How is New Year celebrated in Europe? Traditions of New Year's Eve in European Countries

New Year is the most fun, mysterious, magical holiday.

This is probably the most beloved, eagerly awaited holiday of all the children of our planet.

In mid-December, a Christmas tree is installed in our house and the first joyful event on the eve of the New Year begins - its decoration.

How cool to get out of the boxes Christmas decorations, consider them and hang them on the Christmas tree. After decorating the Christmas tree, you need to decorate with tinsel and snowflakes and all the rooms, and also cook new year surprises to your friends and family, and, of course, Santa Claus. Therefore, the time until December 31 flies by quickly and interestingly. And, despite the fact that we celebrate the New Year on January 1, December 31 remains the most memorable and full of impressions.

After all, he passes in anticipation of a miracle and household chores. You need to be in time everywhere: help your mother and grandmother make a signature salad in the kitchen and assemble a large New Year's table with grandfather. And don't forget to look under the Christmas tree to see if Grandfather Frost came with gifts.

And of course, the pinnacle of the holiday, when all the smart people gather at the festive table and, under the chimes, make their most cherished wishes and wish each other happiness in the New Year.

And the first days of the coming New Year fly by unnoticed on trips to the holiday trees, on a visit and ice skating.

If each individual family has its own small traditions of celebrating the New Year, then what can we say about different countries who, like big friendly families, celebrate this magical holiday in their own way.

Chapter I. Traditions of celebrating the New Year in European countries.

There is a legend that the first New Year's holiday in Europe was celebrated on the night from 999 to 1000, when everyone expected the fulfillment of the prophecies of some clairvoyants that the end of the world would come with the advent of 1000. When nothing happened at midnight, everyone was very happy, began to congratulate each other on the New Year and have fun. In honor of this joyful event, the then head of the Roman Christian Church, Pope Sylvester II, held a divine service on the first day of the year 1000. Since then, the celebration of the New Year in Europe has become commonplace.

1. Spain

Perhaps Spain is the only country in the world where they plow in the winter. This is an old New Year's ritual. Village shepherds, dressed in sheepskin coats, girded with chains of bells and bells, go out to plow on stilts. Having joined in pairs, they take hold of the handles of the plow that pulls, not horses and oxen, but other participants in the ceremony, disguised as women. All together they diligently plow the snow!

Yes, indeed, in this rite everything is unusual. However, everyone is sure that this event will help them get a rich harvest.

And the village youth arranges an aguinaldo-carnival at this time. Boys and girls dressed in fancy costumes, led by an armed man, go from house to house with songs. Having spoken with another congratulatory verse, they sweep the floor in order to expel the evil spirits that have accumulated in it over the year from the dwelling.

So they celebrate the New Year in the Spanish villages. And city dwellers meet this cheerful holiday in a slightly different way. Prev new year's eve the townspeople spend on the streets and squares where folk festivals take place: songs, dances, processions of "giants" on stilts. People come into houses only to have a bite to eat, and for this, a festive table is laid in advance in every family, all kinds of dishes are prepared. And during the fight of the clock, each of the thousand gathered in the squares tries to eat 12 grapes. Each grape symbolizes one of the coming months, and having time to eat all 12 is a “guaranteed” fulfillment cherished desire. This fun tradition extends to those who celebrate the New Year at home.

1. 2. Italy

God forbid, a passer-by finds himself on New Year's midnight on the city streets of Italy! Exactly at 12 o'clock, the windows of the houses will open, and a broken bedside table or couch will fall on his head, chairs and armchairs that have served their purpose will fly. This poor passer-by runs the risk of being buried under shards of unnecessary dishes or fragments of an old chandelier.

Italians believe that the New Year should be celebrated, freed from everything old and bad that has accumulated over the past year. Therefore, with the New Year's clock, objects that are no longer usable fly out of the windows, old china sets, broken furniture and other things worthy of a garbage dump are ruthlessly broken. And in the morning, early pedestrians make their way through the streets, drowning ankle-deep in fragments and shards.

