New Year. New year in Russia
Almost all countries of the world like to celebrate the wonderful night of transition from last day December to January 1st. This is a magical period. The night is loved by both children and adults.
What kind of holiday is the New Year: history, traditions
One of the first (around the III millennium BC) decided to celebrate the onset of the New Year in ancient civilization- Mesopotamia. The great Julius Caesar did this a little later. In the forties of our era, he decided to start New Year from January 1st. On this day, the inhabitants of the Roman Empire started major important deeds (this was a good omen) and made sacrifices to the great Janus. Gifts and praise of officials were also timed to coincide with this holiday. They were presented with fruits in gilding, copper coins and other expensive things. Patricians received special gifts. This custom for a long time "settled" in Rome.
The ancient Romans dedicated this day to the god Janus. These are doors, entrances and all beginnings. And the first month is named after him.
It starts its course in the Pacific Ocean, and ends in the same in the Pacific Ocean - on Midway Island. But there are countries that celebrate this night in different days and even months. For example, in China, it is related to the lunar cycles.
Israeli traditions
What is the history of the New Year in Israel? Traditions are honored from antiquity. In this country, the holiday of Rosh Hashanah (means "head of the year") is celebrated during the month from the fifth of September to the fifth of October. Usually after Passover, 163 days later. From this day on, the time of self-deepening and spiritual repentance begins for the Jews. It lasts ten days. The next ten days are called the "days of teshuva" (or repentance and trembling). And they end with the so-called Yom Kippur. The Israelis believe that these days a person's fate is guessed a year ahead. Therefore, they meet each other with parting words: "May you be in the Book of Life signed and written on good year!" At the festive table, an apple or challah is dipped in honey (a symbol of happiness and prosperity).
Chinese traditions
How do people celebrate New Year in China? History and traditions are fraught with a lot of unknown. The features of the celebration have deep roots. In the People's Republic of China, it is customary to celebrate the New Year at the end of the full cycle of the moon, the first after the winter solstice. Consequently, a countdown is being conducted from December 22, and after the second new moon, a festive night begins. The inhabitants of this country call the change of year the "Spring Festival". It has been considered the most important celebration since time immemorial.
By New Year's Eve in the northern part of China, they like to decorate the house with flowering peach branches or fruits. Apricot and almond trees bloom on the streets. In the south of the country, to attract good luck in the new year, the altar is decorated with watermelons. On the eve of the holiday, mass magnificent processions take place on the streets of cities and towns - dragon dances. This action is especially spectacular at night.
In Russia
What is in Russia? For a long time (until the 15th century) New Year's festivities began on the night of the first of March. And since the 15th century, Russians have been celebrating September 1. Around the same time, the first mentions of the emerging traditions of the celebration appear.
John Vasilyevich III (Grand Duke) in 1492 made a firm decision and decided to start the church and civil year in September, the first day, that is, on the day of collecting dues, tribute and duties.
To give it solemnity, the tsar personally appeared in the Kremlin. Then simple people or noble boyars had the opportunity to seek mercy, truth and justice from him. The Byzantine celebration of the church new year became a prototype of the celebration of the new church year in Rus'.
Dictionaries of the 16th century interpreted the name of this celebration of those years as follows: "The first day of the year." Since 1700, by decree of the great Emperor Peter I, the New Year is celebrated in Russia, as in European countries, that is, according to And when is it? Of course, January 1st.
What is the New Year in the XX century? Continuous metamorphoses: from January 1, 1897, this day is declared a day off. In the period 1930-1947. he becomes just a worker again. And in 1948 they again made it a day off and a holiday!
Peculiarities
What is New Year? Traditions and features of New Year's Eve public holidays in many houses of the world are important, sometimes fateful. In addition to numerous festivities and feasts, coniferous trees are dressed up, houses and city streets are decorated. Everything glows, shimmers and shines. And almost every nation has its own new year grandfather. In the Christian world, grandfather is called Santa Claus. This name comes from the name of St. Nicholas, thanks to a distorted Dutch transcription. He gives gifts to children for Christmas. Santa Claus is more like a Christmas grandfather. Although it is also welcomed on New Year's Eve.
