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January 14 is the old new year holiday. The history of the holiday Old New Year

Another New Year- on the night of January 13-14 - it is customary to celebrate with a lot more rituals than just raising a glass of champagne.

Where did it come from

For the fact that we celebrate the New Year twice, we must say thanks to the Russian Orthodox Church, or rather, to such a feature of it as conservatism. When in 1918 a new Gregorian calendar was introduced in Russia, according to which other countries had been living since 1582, the church did not recognize the innovation and continued to honor the holidays according to the Julian calendar or according to the “old style”. This gave rise to incidents: two Christmases and two New Years, one of which (from December 31 to January 1) falls during Lent.

It is curious that the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars grows by one day every 100 years - this happens when the number of hundreds in the year from the Nativity of Christ is not a multiple of four. From March 1, 2100, the difference will be two weeks, and from 2101, Christmas and Old New Year will come a day later.

Simultaneously with Russia, the Old New Year is celebrated in Belarus and Ukraine, Serbia and Macedonia, Montenegro and Georgia, as well as in Kazakhstan (40% of the population) and in the German-speaking cantons of Switzerland. This is because either the local churches still live according to the Julian calendar, or the people do not forget the tradition of rejecting the transition from the old chronology to the new one.

Vasily's meeting with Melanka

The people call the night of January 13-14 the meeting of Vasily with Melanka. By Orthodox calendar, January 13 is the day of memory of St. Melania (Melanka), and January 14 is the day of St. Basil the Great.

Melanka's holiday has long been popular with young people. Guys on a festive evening could get a second chance to win the girl they liked: if before the matchmaking ended in a refusal (“harmelon”), then on the eve of the Old New Year he could send the matchmakers again.

And the girls were supposed to guess at Melanka. The people said: "The girl will think of Vasily - she will not pass." According to tradition, during girl fortune-telling, the guys removed the gates from the fences of the fortune-tellers, and the girls' fathers could return the stolen goods only through the magarych.

divination

Some fortune-telling looks like this.

Go outside: whichever animal you see first, that will be the betrothed. If you meet a sheep, you will find a husband who is quiet and docile. And the cutest dog - to dog life.

Pour three heaps of grain at the gate, and check in the morning: if everything is intact - to a happy family life, but if the opposite - alas ...

You can also put a scallop under the pillow, saying before going to bed: “Narrowed-mummer, comb my head!”. Whom you see in a dream, you will marry him.

Another guess. Before going to bed, put the fragments of a broom in a plate of water and say: “Betrothed-mummer, take me across the bridge.” If in the morning you find that the wreckage has gathered in a whisk, then get engaged to those who dream.

generous evening
According to a long tradition, in the old new year's eve Vasiliev evening is celebrated - he is also “generous”. On this day, it is customary to lay a rich table. To thank those who sow and are generous, the housewives bake pies, fry pancakes and make dumplings. Pork dishes are especially relevant, because the holy

Vasily is the patron saint of pig breeders.

As at Christmas, kutia, which is called "generous", is prepared for Vasily. Unlike lean (for Kolyada), it is customary to season generous kutya with bacon and meat - skoromnina. You need to cook kutia in the early morning, keeping your eyes on the utensils. According to legend, a cracked pot or kutya falling out of a pot is a disaster. If the kutya succeeds, it must be eaten clean, and if a bad omen comes true, then the brew must be thrown into the hole with the pot.

On a generous evening, kutya is placed in a red corner - on pokuti. For dinner on the Old New Year, you need to sit down, as well as at Christmas, with the whole family. It is important for everyone to wear clean clothes. And after dinner, it is customary to ask for forgiveness (including from neighbors) for possible grievances in order to celebrate the New Year in harmony.

Key to food

If they carol at Christmas, then on the Old New Year, on the Generous Evening, they are generous - they sing ritual songs of the generosity, in which they wish the owners of the house prosperity in the new year and all kinds of blessings:

"Shchedryk-Petryk,

Give me a dumpling!

a spoonful of porridge,

Top sausages.

It's not enough

Give me a piece of fat.