It is known that as you meet the first day of the New Year, so you will live the whole year. According to legend, the ancient Romans postponed all work for this time and indulged in the most unrestrained fun. And the Sicilians do it to this day.

In other regions of Italy, they believe that on January 1, you need to put your hands a little on various types of work, then throughout the coming year all things will work out. But the main thing is that it would be nice to spend this day without quarrels and squabbles. Then the year will surely be happy.

In some areas of Italy, peasants go to the spring early in the morning on January 1 to bring home "new" water. When you have nothing to give to friends, you can give “new” water with an olive sprig. This will be a very good gift, because the "new" water, taken before sunrise, brings happiness.

1. 3. Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, they traditionally celebrate the New Year at home. Before the start of the holiday, the youngest in the house stands near the Christmas tree and sings carols to the guests. In gratitude, kind uncles and aunts give him gifts. The most interesting begins with the 12th stroke of the clock. At this time, the lights go out for a moment in the houses for New Year's kisses. Only after that the hostess begins to cut the cake with surprises baked in it. If you got a coin, wait for wealth, a branch of a rose - love.

1. 4. UK

Great Britain boasts a considerable number of New Year's customs and traditions. In addition to the Christmas tree, the house is decorated with mistletoe sprigs. The inhabitants of the islands have endowed this plant with magical properties. Its branches were considered the best gift, being a symbol of fertility. Bouquets of mistletoe are even on lamps and chandeliers.

The bell announces the arrival of the New Year in England. True, he starts calling a little before midnight and does it in a “whisper” - the blanket with which he is wrapped up prevents him from demonstrating all his power. But exactly at twelve bells are undressed, and they begin to loudly sing hymns to the New Year.

According to an old custom, when the clock starts to strike 12, the back doors of the house are opened to let out old year, and with the final blow, the front doors are opened to let in the New Year.

In English houses New Year's table they serve turkey with chestnuts, as well as Brussels sprouts with meat pies, followed by pudding, sweets, fruits.

On New Year's Eve, theaters play out performances based on old English fairy tales for children. Lord Chaos leads a merry carnival procession, in which fairy tale characters take part: Hobby Horse, March Hare, Humpty Dumpty and others.

In England a custom arose to exchange greeting cards. First New Year card was printed in London in 1843.

1. 5. Hungary

In Hungary, in the first second of the New Year, they prefer to whistle in children's pipes, horns, whistles. It is believed that it is they who will drive away evil spirits from the dwelling and call for joy and prosperity. Preparing for the holiday, Hungarians do not forget about the magical power of New Year's dishes: beans and peas preserve strength of mind and body, apples - beauty and love, nuts can protect from trouble, garlic - from diseases, and honey - sweeten life.

1. 6. Germany

In Germany, people different ages, as soon as the clock begins to strike midnight, they climb onto chairs, tables, armchairs and, with the last blow, together, with joyful greetings, "jump" into the New Year. And in the villages, the medieval tradition of the bleiglessen ceremony has been preserved: a lead bullet is found, which melts to a boil and pours into a glass drop by drop. Lead solidifies again. The resulting figure will tell you about what awaits next year.

1. 7. Austria

In Austria, December 31st is called Sylvester's Evening. The townspeople spend it noisily and cheerfully, gather in cafes and theaters and celebrate the New Year. It is customary to give figurines or send postcards with traditional symbols of happiness. These are the chimney sweep, four-leaf clover, pig. Dinner on December 31 should be plentiful in order to live well in the New Year. Compulsory meat dish piglet or pork is considered as jellied. In order to be happy, one must eat a piece of the head or a pig's snout; this is called "participating in swine happiness".

1. 8. France

The one who gets the bean baked in the New Year's cake receives the title of "bean king", and on a festive night everyone obeys his orders. Wooden or clay figurines - santons - are placed near the Christmas tree.

II. Santa Claus in different countries

The image of Santa Claus has evolved over the centuries, and each nation has contributed something of its own to its history.

Saint Nicholas, who did good to people and helped the poor, is considered the prototype of Santa Claus.