What does this holiday mean to us? What is New Year? A holiday that brings loved ones together. And of course, our dear Santa Claus comes to us! This fairy-tale character appeared from distant Slavic myths. personifies winter frosts and blacksmiths who forge water. The image of Frost, of course, is a collective one. The main motif of Grandfather is St. Nicholas, diluted with the magic of the deities of the ancient Slavs: Zimnik, Pozvizd and Korochun. Our own grandfather comes in felt boots, a blue, less often red coat embroidered with silver, with a magic staff. And always with a bag of gifts on his shoulder. He usually moves on three horses.
old New Year
In modern Russia there is a special - the old New Year. It appeared after the abolition of the Julian time reckoning. And it is celebrated at night from January 13 to 14.
New Year traditions
Before New Year's Eve in Cuban ancient tradition in houses all kinds of basins, jugs, bowls, etc. are filled with water. And at midnight this liquid pours from all windows, as if seeing off the year, wishing him an easy and bright road.
In the Japanese islands, the New Year is accompanied by the ringing of bells. 108 strokes symbolize all shades of human vices.
Use all kinds of fireworks, started in China. The noisy, loud and bright tradition made it possible to drive away numerous evil spirits. Now, without exception, all countries of the world. In the New Year's fun, sparklers, fireworks, Roman candles, crackers large and small, etc. are used.
IN last years the capitals of some countries are invited to attend New Year's pyrotechnic shows. The largest shows are held in London, Sydney and various cities in China.
In Sweden, for example, before the New Year they choose the beautiful Lucia. Kids do it. Having chosen the queen of light, they dress her in a white outfit, and put a crown with burning candles on her head. Queen Lucie gives gifts to children and treats to pets.
Conclusion
Now you know what the New Year is, what are the features of this holiday. We hope that the article was useful to you.
New Year in Russia is celebrated on the night of December 31 to January 1. Traditionally, it is customary to celebrate it with family and loved ones. Young people prefer noisy parties in clubs.
On the main squares of cities, on the eve of the New Year, a spruce is lit, near which the main events unfold winter holidays. The main Christmas tree of Russia is installed on the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin. She is alive and selected according to strict standards. She should have a smooth trunk, without moss, lichens and hollows. The span of the branches at the base of the main coniferous beauty should be at least 9 meters and a height of at least 30 meters. A team of designers is working on decorating the Christmas tree, which every year comes up with new ideas: from colors to LED lights.
Traditions and rituals
Hostesses invite guests in advance, make menus and buy food for festive meals.
A few weeks before the holiday, TV shows the old, beloved, New Year's films: "Carnival Night", "Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!", "Magicians", "Girls". People enjoy watching these films year after year and have already sorted them into quotes.
The Russians believe in the omen: “As you celebrate the New Year, so you will spend it!”. On the eve of the holiday, they try to complete all the important things, pay off debts, and forgive insults. People buy holiday clothes in advance. It is believed that the one who meets the coming year in a new beautiful clothes, will spend it in new clothes.
The inhabitants of Russia are kind to the patron of the Chinese (Eastern) calendar. They try to appease the owner of the coming year: they prepare decorations corresponding to him, put dishes on the table that should please him (bananas for the Monkey, cereal products for the Rooster, cheese for the Rat), give symbolic souvenirs to loved ones. Russians believe that a coaxed animal will bring good luck and prosperity to the house.
The celebration of the New Year begins on the evening of December 31st. The owners of the house and their guests gather at a luxurious table and see off the outgoing year. At 00:00 and 00:00, they drink champagne to the sound of the chiming clock, watch the President's New Year's address on television, congratulate each other and make a wish. Particularly gambling people write down their desire on a piece of paper, which is set on fire at midnight. The ashes are dipped into a glass of champagne and drunk. They believe that this ritual will lead to the fulfillment of a wish.
history of the holiday
New Year in Russia began to be celebrated on January 1 from 1700, by decree of Tsar Peter I. In tsarist times, it was celebrated for seven whole days. Noble families put elegant coniferous trees in front of their houses, lit tar barrels and launched rockets. Cannons fired in front of the Kremlin.
