 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 called to his imperial palace narrow circle especially close ones (80-100 people). 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 big fan of balls and entertainment, and organized luxury Christmas trees and masquerades, 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, the 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: pieces of anchovies were put into fleshy olives instead of pits; 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 the house only coniferous 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 has become common 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 compiling 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 made reservations at 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 “Album of Diners”, 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