At first, Santa Claus was portrayed in a raincoat. By the end of the 19th century, the Dutch depicted him as a slender pipe smoker, skillfully cleaning the chimneys through which he threw gifts to children. At the end of the same century, he was dressed in a red fur coat trimmed with fur. In 1860, the American artist Thomas Knight adorned Santa Claus with a beard, and soon the Englishman Tenniel created the image of a good-natured fat man. With such Santa Claus, we are all well acquainted.

Santa Claus looks different in every country.

In France, a grandfather with a staff and a wide-brimmed hat, called Pere Noel ("Christmas grandfather"), puts gifts directly into the chimney, or leaves them in children's shoes.

In England, children order gifts for Father Christmas. He needs to write a letter listing what he wants and throw it in the fireplace. The smoke from the chimney will deliver the wish list directly to the destination. And the gifts will definitely be in the sock.

There are two Santa Clauses in Sweden: a round-shouldered grandfather with a knobby nose - Yultomten and a dwarf Yulnissaar. Both the one and the other go home on New Year's Eve and leave gifts on the windowsills.

In Finland, the New Year's grandfather is called Yolopukki (in Finnish, "youlu" is Christmas, and "puki" is a goat). This name was not given to him by chance: many years ago he wore a goat skin and delivered gifts to children riding on a small goat. Yolopukki lives on Mount Korvantunturi, his wife Maria helps him run the household. He wears a tall conical hat, long hair and red clothes. He is surrounded by gnomes in pointed caps and capes trimmed with white fur.

In Germany, kids are looking forward to Santa Claus, who arrives on New Year's Eve riding a donkey. Plates are placed on the tables for gifts, and hay is put in shoes so that the donkey, when hungry, can eat.

In Italy, on New Year's Eve, grandfather Babo Natale and the good fairy Befana come to the children, who arrive on New Year's Eve on a broom, enter the house, opening the door with her golden key, and put gifts in children's stockings, specially hung by the fireplace. They give gifts to obedient children, while lazy and capricious children get only coal.

Santa Claus, whose name is Mikulas, comes to Czech and Slovak children, he is dressed in a fur coat, a high ram's hat and with a staff, with a top twisted into a spiral. He brings gifts not in a bag, but in a shoulder box. And in the Czech Republic and Slovakia there is the most modest new year character in the world. This is Yozhishek. Throwing gifts to children, he carefully watches that no one sees him. Apparently it is for this reason that nothing is known about the appearance of the good-natured man. But, as soon as the Christmas bell rings on the Christmas tree, thousands of Czech and Slovak children rush to look at the gifts they got.

CONCLUSION

It was always interesting for me to find out how the New Year is celebrated in other countries, but I had no idea how many interesting, unusual, and sometimes funny traditions exist in each country and how people of different countries call and imagine Santa Claus differently.

After interviewing my classmates, I came to the following conclusions:

1. Our Russian traditions are observed in the children's families. Such as celebrating the New Year with the family, installing a Christmas tree, making New Year's souvenirs, snowflakes, making a wish under the chiming clock.

2. The guys know a lot about our Grandfather Frost, and in other countries they know only Santa Claus.

I think they, and the rest of the guys in our country, will be interested to learn about the celebration of the New Year in European countries - our neighbors.

Meeting New Year in different countries is associated with traditions that have been preserved since ancient times. Even among the ancient peoples, a belief was born - how New Year you will meet, so you will spend it. To this day, in different countries resort to various tricks to "lure" good luck, prosperity and well-being.

Meeting the New Year in different countries is associated with traditions that have been preserved since ancient times. Even among the ancient peoples, a belief was born - as you meet the New Year, so you will spend it. To this day, in different countries resort to various tricks to "lure" good luck, prosperity and well-being.

Yes, in Austria It is believed that on New Year's Eve, to be happy, you need to eat a piece of a pig's head or a pig's snout.

IN Hungary in the first second of the New Year they prefer to whistle in children's pipes, horns, whistles. It is believed that it is they who drive away evil spirits from the dwelling and call for joy and prosperity. Preparing for the holiday, Hungarians do not forget about the magical power of New Year's dishes: beans and peas preserve strength of mind and body, apples preserve beauty and love, nuts can protect from trouble, garlic from illnesses, and honey sweetens life.