Modern traditions of celebrating the New Year originated in the USSR. It has become a real family holiday, with its inalienable attributes: Olivier salad, the Kremlin chimes, Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden. January 1 has been a public holiday since 1948. In 1993, it was also declared non-working on January 2. Since 2005, New Year holidays have been established from the 1st to the 5th. Since 2013, they have been extended until January 8.
New Year decoration
A few weeks before the holiday, Russians decorate the streets of cities, shop windows, shopping centers and houses with garlands and New Year's compositions. Each house has a Christmas tree, which is decorated with balls, garlands. Under the coniferous beauty put the figures of Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden. A popular decoration are snowflakes cut out of paper or foil. They are glued to windows in apartments, houses, offices, schools and kindergartens.
In the last decade, Russians have adopted some American and European traditions. One of them is decorating the front door with a New Year's wreath of fir branches.
Festive table
The celebration of the New Year in Russia is notable for the abundance of dishes on the table. Housewives spend all day on December 31 in the kitchen preparing holiday treats. Indispensable dishes are salads "Olivier" and "Herring under a fur coat", meat jelly (jelly). Russian housewives also prepare casseroles, pies, and various desserts. On some tables there are cakes with wishes, inside of which they put a sweet or salty filling and a piece of paper in foil. Write on paper good wishes next year.
No New Year's table is complete without a tangerine. Their smell is an essential attribute of the winter holidays.
IN new year's eve Russians drink various alcoholic drinks, the most popular of which is champagne. Even on children's tables there is a non-alcoholic substitute for an "adult" drink. In addition to champagne, there are wines, cocktails, cognac, vodka on the tables.
Present
In Russia, it is customary to give gifts to friends, relatives and colleagues for the New Year. different gifts: from symbolic postcards and souvenirs to expensive ones jewelry and gadgets.
Santa Claus brings gifts to children with his helper, granddaughter Snegurochka. He rides a team with three horses and leaves sweets and toys under the Christmas tree for the guys who have been obedient all year. The birthplace of this character is Veliky Ustyug, where his official residence is located. There is a post office in the estate of Father Frost, to which children from all over the country send letters.
New Year's resorts in Russia
Russia is a huge and beautiful country where you can find holidays for every taste.
The visiting card of the New Year in the Russian Federation is Veliky Ustyug. This northern city is a place for the whole family to relax. Children and their parents will find themselves in a winter fairy tale filled with magic and Russian hospitality. Interesting entertainment, fairs and performances await guests here. Through the mail of Santa Claus, you can send a postcard with his autograph or personal seal to family and friends.
Winter St. Petersburg will appeal to young people and lovers of cultural recreation. The city will welcome its guests with an atmosphere of romance and ancient palaces steeped in history. New Year's fairs, fireworks, theatrical performances, concerts, city skating rinks and snow slides will delight lovers of entertainment.
Winter sports enthusiasts will be happy to meet the ski resorts of Sochi. The snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus Mountains, the mild climate and clean air will make your vacation unforgettable. Trails of different difficulty categories, safe ski lifts and modern hotels will pleasantly surprise vacationers.
Fans of national color and untouched nature have a place to roam. Winter tours to Karelia, Krasnoshchelye, Kamchatka, the Kola Peninsula will give you the opportunity to get in touch with local traditions, ride a sled with reindeer or dogs and taste local cuisine.
How to tell kids about Christmas
An interesting story about the New Year for children, interesting stories and Christmas poems.
New Year is coming
January is upon us.
The lights on the tree are bright,
And under the tree - gifts!
New Year travel
Having received gifts from St. Nicholas, Sasha and Alyonka began to wait for gifts from Santa Claus. After all, the New Year is coming soon!
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Who first came up with the idea of celebrating the New Year? Nobody knows for sure! After all, this day is celebrated by all peoples since ancient times. True, for every nation the New Year comes at its own time. In addition, there are many different traditions and customs.
For a long time, the ancient Slavs celebrated the New Year on March 1. They gave us the tradition of lighting lights on Christmas trees. Lighting a fire promised a good harvest. With the adoption of Christianity, the New Year began to be celebrated on September 1.
More than 300 years ago, in 1700, Tsar Peter I ordered the New Year to be celebrated on January 1st. At the same time, a tradition appeared to decorate Christmas trees, arrange fireworks and New Year's costumed carnivals.