Take it out quickly

Don't freeze the kids!

How many donkeys

So many pigs for you;

How many trees

So many cows;

How many candles

So many sheep.

Happiness to you

Owner with hostess

Great health

Happy New Year,

With all kind!

Once schedrovki were vesnyanka, because until the 15th century the Slavs celebrated the New Year in March. It was the time of the return of birds from warmer climes, so many ancient sheds contain references to spring birds - finches, cuckoos or swallows.

How to be generous and sow

According to an old custom, Old New Year's detours are made after sunset, when the devilry. Sowing and generous, like Christmas carolers, go around the house from evening until midnight.

The first guest brings happiness to the house. It was considered a good sign if it turned out to be a guy from large family with a strong economy. It was not welcome if the first guest was a girl or woman of childbearing age. And it’s really bad if he comes to visit first spinster, widow, cripple or old man. Therefore, girls most often do not sow, and if they go to be generous, they do not go into the house or come after the guys.

On the evening of January 13 (Melankin evening), girls (women) are generous. And on January 14, only boys (men) sow.

What's with the goat

One of the oldest folk mysteries is driving a goat. The roots of this rite are in the pre-Christian period, when the goat was considered a totemic animal. Her image, associated with honoring the ancestors, symbolizes wealth and fertility. The key stages of the mystery are the dance of the goat, its conditional death and resurrection. All this personifies the revival of nature after the winter fading.

Today by folk calendar Slavs Vasiliev day. Its name comes from the name of St. Basil the Great (330-379).

On the eve of Vasiliev's Day, it was customary to go from house to house with wishes of well-being and congratulations, while performing the ancient rites of sowing or sowing.

Housewives on this day baked cookies in the form resembling livestock or poultry. Many had pork dishes on the table.

In the morning, each member of the family tried to get up earlier than the others and go to the well, spring or river, draw water and wash it. It was believed that whoever did this would be healthy and vigorous all year. For New Year's washing, Belarusians put silver, copper or gold coins into the water.

Orthodox calendar:

the day of St. Basil the Great;
Circumcision of the Lord.

Name days are celebrated today:

Basil;
Gregory;
Peter;
Fedot;
Theodosius;
Emilia.

January 14: traditions, customs, superstitions

January 14 is the first day of the new year according to the old calendar. This day was celebrated in Rus' on a special scale. It was customary to celebrate the New Year by visiting the eldest in the family. Relatives came to him on the evening of January 13 and did not disperse until the morning.

St. Basil is considered the patron saint of pigs, as well as the guardian of gardens from worms. Therefore, on January 14, the peasants also called pig holiday. On each table there was a ritual dish - "Caesarean pig". The dish is named in honor of St. Basil, the archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, who was popularly called Caesarea.

A six-month-old pig was roasted whole, despite its size. The dish symbolized the fullness and prosperity of the peasant house. The ritual of eating a piglet, kutya and other ritual dishes was a magical act aimed at inducing a harvest, livestock fertility, prosperity and abundance in the household.

Before sitting at the table, they lit a candle in front of the icon and prayed to St. Basil. Seeds of different grains were poured on the table in the shape of a cross. The seeds were covered with a tablecloth and they sat down to supper. Borscht was served first, followed by pork. The oldest member of the family raised the dish with the pig up three times, while saying:

"So that the pigs are farrowed, the lambs are lambed, the cows are calved."

It was customary to break the piglet by hand. The owner took his head and distributed pieces of meat to those present in order of seniority. One of the small children was put under the table to grunt.

On Vasily's Day, fellow villagers could go into any hut where there was a piglet on the table and taste it. For this, they gave money to the owner, as much as they could. On the morning of January 15, the money was taken to the church. It was considered a great sin not to donate money or pork to the ministers of the church.

It was customary to guess by the wind about what summer will be like:

northern - cold;
western - rainy;
eastern - arid;
southern - warm.

Rituals for Vasiliev's Day

On this day, four rituals were performed:

caroling;
sowing grains;
cooking porridge;
divination.