IN Germany people of all ages, as soon as the clock begins to strike midnight, climb on chairs, tables, armchairs, and with the last blow together, with joyful greetings, "jump" into the New Year. And in the villages, the medieval tradition of the bleiglessen ceremony has been preserved: a lead bullet is found, which "contains the secrets of the future." The bullet is melted to a boil and poured into a glass drop by drop. Lead solidifies again. The resulting figure will tell you about what awaits next year.

IN Romania unmarried women usually go to the well, light a candle and look down. The image of the flame will draw the face of her future husband in the dark depths of the water. Those who do not risk wandering the streets at night take a branch of the basil and place it under the pillow: a dream will show the betrothed.

IN Greece New Year is the day of St. Basil, who became famous for his extraordinary kindness. The children leave their shoes near the fireplace, hoping that the saint will fill them with gifts.

IN Italy it is customary to throw out broken dishes, old clothes and even furniture from apartments at the very last minute of the old year. They are followed by crackers, confetti, sparklers. It is believed that if you throw away on New Year's Eve old thing, then next year you will buy a new one. And all the children are waiting for the sorceress Befana, who arrives at night on a broomstick and enters the house through the chimney. She fills with gifts children's shoes, specially hung by the fireplace.

IN Spain There is a tradition to eat grapes on New Year's Eve. By the sound of the clock, you need to have time to eat 12 grapes, one for each of the twelve coming months.

IN Scotland The New Year is celebrated with a kind of torchlight procession: barrels of tar are set on fire and rolled through the streets. Thus, the Scots "burn" the old year and light the way for the new. The well-being of the owners depends on who enters the house first on the morning of the new year. It is believed that a dark-haired man who comes with a gift will bring happiness.

V England according to the old custom, when the clock begins to strike 12, the back doors of the house are opened to let out the old year, and with the last blow, the front doors are opened, letting in the new year.

IN Scandinavia in the first seconds of the New Year, it is customary to grunt under the table in order to drive away evil spirits, illnesses and failures from the family.

IN Ancient China on New Year's Day, the only holiday of the year for the poor was announced, when anyone could enter the house and take what they need, and if you refuse, the neighbors will turn away with contempt. IN modern China New Year is the festival of lanterns. It is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the New Year according to the lunar calendar. On New Year's Eve, countless small lanterns are lit in the streets and squares, believing that the sparks from them will drive away evil spirits. The New Year itself comes in January-February, so it is associated with the end of winter and the beginning of spring. For many centuries, the inhabitants of China, seeing off cold and bad weather with the light of lanterns, meet the awakening of nature. The lanterns are given a different shape, decorated with bright patterns, intricate ornaments. The Chinese especially like to put lanterns in the form of 12 animals on the streets, symbolizing each year of the 12-year cycle. lunar calendar.

In Vietnam The new year according to the lunisolar calendar is called Tet. This is a family holiday, during which all quarrels are forgotten, insults are forgiven. The Vietnamese decorate their homes with miniature tangerine trees with tiny fruits. Every Vietnamese home has an ancestral altar, and paying tribute to their memory is an important part of New Year's celebrations. Celebrated in Vietnam New Year and January 1, it is called "holiday of the young."

IN Mongolia with the advent of the first day of the New Year, a truly nationwide festivities begin in the country. The official New Year in the country is January 1, and the New Year according to the lunisolar calendar is called "Tsagaan Sar". According to tradition, in kaTA, the family sees off the old year, the farewell is called "bituun". At this moment, you can not quarrel, argue, swear and deceive, this is considered a great sin.

new year in Japan is one of the most popular holidays in the country. Japanese children celebrate the New Year in new clothes, believing that this will bring good luck and health. On New Year's Eve, children put a drawing depicting their dreams under the pillow, then the wish should come true. IN flower arrangements dominated by a pine, symbolizing longevity and endurance. And in the morning, when the New Year is already coming into its own, the Japanese go out to meet the sunrise, with the first rays they congratulate each other and present gifts. Bunches of straw are hung on the facades of houses to protect the house from evil spirits. And the most important thing for the Japanese is to laugh at the first second of the New Year - then happiness will accompany them all year.