Do you want to know more about how the New Year is celebrated in other countries? When the clock begins to strike midnight, the British open the back doors of the house. Quietly emerges from them. old year. With the last blow, the front doors are opened and the New Year is celebrated.
In Hungary, in the first second of the new year, children's pipes, horns and whistles begin to whistle. Thus, they drive away evil spirits from the house and call for joy.
In Germany, as soon as the clock starts to strike midnight, people different ages climb on chairs, tables and armchairs. And with the last blow, together with joyful greetings, they “jump” into the New Year. Just imagine what a noisy holiday they have! .jpg)
In Italy, it is customary to throw away broken dishes from apartments at the last minute of the old year, old clothes and even furniture. Firecrackers, confetti, sparklers fly behind them. They say: if you throw away the old, you will buy a new one, even better. And all the children are waiting for the sorceress Befana, who arrives at night on a broomstick and enters the house through the chimney. The fairy fills children's shoes with gifts, specially hung by the fireplace.
Spaniards eat grapes on New Year's Eve. But not just eat, but also count. Berries should be exactly 12 - one for each of the twelve coming months.
In Scandinavia, in the first seconds of the new year, it is customary to grunt under the table to drive away illness and failure from the family.
In modern China, the New Year is a lantern festival. Only they celebrate it not on January 1, but change the date every time. On New Year's Eve, many small lanterns are lit in the streets and squares. The Chinese believe that sparks from them drive away evil spirits.
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Japanese children celebrate the New Year in new clothes. It is believed that it will bring good luck and health. On New Year's Eve, children put a picture of their dream under the pillow. The wish must come true.
New Year in India can be celebrated eight times! On one of these days - Gudi Padva - you need to eat the leaves of the neem-nim tree. It is very bitter and unpleasant in taste. But the Indians believe that this foliage protects a person from diseases and troubles.
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In Bulgaria, they traditionally celebrate the New Year at home. Before the start of the holiday, the youngest member of the family stands near the Christmas tree and sings carols to the guests. Grateful relatives give him gifts.
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What is the name of Santa Claus?
In our country, the famous grandfather is Santa Claus. He is wearing a long red coat with white fur. Santa Claus has a long white beard and holds a staff in his hands. He comes to visit not only with gifts, but also with his assistant, granddaughter Snegurochka.
In the USA, Canada, Great Britain and Western Europe, Father Frost is called Santa Claus. He is dressed in a red jacket, decorated with white fur, and red trousers. On the head is a red cap.
There are two Santa Clauses in Sweden: the hook-nosed grandfather Yultomten and the dwarf Yulnissaar. Both on New Year's Eve leave gifts on the windowsills.
In Finland, New Year's grandfather is called Joulupukki. He has a tall cone-shaped hat and a red outfit. He is surrounded by gnomes in pointed hats and capes with white fur.
And the Estonian Santa Claus is called Yiuluvana. He looks like his friend Joulupukki.
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There are also two Santa Clauses in France. One is called Per-Noel, which means "Father Christmas". He is kind and brings gifts to the children in a basket. The second is called Shaland. This bearded man wears fur hat and a warm travel coat. Hidden in his basket are rods for naughty and lazy children.
In Italy, the old fairy Befana comes to the children. She flies into the house through the chimney. Fairy brings gifts to good children, and naughty children get only ashes.
In Romania, the "snow grandfather" is called Mosh Krechun. He is very similar to our Santa Claus. In Uzbekistan, his name is Korbobo. He is dressed in a striped robe and a red skullcap. Corbobo rides a donkey loaded with sacks of New Year's gifts.
New Year 2020 is celebrated on the night of December 31 to January 1. It's a day off. It is considered a family holiday. Traditionally, it is celebrated at home at the solemn table, in the circle of the closest people. Young people prefer to go to parties in nightclubs and bars.
