When is the Old New Year celebrated? What is the Old New Year?

Old New Year - a rare phenomenon that appeared in theThe result of an artificial change in the traditional chronology. This pleasant occasion is due to the decree of the Council of People's Commissars issued in 1918, which ordered Russia to abandon the old Julian calendar and henceforth to use only the new Gregorian calendar. The discrepancy between the two chronological documents was 14 days and we got a unique chance to meet the New Year twice - first in a new and then in an old style.

How and when the Old New Year is celebrated among Russians

On the territory of the Russian Federation the second version of the new yearcomes on the night of 13 to 14 January. This event is celebrated not as pompously and loudly as the traditional New Year. Of course, the table is also decorated with exquisite dishes, wearing ceremonial clothes and congratulating relatives and friends, however, all these solemn attributes are somewhat more modest and do not differ in such brilliance and brilliance as on the day of January 1. Rather, it is an additional reason to once again gather with relatives and friends, spend a good time in a good company, relax, have a good time and cheer up a glass of champagne for health, well-being and a happy life.

On the eve of the Old New Year beginslong-awaited for young girls a period of fortune telling. Curious young ladies try to lift the veil of the future and turn to mirrors, candles and cards in order to find out the name of the suitor, the date of the upcoming wedding and other interesting information about their own destiny. They say that at this time the universe honestly answers all these burning questions.

Old New Year in the world

In many countries, the Old New Year holiday is notexists at all. It is more typical for the states formed after the collapse of the USSR. In Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, the tradition to spend this special day on special and to open a bottle of champagne on the night of 13 to 14 January has survived to this day. It is also held in Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia and even some, mostly German-speaking cantons of Switzerland.

When residents of Morocco, Tunisia or Algeriaask how old New Year is coming, they usually call not January 14, but January 12. This is due to the fact that the countries of North Africa live according to the so-called Berber calendar, which differs only slightly from the Julian calendar.

In Japan, the day of the Old New Year's nameRissune. It comes much later than in Europe, namely in the first days of February and symbolizes the arrival of a warm, fertile spring. On the eve of the holiday Residents of the Land of the Rising Sun throw beans around the house, which, according to ancient beliefs, are scared off from the home of evil spirits and the darkest demons.