The main New Year's accessory is a rake (kumade), with which the Japanese will be able to rake in happiness in the new year. They are made from 10 cm to 1.5 m in size and are decorated with rich paintings. To appease the Deity of the Year, which brings good luck to the family, the Japanese build kadomatsu in front of the house - a small gate made of three bamboo sticks, to which pine branches are tied. Also in Japan, exactly at midnight, a bell begins to ring, which beats 108 beats. According to an old belief, each ringing "kills" one of the human vices. According to the Japanese, there are only 6 of them - greed, anger, stupidity, frivolity, indecision, envy, but each has 18 shades.

IN India as many as eight dates that are celebrated as the New Year, as many cultures intersect in the country. On one of these days - Gudi Padva - you need to eat the leaves of the neem tree, which taste very bitter and unpleasant. But according to the old belief, they protect a person from diseases and troubles and provide, oddly enough, a sweet life.

IN Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria and Tanzania meet Muharram - the first month of the year of the Muslim lunar calendar. A few weeks before this date, Muslims put grains of wheat or barley in a dish of water so that they germinate. By the beginning of the new year, sprouts appear, which symbolize the beginning of a new life.

In European countries, Christmas holidays precede New Year's, so all the main preparations are being made here from the beginning of December. Let's see how they celebrate the New Year in Europe.

How is New Year's Eve celebrated in Italy?

In Italy, for example, celebrations begin on the day of Saint Lucia (December 13), when they celebrate the festival of light. This is followed by the advent of Babbo Natale, the local Santa Claus (December 24). And it all ends with the appearance of Befana - a little old witch who brings all kinds of sweets (chocolate according to tradition) to children on January 6 - on the holiday of Epiphany. Thus, little Italians are lucky twice: on Christmas night they receive gifts from Babbo Natale, and on the Epiphany holiday - sweets from Befana. Moreover, Befana is a very picky fairy: she brings chocolate to obedient and kind children, and stuffs stockings for little rascals and pranksters, specially hung for this purpose from the Christmas tree or from the ceiling in the nursery, with tiny black coals. In general, befana is a rather funny character, Italians love him very much. This witch has large protruding teeth, a hooked nose, and wears a pointed hat, long cloak, and holey woolen stockings. He wears a bag of chocolate and coals on his back and moves from rooftop to rooftop on foot, on a broom or on a horse. According to an ancient legend, she came to Italy by accident, but she liked it here so much that she settled forever. Originally from Bethlehem, Bethany allegedly met the Magi on their way, hurrying with gifts to the newborn Jesus. She wanted to go with them, but was refused. Instead, she was invited to go around the world and give gifts to all obedient and prudent children. Since then, Befana has "settled" in Italy. In Rome, you can still "meet" this funny witch and even take a picture with her. By the way, on New Year's Eve, it is at the insistence of Befana that the Italians, who are not devoid of a sense of humor, deal with all the junk that has accumulated over the year. Often they throw it all right out of the windows, watching with curiosity the reaction of passers-by.

How is New Year's Eve celebrated in the Netherlands?

New Year in Europe. For residents of the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, the main New Year's event is the appearance of the local Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, in the city port. The guest arrives in the country by sea, through Rotterdam, and a meeting is organized for him in the tiny fishing village of Monnickendam not only by ordinary citizens, but also by the city authorities, including the mayor of the capital. This usually happens in early December. And all the subsequent New Year's Eve, the Dutch kids try not to be naughty in order to earn long-awaited gifts from Nicolas and his servant, nicknamed Black Pete. In this country, festive celebrations are very traditional, except for the obligatory skating on the city skating rink, built specifically for the holiday period. By the way, there is a similar skating rink in Copenhagen, and many Danes specially come to the capital with their families to "try out the ice".

