Traditions of the Old New Year in Russia, Ukraine, Great Britain

Slavs were always different from other ethnic groups. Only they are so fond of celebrating different events, walking and having fun, that they collected a lot of holidays and memorable dates in their "cultural piggy bank". A wide Orthodox soul instead of one celebrates for two New Years: nowhere in the world of such a tradition or custom you will not find. Why not? He who works hard, has the right more often than others to relax and put a feast on the whole world.

History of the origin of tradition

The Old New Year is a unique historical phenomenon that arose as a result of the transition of the Orthodox people from one era to another. If earlier the Slavs lived according to the Julian calendar, then from 1918 they switched to the Gregorian calendar , which the whole world adheres to. It is considered more accurate, since it includes amendments in the form of leap years.

The changes took root, but people could not forget the old dates. The customs of the ancestors were firmly entrenched in the minds of the people, and it was practically impossible to move the established traditions from the dead point. Therefore, the Slavs did not think for a long time and decided to celebrate the meeting of the year two times. And Old remained more popular than New. Being very religious, Orthodox people strictly observed Filippov's post, which ended only after Christmas. Therefore, the traditions of the Old New Year were supplemented by ever new customs and rituals: after all, it was now possible to roam to the fullest without restricting oneself either in food or in entertainment.

Malanka

Traditions of the Old New Year in Russia and Ukraine are rich and very interesting. The day before the feast is dedicated to the memory of the Monk Melania, its origins go deeply back to those times when our ancestors were still pagans. From them, and remained the custom to hold different games and rituals.

On January, 13th in people still name Generous evening. Today it is customary to walk from house to house, wishing the owners of good and peace. Guys gather in the company and change into different suits. Among the mummers there is a gypsy, a bear, a cat, a crane, a goat, a grandfather with a woman. But the most honorable place is occupied, of course, by Malanka - a guy disguised in an old dress, whose face is smeared with chalk, eyebrows are summed with soot, lips are painted with beets. He curses and kisses everyone, as a result, people get dirty with his "makeup", which, in principle, is considered a good sign.

According to the tradition of the Old New Year, ladies-generals come to the house, where they are treated by their owners with various delicacies. Girls at this time sing ritual songs under the windows, since they are forbidden to cross Malanku's threshold.

Rite of cooking porridge

He occupied a special place and was considered almost a mystery. Porridge was cooked from 13 to 14 January. Exactly at two o'clock in the morning the owner took water from the well, and his wife brought cereals from the barn. These two ingredients stood side by side on the table until the stove was exhausted. Touching them was not allowed: the Slavs believed that this could scare away a happy fate.

Then the woman tossed the grains into the water, stirred and sentenced special ritual words. Only after this porridge could be cooked, while watching how it rises. For example, if she climbed over the edges, this heralded trouble for the whole house. The cracked pot also symbolized a great grief. But neatly cooked delicious porridge pointed to a rich harvest.

On the Old New Year, the traditions of which in each region are closely related to gastronomic features, this yummy was accepted for both cheeks to be eaten for breakfast. If the porridge did not work out, she was thrown into the river far from the house, so that running water carried with it all the misfortunes. The dish was made from buckwheat groats, as it had long symbolized prosperity and God's blessing.

Different fortune-telling

According to the tradition of the Old New Year, vareniki are an obligatory attribute of a festive dinner. They have long been considered a national dish of Ukrainians, so they were present on the table not only on a generous evening, but also during any other memorable date. But only on Malanka, vareniki were not simple, but with a surprise. In addition to the usual fillings - potatoes, cabbage, cherries and cottage cheese - they were unconventional. If a guest or a household member, for example, came across a dumpling with sugar, it meant a sweet life next year, the thread symbolized travel, buttons - new things, coins - profit, beans - birth of offspring, sunflower seeds - new acquaintances.

Traditions of the Old New Year in Ukraine provided for other fortune-telling, which usually engaged unmarried girls. Having put a scallop under the pillow in the evening, they asked the condemned to come in a dream and comb their locks. Who dreamed this night, he will be a husband. The image of the beloved was also searched in the mirrors, and his name was recognized by the first person at the gate of his home.

Signs

Slavs have long believed in them. For many centuries the life of Orthodox people has become so overflowing with them that every ordinary day was associated with one or another sign. What can I say about the holidays! The traditions of the Old New Year, as well as most of the signs associated with it, are guided by the people and the actions that they are doing. So, it was considered a good sign if on the eve of January 14 the first guest was a man, not a woman.

We also tried to make money on the generous evening in the house, this promised wealth. It was not allowed to lend, otherwise one could call on poverty. The bird and the fish were not cooked, as happiness, like them, could fly away or sail away. But the pork dishes were at the height of popularity: they said that this animal "will grow" wealth. Therefore, often cooked roast from ribs, baked piglets and delicious chops.

The future was predicted by the weather: a quiet clear night - a happy year, an abundance of hoarfrost on the trees - it will be possible to collect a lot of honey and grain, snow - for a good harvest, thaw - for a rainy summer.

Vasilyev's Day

He came on January 14 and was considered the first day of the New Year in the Julian calendar. People got up before sunrise and were preparing to receive the first guests. According to the tradition of the Old New Year, in Russia the rite of sowing was popular. With the handfuls full of grain, the boys came to the hut and asked the owners permission to perform the rite. Having received it, they liberally scattered the cereals, trying to fill them with as much territory as possible. Children sentenced, that happiness accompanied owners throughout the year, only prosperity and luck awaited them in the future.

The waiters received generous gifts and happily fled to the next house. In the meantime, the hostess collected grains from the floor: they were kept for a year for happiness. And on this day the young men united into whole groups, put on bright costumes and continued to entertain the whole honest people. The Old New Year, whose traditions are invariably connected with the mummers, turned into a real funny and amusing performance.

Old New Year in other countries

Abroad, the holiday remains incomprehensible to foreigners. Traditions of the Old New Year are revered only by emigrants-Slavs, natives of the CIS countries. For example, in the UK there is a festival "Russian Winter". In the heart of London in Trafalgar Square unfolds a festive fair, where you can buy souvenirs and gifts. Funny dolls, inflated samovars, crispy cakes - all the symbols that are inherent in our country, here are sold for several days.

Most similar to the Russian customs of the Old New Year traditions in the UK. In English, they say the first toast for the queen, the second for the Russian president. Well, then begins a large-scale celebration with Russian dances and buffoons. The festival is always charitable: it collects money for orphanages in Russia or for the construction of Orthodox churches in London. Now in this country there are 40 thousand Russians. Most of them visit this festival to plunge into the atmosphere of a distant, but such beloved homeland.