Ritual "Caroling"

Residents of villages and villages walked under the windows in the evening, collecting pig legs and pies, while saying:

"Give a pig and a boletus for Vasiliev's evening."

Approaching the windows, the crowd shouted:

"Intestine and legs in the upper window."

Carolists were expected in every house, they prepared refreshments for them, which they brought out after the carols were sung. The carolers thanked the owners of the house:

If the crowd was not treated with anything, then they could sing this:

On Vasily's Day they sang ovsen (avsen, bausen, tausen, usen) - one of the three types of majestic and congratulatory songs (the other two are carols, grapes) of a magical nature. Such songs were sung during caroling. This type of song was named after the exclamation “Ovsen!”, which is repeated after each line. It is believed that this word is associated with the words "sow", "sowing". Ovseni were performed along with carols - songs that have the chorus "Kolyada!" In the autumn songs, they wished abundance and well-being to the family and home.

Ritual "Sowing grains"

On Vasiliev Day, early in the morning, the children went from house to house and said:

Sprinkled with grain with the words:

Children were always presented with something, grains were collected and stored until spring. By the number of grains harvested, it was determined which bread would give a larger and which a smaller crop. When sowing spring crops, they were mixed with other grains and seeds. Sometimes chickens were fed with seed grains and by the way they peck, they determined whether the year would be fertile.

Ritual "Cooking porridge"

The porridge was cooked before dawn. Exactly at two o'clock in the morning, the eldest of the women brought cereals from the barn, and the eldest man brought water from a well or river. Water and cereals stood on the table until the stove was heated. It was impossible to touch them, because. considered a bad sign.

When the porridge needed to be mixed, all family members sat down at the table. The older woman stirred the porridge, saying:

The hostess with a bow returned the porridge to the oven, and the household got up from the table. When the porridge was ready, they took it out of the oven with the words:

"We ask you for mercy to our house with your good."

It was customary to guess by porridge. Carefully examined the pot. If it cracked or the contents came out of it, then be in trouble. They removed the foam and examined the resulting dish. A full pot of deliciously cooked food promised good, happiness and harvest to the owners of the house. If the porridge is small or the vessel is incomplete, then there will be misfortune.

January 14: signs and beliefs

You can’t borrow money on Vasily’s Day, otherwise you will be in debt all year.
On January 14, you need to please yourself with a new thing, then you will walk in new clothes all year.
You can’t swear and slander, because how you celebrate the New Year is how you spend it.
A wish made on the night of January 13-14 will surely come true.
If it rains that day, it will snow on Easter.
Ice on the roads - to the harvest.
The growing moon - to high water in the spring.
If it snowed in the morning, then the winter will be snowy, and the spring will be late.
Snowfall - to a warm summer.
A thaw on this day portends cold weather in summer.
Starry night - to a rich harvest of berries.
In order for fruit trees to bear fruit well, in the morning snow was shaken off them.
Blizzard and snowstorm - to a good harvest of nuts.

Video: St. Basil's Day (January 14)

Change of chronology

Until the beginning of the twentieth century, the Julian calendar operated in Russia. Back in the sixteenth century, astronomers recognized it as erroneous, and the countries of Europe began to live according to the Gregorian, introduced by Gregory XIII. The thing is that the year has a different average duration, and therefore a difference in dates gradually arose.

By 1917 there was a discrepancy of as much as thirteen days in Russia and Europe. Having come to power, the Bolsheviks carried out numerous changes and reforms, including the issue of bringing time into one format with the European one. The decree on the transition of Russia to Russia issued by Vladimir Lenin in 1918 eliminated the confusion in numbers, and the whole world began to live according to one chronology.

Such is the history of the holiday. Old New Year, as we see, arose due to a change in the calendar. Instead of moving the event from one date to another, in the current historical situation, there is another reason for celebration. Now we have two opportunities to meet the coming year, you can do it in the old and new style.

Origins - in church traditions

The Julian calendar has been preserved in the Russian Orthodox Church, which to this day calculates everything only according to it. Keeping the traditional time, the so-called " old style”, the Russian Church rejects the European chronology. Since the worldly new year falls on January 14, the Old New Year can be called the New Year in the old style. This day before the revolution was considered the first day of January. Historically, our ancestors, having switched to a new calendar, did not depart from the previous one. This is the secret of two new year holidays in our country and some neighboring states.