New Year's holidays in Italy are quite simplified. Old traditions are rarely observed, mainly in the villages. On the day before Christmas, they work only until lunch, and in the afternoon they decorate Christmas trees and prepare gifts. An ancient custom requires that gifts be presented by an old woman, the bephina. But she distributes gifts after the New Year, on January 7th.

How is New Year's Eve celebrated in Spain?

For the Spaniards, who use any occasion for a fun fiesta, the main holiday (due to greater religiosity) remains Christmas: this evening is spent exclusively with the family, at a richly laid table, which, by the way, is the more refined and plentiful, the poorer the family, since it is for this dinner, the hostess tries to stock up on the most incredible delicacies. Moreover, despite their age, gourmets, young and old, prefer sweets, which can be represented by dozens of different dishes. There are wine dough pies, and macaroons, and cumin cookies. As for gifts, according to tradition, they are mainly received by children, as in Italy on January 6th. The kids hang out the window the night before a stocking prepared ahead of time, which is full of gifts by morning. But December 31 - St. Nicholas Day - a true holiday in the circle of friends. Here, no one is bound by religious rites, and everyone has fun as he pleases. It happens that they celebrate together with whole floors or houses, entering the apartments of their neighbors with a glass of their favorite sangria or rechi and a dish of some kind of treat.

How is New Year celebrated in Belgium?

The Belgians from the province of Namur, who are slightly laughed at in Europe, spend Christmas night at the gaming table. In every cafe, diner or village restaurant there is a card game (reminiscent of the domestic "fool"). The winner receives an amazingly tasty bun from sweet dough rather large sizes - in the form of an angel or little Jesus - with icing and powdered sugar, which is called kerstbroden. sometimes such treats are replaced by a 30 cm long chocolate log, and a week before the New Year, the International Fair opens in Brussels, where you can buy goodies for the New Year's table, brought from all over Europe.

How is New Year's Eve celebrated in Ireland?

In Ireland, on the eve of the New Year, everyone opens the doors of their houses. Anyone who wishes can enter any house and will be a welcome guest: he will be received with great joy, seated on place of honor, they will treat you with a glass of good wine, not forgetting to say: "3a peace in this house and throughout the world." The next day everyone celebrates the holiday at home. At half past eleven, the Irish come out to the illuminated and festively decorated central city square.

How is New Year celebrated in Austria?

Meeting the New Year in Austria, especially in cities, is of a public nature. People don't like to stay at home during this time. Most of all, this is inherent in the crowns. They say that in no other Western European capital do they meet New Year's celebration as much fun as in Vienna. Each time it turns into a brilliant and cheerful mass performance, the main action of which is played out on the streets and squares of the city, in its cafes, cellars and theaters. Stefanplatz square is considered the central New Year's stage. By midnight on December 31, thousands of citizens flock here to hear the ringing of the large Pummerin bell, cast back in 1771 and installed on the Cathedral of St. Stephen. Moreover, not only ordinary citizens are rushing, but also police units, ambulances. And all because of the fact that with the first strikes of the bell, firecrackers, rockets, sparklers fly into the sky ... Despite the fact that there are almost always victims, the Viennese stubbornly follow this tradition.

They show the same persistence in other ways. On December 31, at the same time in two theaters, the State Opera and the People's Opera, the operetta by Johann Strauss "Die Fledermaus" is traditionally given. Each Viennese believes that at least once in his life he should visit the New Year's performance of the famous operetta. It is clear that there are more than enough people who want to get into one of the two theaters that evening. Tickets to " bat“They are sometimes ordered a year in advance, and they are very expensive, but this does not stop people ... The Austrians adhere to the signs associated with the New Year no less strictly. For example, on the eve of the holiday, a horseshoe is nailed to the doors of houses.

Pork or jellied pig are always present on festive table otherwise you won't see happiness. And everyone is sure to try to eat a piece of the pig's head or snout, this is called "participating in pig happiness." But the Austrians do not prepare geese, chickens, ducks and turkeys for the New Year, because they believe that it is impossible to eat a bird on a festive evening: happiness will fly away.

