Old New Year: what a holiday

How the Old New Year appeared, when, where and how it is celebrated – in the Kommersant certificate.

What kind of holiday is Old New Year?

The Old New Year is celebrated on the night of January 14th. The existence of two dates signifying this event is associated with different calendars. The first of them is Julian. It was named after the Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar, who introduced it into the Roman Republic on January 1, 45 BC. e. On October 15, 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a more accurate Gregorian calendar in Catholic countries. At that time, the difference between the two chronologies was ten days. Thanks to this, the Old New Year holiday appeared, corresponding to January 1 according to the Julian calendar.

How the holiday appeared in Russia

The Julian calendar began to spread in our country after the adoption of Christianity. However, the tradition of celebrating the New Year on January 1st appeared thanks to the decree of Emperor Peter I of December 30, 1699. Previously, the Slavs celebrated this holiday on September 1. The difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars created inconvenience in international relations, so on February 14, 1918, the Bolsheviks introduced the Gregorian calendar in Russia. At this point, the difference between the two chronologies was 13 days. The change of calendar was not supported by the Orthodox Church. This is how a tradition arose in Russia to celebrate the New Year in the old style – on the night of January 14th.

Existing signs

Most of the signs associated with the holiday are similar to the traditions of January 1, but there are some differences. For example, it was necessary to clean your house on the eve of the holiday. During the Old New Year itself, it was forbidden to do this for fear of “sweeping” good luck with the trash. Like January 1, it was supposed to be celebrated in clean and beautiful clothes. On this day, Saint Basil the Great was also venerated. He was considered the patron saint of pig farmers, so pork was one of the main dishes on the festive table.

The Old New Year was associated with the beginning of a new agricultural period, so most of the signs are about the weather. Here are some of them:

• frost, snow on tree branches and ice meant a rich grain harvest;
• bright sun – a fruitful year;
• the fall of a large amount of snow promised a happy year;
• fog predicted profit and harvest;
• the starry sky meant a large harvest of peas;
• the absence of the moon predicted drought;
• the south wind was considered a prediction of a hot year.

Where else is Old New Year celebrated?

The tradition of celebrating the Old New Year exists not only in Russia. It has been preserved in the countries of the USSR, where Orthodoxy is practiced.

IN Macedonia In honor of the holiday, carnivals are held. People dress up in costumes and perform traditional music or simply rattle bells, pots, or other improvised means. This was believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.

IN Serbia and Montenegro The tradition of celebrating the Old New Year has also been preserved. Here on this day they repeat part of the rituals of Orthodox Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7th. One of the names of the holiday Serbia – “Little Christmas.”

The holiday is celebrated in German-speaking cantons of Switzerland. Here it is called Old St. Sylvester’s Day. People dress up in fancy dress and congratulate each other.

Community of farmers in the Gwayne Valley Wales also refused to accept the Gregorian calendar, which has been in force in the United Kingdom since 1752. On January 13, Hen Galan is celebrated in the Gwayne Valley. Unlike the rest of the country, here this day is an official holiday. In honor of the holiday, children can “carol” – go from house to house and receive sweet gifts.

The Berbers have their own Berber calendar. It is based on the Julian, but with some differences. Accordingly, the Berbers also celebrate the New Year according to the old style. IN Algeria this holiday falls on January 12th. Since 2017 it has been an official holiday. IN Morocco New Year is celebrated on January 14th. Since 2023, this holiday has been one of the official holidays of the kingdom.

How many Russians are going to celebrate the holiday in 2024?

According to research service “Rabota.ru”, about 38% of Russians plan to celebrate the Old New Year. Of these, 33% are going to celebrate the holiday with their family. Only 5% of respondents are thinking about going to a gala party. Half of those surveyed said that this day was unremarkable for them. Another 9% of respondents said that they never celebrate the Old New Year. Of those who are going to celebrate it, 54% want to set a festive table, and 43% of survey participants plan to watch New Year’s films and programs to create the atmosphere. Only 24% of respondents intend to travel to visit loved ones.