Is it possible to have a feast during Lent?

For Orthodox people, this January 1 falls on the time of the strict Christmas fast. During this period, believers refuse meat, fast food and entertainment. These prohibitions are ending only therefore, on January 14, the Old New Year becomes a truly special day when you can enjoy life and enjoy the holiday. In European countries Catholic Christmas is celebrated on December 25, so the New Year's table can be safely covered with any dishes.

Second chance, or to be continued...

Surprisingly, since 1918, traditionally and annually, people celebrate the Old New Year. What date to celebrate this holiday, today even children know.

What is the secret of the popularity of the holiday, it is definitely difficult to answer. For some, this is the Orthodox New Year, for others it is an occasion to gather the whole family at the table, for others it is an opportunity to complete what they did not have time to do before January 1.

The pre-New Year fuss and hype has subsided, there is no more running around the shops in search of gifts and products, and a person has a unique chance to prolong the charm of the holiday. If you met the chiming clock on December 31 with your family, then this time you can have a party with friends, or vice versa. If, setting the table at the end of last year, you prepared a traditional Olivier salad and herring under a fur coat, then on this day you can experiment with new dishes.

What to do on the Old New Year?

It's no secret that television has become an integral part of our lives. TV programs, programs and films are watched by the whole country. Prepared especially for New Year's Eve, some shows may be of interest. If you missed a holiday movie or program last time because of a trip to the Christmas tree or a noisy feast, then you should not be upset: television people, perfectly understanding this moment, usually repeat their program on the evening of January 13. Each family can come up with their own traditions for celebrating the Old New Year.

Carol came - open the gate

Mid-January is Yuletide time. They begin on Christmas Eve and last for two weeks, until Epiphany. Being in the middle, the holiday divides Christmas time into two halves. The first week was called "Holy Evenings". This time is dedicated to the birth of Christ. But the second week was called "terrible evenings." Ancestors believed that evil spirits were walking these days. People turned to fortune-telling, remembered different rituals. On the Old New Year, on Christmas Eve and on the eve of Epiphany, it was customary to carol.

This folk action was something like a fun carnival. Youth and children dressed up in various costumes, masks and walked through the village. Stopping at each house, they sang special songs. Moreover, they were performed both on Christmas and on Epiphany, and not only on the Old New Year.

The history of the origin of the word "kolyada" is associated with the Latin term calendae, which translates as "the first day of the month." The semantic meaning has gradually changed, and now it means funny songs that mummers sing under the windows of houses, while collecting alms - treats.

The sheepskin coat - inside out, the bag - in the hands, and let's go around the yards!

For this fun, young people usually gathered in a whole group. A “mekhonosha” was necessarily appointed, who was responsible for a large basket or bag, where the treats brought by generous hosts were stored. Most often dressed up in animals, for example, a bear, a wolf or a goat. They also dressed up with all sorts of evil spirits, for example, the devil or Baba Yaga. At the same time, complex costumes were not required, the reincarnation took place literally due to improvised materials. The sheepskin coat was turned inside out and tied with a simple rope, the face was smeared with soot, coal or sprinkled with flour.

To treat the caroler - to live with dignity for a year: signs for the Old New Year

The carolers praised the hosts, their generosity, house, livestock and yard, congratulated them on the holiday, wished them health, wealth, a bountiful harvest, and for this the hosts presented them with pies, pancakes and other goodies. Such treats were prepared in advance and in large quantities. Ignoring the carolers was considered by those owners who regretted the treats, the mummers not only sang ditties ridiculing greed, but could also do mischief by bringing down a pile of firewood, tying the doors with a resin rope, or in other ways. It happened that a merry procession forgot to go into a house, accidentally skipping it. Such an incident was considered a harbinger of something bad. In the dwellings, which during the year were visited by a disaster that claimed someone's life, the carolers did not enter at all.