For our generation, especially for the peoples of Europe, New Year is associated with winter, a lot of snow and a decorated Christmas tree, and many no longer realize that this was far from always the case. In ancient times, not only among the Slavs, but also among other peoples, the celebration of the New Year usually took place in March, and the holiday itself was associated with the rebirth of nature, awakening from a long winter sleep.

For our generation, especially for the nations Europe, The New Year is associated with winter, a lot of snow and a decorated Christmas tree, and many no longer realize that this was not always the case. In ancient times, not only among the Slavs, but also among other peoples, the celebration of the New Year usually took place in March, and the holiday itself was associated with the rebirth of nature, awakening from a long winter sleep.

Even in the Law of Moses, described in one of the very first books of the Old Testament, you can see the decision to celebrate the beginning of the year in the month of Aviv, the name of which is associated with ears of corn. Although the Hebrew calendar differs from the modern Julian and Gregorian calendars, and its dates shift in time every year, usually the New Year fell in March or early April, when everything began to bloom. In ancient Rome, the New Year was also celebrated in March, at which time various offerings were brought to the pagan Janus, religious rituals were held, and after them various festive events began, covering the whole people. And only Julius Caesar in 45 BC introduced transformations into the Roman calendar, and a new solar calendar appeared, which is used in the countries of the Western world today - this calendar was called Julian, and the Catholic Church now lives on it.

On New Year's Day at all times, even among pagan peoples, it was customary to congratulate each other and give gifts not only to relatives and friends, but also to officials. Initially, it was customary to give dates, fruits and berries to each other, they were pasted over with gilding as a prototype of modern bright packaging, times changed and copper coins began to be used as New Year's gifts as a symbol of wealth and prosperity. And rich people, rulers and aristocrats, gave each other gold and silver, jewelry and rare things, as well as other valuables. Roman patricians expected gifts from the inhabitants of the empire in the first place, and each client was simply obliged to give new year gift to his patron, as a kind of tax, over time this custom became an unshakable law for all the inhabitants of the Roman Empire.

The New Year's holiday was also held in France before 755, and the date of the celebration of the New Year changed more than once. Sources testify that the New Year was originally celebrated on December 25, like Christmas, in the XII-XIII centuries the year was counted from March 1 when nature began to awaken, and subsequently the New Year coincided with Easter - not only a symbol of resurrection, but also the most significant holiday for all Christians. And only the French king Charles IX in 1564 issued a decree approving the celebration of the New Year on January 1, and the date of the holiday has remained unchanged for centuries. Even earlier on this day, they began to celebrate the New Year in Germany, from the beginning of the 16th century, although in those years the country was not united, and its territory was fragmented into numerous kingdoms, principalities and duchies. In the XVIII century, the celebration of the New Year in England was also transferred to January 1. For many centuries, even from the moment of the baptism of Kievan Rus by Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, the Orthodox population celebrated the New Year in accordance with the customs of their ancestors, on March 1, but the chronology often began with Easter - bright resurrection, and chronicles were usually written by monks or clergymen.

By the end of the 15th century, in 1492, the date of the celebration of the New Year in Rus' was moved to September 1. The Grand Duke, then not even a tsar, John Vasilyevich the Third, in his decree approved the resolution of the Moscow Cathedral adopted before that. Since then, September 1 has become the official date of both the secular and church New Years. But in those days it was customary to use this day to collect taxes and dues from the population of the country, collect duties and tribute, as well as church tithes. It is not surprising - by this time the crop, especially grain, was harvested. And the tsar, having adopted the custom common on the territory of the Byzantine Empire, the day before the celebration of the New Year, he came to the white-stone Moscow Kremlin, received the people, including commoners, listened to the complaints of each of them. A city dweller, a peasant, a merchant, and even a noble boyar could ask for truth and mercy from the tsar.

