Celebrate the meeting of the New Year began in the distant past. In ancient times, this event was celebrated in the spring, when the field works began.
History of the New Year
Scientists believe that the celebration of the New Year began around 3000 BC, and it was the first time in Mesopotamia. In ancient times people believed that at that time the god Madruk conquered the forces of death and destruction. And so for several months people in Mesopotamia were happy with the victory of light over the darkness. They organized processions, carnivals and masquerades. At this time it was impossible to work, to administer the courts and punish.
In different countries and at different times the New Year was celebrated in March and in September and in December. But then the Roman emperor Julius Caesar decided to postpone the New Year's holiday on January 1. In Rome, on this day, sacrifices were made to the god Janus. Since the beginning of the new year, there has been a favorable time for any major undertakings.
After the introduction of Christianity in Russia, the New Year began here either in March or on the feast of Holy Easter. Then the decision of the Moscow Cathedral in 1492 approved the celebration of the New Year in the autumn, September 1, when it was supposed to collect from people tribute, duties and various obrokki. To give solemnity to this day, on the eve the tsar himself appeared in the Kremlin, and every person, even from commoners, could turn for truth and mercy to the tsar.
The history of the New Year
The history of the appearance and celebration of the New Year in winter is timed to 1699, when the tsar issued a decree on the celebration of the New Year on January 1, at the same time as Europe. According to this decree, Peter I ordered all residents of Russia to decorate their houses and streets with coniferous branches. Everyone should congratulate friends and relatives on the upcoming holiday. Peter the Great himself left at midnight to Red Square and for the first time launched a rocket. In all of Moscow, guns began to shoot, the sky was painted with fireworks unprecedented earlier. So the New Year's holiday entered the calendar of Russians on January 1, 1700. There were symbols of the New Year: a Christmas tree decorated with various toys and garlands, kind Santa Claus, bringing gifts in his bag.
Old New Year - holiday story
In the Russian-speaking countries, there is another holiday that is incomprehensible to foreigners: the old New Year, which we celebrate from 13 to 14 January. This tradition appeared after the October Socialist Revolution. According to Lenin's decree, Russia passed in 1918 to the Gregorian calendar of chronology. This calendar has overtaken Julian to that period already for 13 days. However, this transition was not accepted by the Orthodox Church, declaring that it will continue to use the Julian calendar. Since then, and celebrated Christmas on January 7. But many Russians at that time did not understand when to celebrate the New Year. In addition, on January 1, the strictest week of the church fast takes place. It was then that a tradition arose to celebrate the old New Year according to the Julian calendar.
History of the New Year in the USSR
In tsarist Russia, January 1 was a day off in the distant 1897. After the arrival of Soviet power
The range of Christmas toys, in comparison with the present balls, was more diverse: astronauts, figurines of animals and birds, vegetables and fruits. On the New Year's table in each house must have been traditional olive and mimosa, herring under a fur coat.