Protection from dark forces

Naturally, such dressing up in all sorts of evil spirits was not welcomed by the Church and was considered a diabolical undertaking. Therefore, at the end of Christmas time, carolers washed themselves with holy water and hurried to pray for sin in the temple of God. Since ancient times, people have tried in every possible way to protect themselves and their home from various troubles, for this there were special conspiracies. On the Old New Year, for example, it was supposed to take 3 lit candles to protect against the evil eye, damage and misfortunes and read the following words near the entrance to the house: “Happiness is in the house, all troubles are out! Whoever thinks evil, he will return three times. Whoever wants to jinx it, trouble will find it. And the Lord will protect this house, Saint Basil will look after it. Amen". These conspiracies for the Old New Year were repeated not only at the doorstep, but also at every window in the house. In the old days, people adhered to such rituals very strictly.

Folk omens for the Old New Year

As you know, there are events that contain unusual days and associated with them. The history of the holiday is also noted in it. The Old New Year is celebrated on January 14 and is called according to the folk calendar - Vasiliev Day. People noticed that if the weather was frosty and with little snow, then this promised a bountiful harvest. The thaw on this day was perceived as a harbinger of a cold and lean summer. There were other signs as well. On the Old New Year, a blizzard broke out - nuts will be born.

"Avsen, avsen, you walked all over..."

Vasily's Day was a holiday of agriculture, in connection with this he met merrily: calendar songs were sung, round dances were performed, people started dancing. Traditional rituals were also used. On the Old New Year, sowing was carried out, wheat grain was scattered in the house. They also prayed that she would be born this summer.

The holy martyr Basil was considered the patron of not only agriculture, but also pig breeding, whose day was celebrated on the Old New Year. The story goes that the owners prepared meat dishes, pies, pork jelly. It was believed that this would bring health and happiness to all households. In addition, it was necessary to treat guests with meat, so that night people went to each other - and congratulate, and taste goodies.

What kind of porridge you make, so you will spend a year

One more interesting tradition preserved the history of the holiday. Old New Year was a day of predictions. At night, elderly members of the family, a man and a woman, prepared ritual porridge. First, they waited until the oven heated up, and then they poured water over the cereal and put the pot in the oven overnight. By the way the porridge turned out, they determined what the coming year would be like. A whole pot and fragrant and crumbly porridge foreshadowed a happy future and a good harvest. Such a dish was eaten in the morning. If the cereal was out of the pot, running over the edge, or the vessel itself cracked, poverty and a lean year awaited the owners. In this case, the ritual porridge was not eaten, but immediately thrown away.

Even in ancient times, people said: "As you meet the year, so you will spend it." This statement, which has come down to our days, calls us to set a plentiful table with treats and dishes on a holiday and have fun, inviting wealth, prosperity and health to our home.

Published on 01/13/18 00:08

Old New Year 2018: what date is celebrated, customs and traditions, congratulations in verse, and much more, read in the TopNews material.

Old New Year: what date is celebrated?

On the night of January 13-14, the Old New Year 2018 begins. As a rule, in Russia this holiday is celebrated in large companies of friends and close people with a rich feast and wild fun.

The people called the holiday Basil's Day in part of St. Basil the Great, whose memory the Church honors the next day - January 14th.

Old New Year 2018: the history of the holiday

The Old New Year is celebrated mainly in the CIS countries. The holiday appeared after the change of chronology in 1918, when intkbbee the new government decided to switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. The difference between the calendars was 13 days, and the New Year according to the old style falls exactly on the night of January 13-14 according to the new style. This was the reason for the celebration.

Old New Year: traditions and rituals

On the eve of the Old New Year, the housewives clean the houses and prepare treats for the festive dinner. Celebrating the Old New Year begins on the evening of January 13th. Everyone gathers at a rich table, on which there are pies, pancakes, dumplings, cabbage rolls, sausages, aspic, cutlets, salads and other dishes. For dessert, gingerbread, cookies, cakes and rolls with cream fillings are served, while wines and champagne are popular among alcoholic drinks.

At midnight, people light sparklers, fireworks and make a wish.