One of the foreigners, who is one of the direct participants in the celebration of 1636, describes the celebration of the New Year in Rus' as follows. More than 20 thousand people gathered in the courtyard near the palace - both children and streaks, both women and men. The Patriarch of All Rus' and the clergy, whose number exceeded four hundred people, came out of the nearby Assumption Cathedral. Each of the clergymen present was dressed in festive richly decorated vestments, and they held church books and icons in their hands. On the left side of the palace square, the tsar passed, accompanied by a large retinue, consisting of boyars, princes and nobles. The king with his head uncovered approached the Patriarch, whose head was decorated with myrtle, they embraced and kissed each other. After that, the king kissed the gilded cross of the Patriarch, and the chief clergyman wished happiness and health for the New Year to the king, queen, other members of the royal family and all the people. In the square there were cripples, the poor and the poor, who, bowing to the autocrat, with their hands up, asked the king for various favors. During the celebration, petitioners were also allowed into the palace, many requests were recorded and then transferred to the king.

The last time on September 1, the New Year was celebrated in Rus' in 1698, it was held in a solemn atmosphere in accordance with the traditions prevailing at that time. Voivode Shein organized the celebration with royal pomp, and the feast was attended by many noble princes and boyars, military and civil officials, as well as sailors of the new Russian fleet. The tsar was also present at the feast, he approached almost every guest, presenting many with ripe juicy apples. A lot of healthy cups were drunk, and after draining each of them, a volley of 25 powerful cannons was heard in the sky.
A large crowd saw how Tsar Peter the Great, accompanied by his wife Evdokia from the boyar family of the Lopukhins and their young son Alexei, entered the Assumption Cathedral located near the palace. He was already dressed in European clothes, and all the other eminent guests were dressed in the same style. And only the widowed Empress Praskovya Feodorovna, mother of Peter the Great, was dressed in traditional Russian attire, paying tribute to old traditions. The king congratulated his people on the New Year, at this time his guards, also present on the square, were already shod in over the knee boots and dressed in blue uniforms.

The reformer tsar introduced an innovation not only in the clothes and life of the population of his country, but also transferred the celebration of the New Year to 1st of January- the date when the New Year was celebrated in most European countries. The difference was only in the difference between the calendars - according to the Gregorian calendar used in Rus', the new year came two weeks later than in Europe. And today, many of our fellow citizens celebrate the New Year twice - in the old and in the new style. In addition to the date of the celebration, Peter the Great introduced other innovations to the calendar - all dates began to be counted from the year of the Nativity of Christ, and not from the creation of the world, as was previously accepted.

Peter did not want to completely abandon the celebration of the New Year, he only changed the date of the celebration and some customs, introducing into the holiday itself elements borrowed from other European countries, including Holland. The king explained his decision by the fact that the reckoning from the Nativity of Christ is already being made not only in Catholic countries. Many Orthodox peoples - Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbs, Moldavians, Vlachs, as well as Ukrainians (then they were called Little Russians) by the end of the 17th century already celebrated the New Year on January 1, on the eighth day after Christmas, from which the dates were counted. The innovation caused a lot of discontent, especially among the clergy, and the tsar was supported by the Archbishop of Novgorod Feofan Prokopovich, who explained to everyone the need to switch to a new chronology, and also explained the nature of old customs and their history.

Although the change in the date of the celebration of the New Year was not to the liking of a large number of the population of Rus', accustomed to the old "grandfather" customs, but fortunately, no unrest occurred. The reform began with a strict ban on any festive events on September 1, in order to “discourage” any holidays on this day, and on December 15, 1699, the streets of the capital were filled with a loud beat of drums, which was usually accompanied by the reading of royal decrees to the people. There was already a platform on the square in front of the palace, on which the herald loudly read the royal decree on the celebration of the New Year on January 1, in which there was a command to decorate the gates of houses with spruce and juniper branches, even poor people were obliged to decorate their gates with at least one branch of needles. Decorations made of spruce branches were supposed to please the townspeople for at least a week, until January 7th. On New Year's Eve, "fiery fun", shooting from small cannons and rifles were organized on Big Red Square. Volleys and fireworks were ordered to be arranged for all noble and wealthy people, and the poor burned bonfires from firewood and brushwood not only near their homes, but also in the squares. The celebration of the New Year on January 1, 1700 began with a rocket that snaked into the starry sky, this rocket was fired by Tsar Peter the Great himself, and after that the holiday spread to the entire population of Belokamennaya.