History of the New Year in Russia

The most long-awaited and beloved holiday was not always celebrated in this way, as is customary today. Until the 10th century in Russia this holiday was celebrated in the spring period on the day of the equinox. After the adoption of Christianity in Russia and switched to chronology and the Julian calendar, the year was divided by 12 months. In the future, until the 14th century, according to the history of the New Year in Russia, the holiday was celebrated on March 1.

The history of the New Year in Russia

According to the history of the celebration of the New Year, in the 14th century our ancestors celebrated this day on September 1st. This tradition lasted 200 years. This day was called the Semyonov day, they collected obrokas, handouts and court orders. In history, the celebration of the New Year of that period was celebrated with festive services in churches, the consecration of water and the washing of icons. The holiday had a slightly different shade than today.

The history of the New Year in Russia received a new turn with the arrival of Peter the First. In the country began to conduct the chronology from the Nativity of Christ. It was Peter who first ordered to celebrate the New Year, as well as other Christian nations, on January 1st. He introduced the tradition of decorating yards with spruce branches and lighting fires. It was the first New Year in Russia, in which they introduced the rudiments of those traditions that we have today.

The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree

In the history of celebrating the New Year in Russia there are several versions about the appearance of the Christmas tree as the main decoration of the house. All versions are solidary only in the fact that the tradition to decorate the Christmas tree came to us from the Germans. They put a Christmas tree exclusively for children and decorated with all sorts of old flashlights and toys, fruits or sweets. After the children found presents in the morning, the Christmas tree was immediately taken away.

According to the history, in Russia for the New Year, everywhere to sell trees began in the 40s of the 19th century. But Father Frost and Snow Maiden on that period was not yet. There was only Saint Nicholas, who existed in real life. There was also an image of Frost - an old man with a white beard, who commanded winter cold. It was these two characters that became the basis for the birth of a fairy tale about the New Year Father Frost, who brings gifts. The Snow Maiden appeared a little later. For the first time, they learned about her from Ostrovsky's play, but there she was simply sculpted from the snow. Everyone remembers the moment in the fairy tale, when she jumps over the fire and melts. The character was so fond of everything that gradually Snow Maiden became an invariable symbol of the New Year celebrations. That's how the New Year came about, which we used to meet from childhood.