In a number of regions, after sunset and until midnight, it is customary to carol. Schedrovalniks go around the houses and sing ritual songs with wishes of happiness to the owners. For this they are presented with sweets and money.

Divination for the Old New Year

It is believed that on the night of January 13-14, higher forces descend to Earth, so fortune-telling during this period is especially accurate. On this night, it is customary to guess the future, the fulfillment of a wish, the betrothed, the date of the wedding. people spend magical rituals in which they turn to higher powers for help. It is believed that all the predictions of this night will come true in the near future.

Old New Year: signs and beliefs

It is believed that if it snows or is foggy on the Old New Year, then the year will be fruitful.
On the eve of the Old New Year, you should ask forgiveness for offenses from all relatives and friends and forgive your own.
According to legend, if a man enters the house first on the morning of the Old New Year, then this is considered a good omen, and if a woman, then it will be a misfortune.
If there are large banknotes in the house for the holiday, then the coming year will pass in wealth.
On the eve of the Old New Year, it is necessary to put on new clean clothes so that good luck and prosperity accompany the year.

Congratulations on the Old New Year short and in verse

Here is the Old New Year -

Holiday, but vice versa!

And still we say:

Happy New Year with a new happiness!

We wish you many blessings:

Live richly, do not get sick,

And goodness, and peace in the world,

And more smiles, wider.

And in the hearts - love and happiness,

Despite all the bad weather.

Let miracles happen

So that life is a fairy tale.

Celebrates all the people

Holiday - Old New Year!

I wish you joy, fun,

And a groovy mood

So that all dreams come true

Reach heights in your career

Health, money, a lot of strength,

To give happiness every moment!

May the Old New Year

Will bring you happiness

A little peace.

Shows the right path

Fulfill all dreams

Add beauty,

Shed love in the hearts

Health will drip into the blood.

And every moment and hour

Tries for you!

Olivier, feast, toast,

Mummers go to visit.

Deja vu? Or maybe not?

Russians are used to celebrating the New Year twice - on January 1 and 14. But it's not just because we love the holidays. Not even because we love to eat and sing. Some do not think about ancient customs, but celebrate the Old New Year out of habit, because they always did.

Among the Romans, St. Melania's day traditionally ended the year, and St. Basil's day began a new one. In the popular imagination, these images turned into a stable couple, became tied to real historical figures (Prince Vladimir the Great and his mother Malusha). And in the ritual texts one can find echoes of legal norms and some details of the life of the tenth century.

On the night of January 13-14, Russians celebrate the Old New Year - a holiday that is incomprehensible to many foreigners. No one can really say - how is the Old New Year different from the traditional New Year familiar to everyone? Of course, from the outside it would seem that the matter is only in the divergence of dates.

However, we all treat the Old New Year as a completely independent holiday that can prolong the charm of the New Year. And maybe for the first time to feel it, because the situation is different, but on this day the holiday is more calm, there is no fuss, so characteristic of the holiday of January 1.

There are two reasons for the emergence of a unique New Year - a change in the start date of the New Year in Rus' and the stubbornness of the Russian Orthodox Church, which did not want to switch to the New Style.

Old New Year: The history of the holiday

In pagan times, the New Year was celebrated in Rus' on March 22 - on 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 replace the old one, and now the New Year began on September 1. For a long time there was still discord, and in some places the New Year continued to be celebrated in the spring. Only at the end of the 15th century in Rus' officially determined the beginning of the New Year - 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 chronology and the European one.

So two celebrations of the New Year were formed - according to the new and the old style.

On the night of January 13-14, Old New Year 2018 is celebrated - an additional holiday that arose as a result of a change in the chronology.

Old New Year: Holiday Traditions

This day in the old days was called Vasily's Day, and was of decisive importance for the whole year. On Vasily's Day, they celebrated the holiday of agriculture, which was associated with the future harvest, and they performed the rite of sowing - hence the name of the holiday "Autumn" or "Avsen". This rite 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 hostess then collected it and kept it until sowing time. Ukrainian rituals were distinguished by fun, dances and songs.