Symbol of 2020
2020 is the year of the Yellow Earth Pig. The pig symbolizes, on the one hand, honesty, directness, thoughtfulness, purposefulness, peacefulness, sociability, sensitivity, and on the other hand, naivety, slowness, categoricalness, idleness, superficiality. The Yellow Earth Pig knows how to manage money. Good luck in business. She carefully plans any activity. This always gives a positive result.
history of the holiday
Until the 15th century, March 1 was considered the beginning of the year, which marked the awakening of nature. Since 1492, the New Year began to be officially celebrated on September 1. In 1699, Peter I introduced the European tradition of celebrating the New Year. The celebration began to be celebrated on January 1 according to the Julian calendar. In 1918, the Gregorian calendar was introduced. The New Year began to be celebrated two weeks earlier, although the official date remained unchanged.
Traditions and rituals
Preparations for the New Year begin at the beginning of December. On the main squares of the cities, a fir tree is lit, near which the main events of the winter holidays unfold. The hostesses prepare the menu in advance, think over the shopping list, invite guests, and carry out general cleaning in the house.
People are attentive to the choice of New Year's attire. They try to make the color of the clothes please the patron animal according to the Chinese calendar. Popular proverb is "How you meet the New Year, so you will spend it." Therefore, on the eve of the holiday, people try to complete important things, pay off debts, and forgive insults.
A week before the holiday, Soviet films, well-known and beloved by the older and younger generations, begin to be broadcast on TV channels: “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!”, “Sorcerers”, “Carnival Night”, “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka”, entertaining holiday programs from participation of popular pop stars.
The celebration of the New Year begins on the evening of December 31st. The owners of the house and invited guests gather at a magnificent table. Closer to midnight, they see off the old year, wishing each other that all the hardships remain in the past year, watching the president's New Year's address on television.
A bottle of champagne is uncorked at midnight. Make a wish under the chiming clock. To make their plans come true, the most gamblers write a wish on a piece of paper and set it on fire. The ashes are dipped into a glass of champagne and drunk.
At midnight, the sky over cities and villages flares up with fireworks. People light sparklers, blow up firecrackers and firecrackers.
New Year decoration
The main attribute of the New Year holidays is the Christmas tree. In every house, the coniferous beauty is decorated with toys, balls, bright tinsel, electric garlands. A scarlet star is placed at the top. It is popular among children to make garlands, lanterns and various crafts from colored paper. Figures of Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden are placed under the Christmas tree.
Window panes are decorated with homemade snowflakes. From European culture came the tradition of hanging a sock for gifts and a wreath of pine needles on the front door in the children's room.
On the eve of the New Year, the streets of cities flash with bright illumination. Elegant Christmas trees and festive decorations are set up in the squares and in the halls of shopping centers.
New Year's characters: Father Frost and Snow Maiden
The main characters of the New Year are Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden. Santa Claus is depicted as an old man in a long red or blue fur coat, in felt boots, with a gray beard and a magic staff. Together with his granddaughter Snegurochka, he rides around on a troika of horses and delivers gifts to children.
Not a single New Year's party passes without these characters. They lead round dances with children, sing songs and give gifts.
Present
In the New Year, it is customary to give gifts to friends and relatives: souvenirs, good luck talismans in the form of a symbol of the coming year, things needed in everyday life, equipment, jewelry.
Children are waiting for gifts from Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden. At night, while the kids are sleeping, parents leave sweets and toys under the Christmas tree. On the eve of the holiday, the guys write and put letters under the pillow to their favorite character, in which they talk about their dreams and desires.
New Year's table
New Year's menu is varied and luxurious. A month before the holiday, housewives begin to buy delicacies: red fish, sausages, caviar. There are traditional dishes on the table: salads "Olivier" and "Herring under a fur coat", jellied meat dishes, cabbage rolls, meat pies. Among fruits, tangerines are the most popular. Main alcoholic drink holiday table- champagne. It is opened and drunk to the sound of chimes.
The hostesses pay special attention to decorating the festive table. They cover it with a new bright tablecloth, put the best plates and cutlery. On the tables you can see candles in beautiful candlesticks. For table setting use napkins with New Year's drawings: snowflakes, Christmas trees, snowmen, Santa Claus, the patron saint of the coming year according to the eastern calendar.
Divination for the New Year
People believe that a special atmosphere of magic and miracle reigns on New Year's Eve. They cannot resist the temptation to know their future. From ancient times, many fortune-telling and predictions have been preserved, which are especially popular among young girls today.
