The Old New Year is a unique holiday, a rare historical phenomenon that appeared in a number of countries, including the Russian Empire, which were converted to the Gregorian calendar. Church functionaries took the new legislative norm "into bayonets" and continued to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the Julian calendar (the difference with the Gregorian - 13 days). When is the Old New Year celebrated in Russia? People's holiday Old New Year is traditionally celebrated on the night of January 14, according to the church calendar on this day honor the memory of St. Basil the Great.
Orthodox Church and Old New Year
Representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate declare that the Russian Orthodox Church does not consider it possible to adjust its calendar. "The difference between the Gregorian and Julian calendars is increased by one day every 100 years.If Jesus allows our world to exist for another century, believers will meet the Old New Year on January 15, and Christmas on January 8. Values should not be given to calendar differences, the Gregorian calculus can not be called The calendar disputes will be resolved only when a new, absolutely accurate calendar is developed. " Orthodox Christians invest in the Old New Year a special meaning: on January 14, they can celebrate the New Year fully after the Christmas fast.
How and when Old New Year is celebrated in Russia: traditions and rituals
On the night of January 13-14, wishes of success and health, congratulations, festivities and noisy feasts. The Old New Year is associated with the rite of sowing. According to popular belief, it promotes fertility in the coming year. The children coming to the houses scatter oats, rye, wheat grains, accompanying the action with songs and sentences. In gratitude the mistress gives each child sweets, pies, money. The main dish in the Old New Year is pork, it is necessary to prepare bakery products, to spoon on the condemned and personal life.
Another attribute of this holiday is vareniki with surprises. Along with the usual vareniki with potatoes, cabbage, cottage cheese, cherries, prepare several non-traditional - with a thread (for travel), sugar (for sweet life), beans (for children), a button (for updates), seeds (to pleasant acquaintances), a coin (to money). On a generous evening (the eve of the Old New Year), it is customary to cook a ritual "generous" kutya, bake cakes and pancakes to thank the first settler of the village - folk signs say that he brings happiness to the house.