And there was also a kind of ritual - cooking porridge. On New Year's Eve, at 2 o'clock, the eldest of the women brought cereals from the barn, and the eldest man brought water from a well or river. It was impossible to touch cereals and water until the stove was heated - they just 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 uttering certain ritual words - the groats were usually buckwheat.

Then everyone got up from the table, and the hostess put the porridge in the oven - with a bow. Ready porridge was taken out of the oven and carefully examined. If the pot was just full, and the porridge was rich and crumbly, then one could expect a happy year and a rich harvest - they ate such porridge in the morning. If the porridge got 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. Such was the program - either for troubles or for prosperity, and it is not surprising that it was often realized - after all, they seriously believed in it.

An interesting rite of going from house to house to treat yourself to pork dishes. On the night of Vasily, the guests certainly had to be fed with pork pies, boiled or baked pork legs, and in general any dishes that include pork. A pig's head was also placed on the table. The fact is that Vasily was considered a “pigsty” - the patron saint of pig breeders 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 ceremony with porridge, especially for diligent and hardworking owners. Surprisingly sonorous and foldable saying: "A pig and a pig for Vasilyev's evening" also contributed to the mood of the owners for economic prosperity and abundance.

But the tradition of sculpting 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 house - with family and friends, and then they arrange a fun feast and eat these dumplings, looking forward to who, what kind of surprise will come across. This comic fortune-telling is especially liked by children. They even bring dumplings with them to work to cheer up friends and colleagues; and local food enterprises often produce such dumplings - just before the Old New Year.

The modern Old New Year is now celebrated in the same way as on New Year's Eve. It is believed that on the Old New Year you need to catch up on what could not be done on January 1. For example: make a wish, after writing it on a napkin, which is burned and thrown into champagne; watch concerts and letters that you haven't seen yet; send congratulations on the Old New Year to relatives and friends with repeated wishes of good and health; put gifts that were previously forgotten under Christmas tree, after which it can be removed. In the southern regions, the custom has been preserved to cook a pig or pork dishes so that the New Year becomes rich in good news. Carols are held in some villages, but their true meaning is more often lost.

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 Public Opinion Research Center, 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.

Divination for the Old New Year

For dinner, as on Christmas Eve, the whole family sits down. It is very important that the clothes on this day are thoroughly laundered and clean. After dinner, you must definitely go to the neighbors and ask one from one for an apology for possible guilt to each other, so that you can celebrate the New Year in peace and harmony.

The evening on the eve of the New Year gives a chance to those guys who failed during the matchmaking. This evening you can make a second attempt. True, for this you need to find the girl at home, and this is very difficult, since girlish bands of generous people are already walking around the village. The girls could be generous only under the windows of houses, and then only towards the end of the Generous Evening, that is, by midnight.

Girlish fortune-telling deserves special attention. What the representatives of the weak half did not do, just to find out what the capricious fate is preparing for them. Try, at least this: before going to bed, put a comb under the pillow, while saying: “My betrothed mummer, comb my head! » The one who scratches his head in a dream will be narrowed.

If you go outside at midnight, you can feel how the new year drives the old one away. On the first day of the New Year, the most common was, and still is, the rite of sowing. It is believed that this rite came to us from pre-Christian times, because our ancestors celebrated the New Year not in winter, but in spring, and therefore the sowing rite is associated with hopes for a good harvest. Most of the sowing was done by children, and those who came to the house first gave the most generous gifts. There were, besides single sowers, entire sowing groups. In this case, this interesting ritual turned into a real performance, where the main characters were Vasily, Melanka (Malanka), and gypsies.

Old New Year: Signs

Signs for January 13 and 14 We were attentive to the signs, among which the following stood out:

The weather on Melanka was warm, then the summer will be good;

Frost on the trees meant a good year;

If there was a blizzard or snowstorm at night, it was believed that the year would be restless;

Hearing an unusual ringing in the morning was the news of a possible replenishment. Be sure to cajole livestock so that the New Year for them is calm and prolific.

If at least some elements and traditions of the celebration are returned to modern reality, you can improve the New Year's mood even more and make the celebration unforgettable.