The most common is divination for the betrothed with the help of scraps of paper on which are written male names. Mirror divination is also popular. Through the water in the vessel, the girls are trying to see their fate in the mirror. No less famous is divination on hot wax. In the frozen figures, the girls try to see symbolic signs.
New Year's signs and beliefs
New Year's Eve is the time for miracles. So that luck does not pass by, it is customary to adhere to signs and conduct bizarre rituals.
- What is the weather on January 1, the same will be on June 1.
- You can not take out the garbage from the house on New Year's Eve, otherwise the house will leave well-being.
- Before the New Year, all debts must be distributed, otherwise the whole year will pass in debt.
- If you put on a new dress on a festive evening, then the next year will be in new clothes.
- If you put a large bill in your pocket on a festive night, then in the new year there will be money.
Congratulations
Happy New Year congratulations
I hasten to send
So that good luck and luck
Couldn't leave.
Let the money fall
From the sky like snow.
Let them rustle in the pockets of a thousand,
And in everything there is success.
On this quiet New Year's Eve,
Velvet lilac, with silver,
Congratulations and I wish you a meeting
With joy, love and kindness.
Happy New Year! Let it spin you
In a round dance of happiness and dreams.
May he make friends with you,
So that you are always on “you” with her!
What date is the New Year in 2021, 2022, 2023
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan Fr | January 1 Sat | January 1 Sun |
13. 12.2015
Catherine's blog
Bogdanova
Good afternoon, readers and guests of the Family and Childhood website. New Year holiday - magical holiday waiting for both adults and children. He breathes magic, beckons with brilliance and bright lights to the fabulous world of unusual creatures. This holiday, like all others, has its own history, traditions and features.
The history of the New Year's holiday
The history of the new year has many centuries. It was celebrated even three thousand years before the birth of Christ. Julius Caesar, the well-known ruler of ancient Rome, set the beginning of the year on January 1 in 46 BC. This day belonged to the god Janus, and the first month of the year was named after him.
In Russia, January 1 began to be considered the first day of the year only under Tsar Peter I, who signed a corresponding decree in 1700. Thus, the emperor moved the celebration to the same day on which it was customary to celebrate the New Year in Europe. Prior to this, New Year's festivities were held in Rus' on September 1. And until the XV century, it was believed that the year originates on March 1.
If we talk about history closer to our days, then January 1 first became a public holiday in 1897. In the period from 1930 to 1947 it was a normal working day in the USSR. And only in December 1947 it was again made a holiday and a day off, and since 1992 one more day has been added to it - January 2. And quite recently, in 2005, there was such a thing as New Year holidays, which last the whole 10 days, including weekends.
The traditions of the new year are many and varied. Each of them carries a certain meaning and has its own history. So, Christmas tree – essential attribute holiday. Decorated in Russia for the first time spruce branches at home by decree of Peter I, who imitated Europe in everything. 
And the custom to put and decorate a green beauty for Christmas appeared already at the end of the 19th century. It was taken from the Germans. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was forbidden to put up a Christmas tree, but in 1936 this ban was lifted, and the green beauty again began to bring joy to children and adults.
Separately, it is worth talking about. In ancient times, a green tree was decorated unpretentiously. Usually they hung vegetables or fruits, as a rule, apples, nuts and various products of labor. At the same time, each individual decoration carried a certain meaning. And only in the 17th century did the first toys appear, which served as a prototype for modern Christmas tree decorations. It was then that the first glass balls appeared in Germany.
This happened in the town of Thuringia in 1848. And in 1867 in Lausch, Germany, the first factory for the production of Christmas tree decorations was built. It is worth noting that the Germans for a long time rightfully held the primacy in this matter.
And the tradition of decorating the top of the Christmas tree with a figure of Christ originated in Scandinavia. Later, it was replaced with a golden angel. And closer to our time, they began to decorate with a spire. In the USSR, a red star burned at the top of the Christmas tree in every house.
Over time, not only the appearance of the toys changed, but also the styles in which the Christmas tree was decorated. So, bright sequins and tinsel at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century (as in our days) were replaced by the fashion for a Christmas tree in restrained silvery tones. Later, figurines made of paper and cardboard gained popularity. But fashion is cyclical, and bright shiny jewelry soon regained its place in homes.
It is interesting to note that the history of our state is directly reflected in Christmas decorations. In the USSR, there were many figurines of vegetables and fruits during Khrushchev's time. During the Second World War, figurines of paratroopers were hung on branches.
Under Stalin, Christmas tree hockey players and figurines of circus characters were produced. In addition, toys with state symbols were widely distributed, for example, the already mentioned star on top.
Nowadays, it is fashionable to make toys with your own hands. For this, a variety of technologies and materials are used. They are knitted, glued, cut and combined these different techniques. Almost every home today has a toy or garland made by the hands of children and their parents.
Another tradition is new Year gifts. Without them, a holiday is not a holiday. Boxes of different sizes, wrapped in multi-colored paper, are placed under the Christmas tree on New Year's Eve. And in the morning, these gifts discovered by children will be a source of joy and Have a good mood. The obligatory guests of the New Year's holiday are Santa Claus and his granddaughter Snegurochka. It is they who, according to legend, bring gifts to children in a bag.
The image of the fabulous Santa Claus is collective. It was created on the basis of St. Nicholas and the Slavic folklore character Moroz, who personifies winter frosts.
If there are prototypes of Santa Claus in many national cultures, then the Snow Maiden is a purely Russian heritage. She appeared relatively recently. Most likely, it was first mentioned in fairy tales in the 18th century. And in 1873, A.N. Ostrovsky composed the play "The Snow Maiden", where she is depicted as the fair-haired daughter of Father Frost and Spring-Red, dressed in a blue and white hat, fur coat and mittens.
And in 1936, the image of the Snow Maiden received its completed form, when, after the official permission of the holiday, in manuals for organizing New Year's matinees she began to perform on a par with Santa Claus.
Features of the celebration
As you know, the New Year is family celebration. On this night, the whole family gathers at the table, various delicacies and treats are prepared. There is such a sign "As you meet the New Year, so you will spend it." Therefore, the table, as a rule, is bursting with a variety of dishes, so that in the coming 365 days such an abundance would be on the table every day. This can also explain the desire to dress in new beautiful outfits.
In the past few years, the celebration of the new year has increasingly been transferred from cozy houses and apartments to cafes and restaurants. In order to have a fun night, hosts are invited to organize contests and offer other interesting entertainment. New Year's tours are also gaining popularity, which make it possible to celebrate this holiday in other cities and even countries.
According to custom, at 11 p.m. on December 31, they see off the outgoing year. The celebration of the new coming year begins at midnight with the chimes and the clink of filled glasses. Many people believe that if you manage to write your cherished desire on a piece of paper, burn it and sip champagne, then it will surely come true.
New Year's mood is also given by television programs and programs dedicated to this holiday. As December 31 approaches, the air is flooded with good old films about the New Year, musical television programs, and fairy tales. Every inhabitant of our country at least once saw the "Irony of Fate", without showing which not a single New Year passes.
"Blue Light" and other musical programs are shown on each channel. The President's speech and his congratulations have the opportunity to watch the whole country. This tradition dates back to 1970, when Leonid Brezhnev spoke to the citizens of the country for the first time.
Nowadays, it is impossible to imagine New Year's Eve without festive fireworks. Run it both centrally and privately. Starting from midnight until 1 a.m., multi-colored stars and artificial lights scatter non-stop in the sky.
This action looks especially grandiose in big cities, where they arrange impressive pyrotechnic shows. In addition to fireworks, sparklers are lit in every house and crackers explode. You can read about how to choose the right one.
The use of fireworks, firecrackers, firecrackers and other pyrotechnics in New Year holidays originates in China. It was believed that evil spirits that night, expelled from their former habitats, are looking for a new home.
Having found it, they will cause various troubles and troubles to its owners all year round. And the loud noise and bright lights from gunpowder explosions can scare them away. This tradition has gained wide popularity and spread all over the world.
The celebration of the Old New Year is common only in Russia and some CIS countries. It is celebrated on the night of January 13-14. On this day, according to the Julian calendar, the new year began. In fact, it is an echo of the change of chronology during the transition to the Gregorian style. For Russian people, this is another reason to gather at the festive table. 
