Old New Year 2017. Celebrating Christmas, Eastern New Year, Chinese New Year in Thailand

From the article you will learn about the history and traditions of the Old New Year, Christmas, Chinese New Year. The article also contains ideas for decorating a house, preparing tables, recipes for dishes.

New Year's weekend is a wonderful time, which lasts several days due to the fact that we celebrate several holidays in a row. And despite the fact that the New Year is in the top of the list of holidays, you can not leave the Old New Year and Christmas aside. How to celebrate these holidays in 2017, which in the eastern calendar is called the year of the red Rooster?

Where, except Russia, celebrate the Old New Year?

The history of the origin of such a holiday as the Old New Year is interesting and unusual. Foreign people are surprised when they hear about such a day. Although the New Year is celebrated in the old style not only in Russia, but also in the neighboring countries: Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Georgia.

Since the main reason for the appearance of the holiday lies in the reluctance of the church to switch to a new, Gregorian calendar, they continue to celebrate "Old" in Serbia. The Orthodox Church in Serbia still follows the Julian calendar, and the holiday itself in this country is to the surprise simply called the Serbian New Year.

In some parts of Romania, Switzerland, Macedonia there is also a place for an unusual day.

IMPORTANT: Even in the French capital, owners of restaurants specializing in Russian cuisine offer visitors a special menu on January 13th. Among his positions, you can find dishes with a history, namely the dishes, which Catherine the Great herself served to the table by Prince Potemkin.

Where did the New Year's Day come from?

So what for this holiday is both Old and New Year? Where did the custom to stretch the holiday weekend before January 14, and on the night of that date again launch fireworks and eat traditional Olivier?

Another reason to celebrate the New Year was due to two reasons.

The first is related to the numerous carry forward dates of the year. In pre-Christian times the beginning of the year fell on March 22 and was due to the spring equinox, an important stage in agricultural practice. Together with the baptism of Rus, the date of the New Year shifted to September 1, and it was fixed only by the end of the 15th century. On January 1, the celebration of the feast began during the reign of Peter the Great. In the 20th century, the Bolsheviks cut off 13 days from the year, and the second holiday appeared - in tribute to the old style on January 14.

The second reason for the duality of the holiday goes back to the Christian practice. Previously, the Julian calendar, which differs from the current one for 13 days, operated. When the new calendar was put into effect, the church refused to accept it, so the dates for Christmas and New Year shifted.

IMPORTANT: The modern calendar is recognized by scientists not completely accurate. The time of revolution of the Earth around the axis is equal to the day, in which it is not exactly 24 hours, but for several seconds more. These seconds by 2101 will add up in another day, which means that the days of the New Year and Christmas will move for another day.

How to meet the Old New Year in 2017?

Compared with the main holiday, "Old" - more calm and measured. It can even be called wise. The hype of New Year has remained behind. On this day you can reunite with relatives and repeat everything that was passed 2 weeks ago. Only more thoughtfully, really rethinking the results of the outgoing year.

To celebrate the Old New Year or not? Solve this issue for everyone personally. Every year the number of markers is growing. Today, 60% of respondents are happy to celebrate the New Year in the old style and see this day as a special, separate holiday.

There are a number of advantages, why it is still worth it to meet the Old New Year.

• This day you can watch New Year's programs, which could not be reached due to the hassles 14 days ago.
• New Year in the old style - an excellent occasion to repeat the wonderful New Year traditions: to prepare a festive table, to arrange a salute, congratulate friends, etc.
• This is the second chance to see those with whom it was not possible to meet in the New Year, and also to say kind words to relatives.

IMPORTANT: For those who celebrate on January 13, the magic atmosphere lasts 2 more weeks from the New Year's Day. The trimmed Christmas tree shines with lights, the spirit of miracles hovers in the air, the house is decorated with snowflakes and garlands. This is a real reason to believe in magic.

How to correctly meet the Old New Year? Everyone decides for himself, the main thing is that it is a family and leisurely holiday with a soul. They say that on the night of 13 to 14 January, there is a "miracle number two".Now more often you can meet people who want to combine this day with the traditions and customs of our ancestors.

2017 will be held under the sign of the red Rooster, this is reported to us by the Chinese calendar. In order to enjoy pleasant events and good people next year, it is recommended to serve chicken dishes on the table. It is especially useful to cook wings - so you will wait in the coming year only ups.

And the ancestors called the day January 13 Vasiliev day. It was a great agricultural holiday, the merry and noisy ceremonies of which were to affect the fertility of soils.

One way to encourage a rich harvest was to "sow" wheat at home. Children scattered grains on the floor, while pronouncing special words for the harvest. The owner of the house was supposed to gather the wheat, which kept her until later to sowing works.

Divination by the Old New Year

If you have a desire to touch the traditions, try the ancient rites yourself. Especial popularity was acquired by divination, only these fortune-telling - in a modern way. In the past, there were porridge from cereals, monitoring of cocks, scattering of grains. Today young people are guessing. .. On dumplings!

Prepare vareniki with a wide variety of fillings. When the tasting hour comes, judge your future for the filling that you found:

• sweet stuffing - the whole year will be good( sweet);
• salted filling - the whole year will be with salt impurities, not very favorable;
• a lot of pepper in the filling - life will be acute and extreme, with pepper;
• boiled beans - expect to be added to the family;
• button - to the rich new things;
• thread - to the long road;
• coin - to wealth.

IMPORTANT: You can come up with your own fillings and your own interpretations. The main thing is that "guessing" turned out to be fun, and its result - unexpected. Be careful, tasting dumplings, hard objects will not damage your teeth for long.

In addition to modern traditions, you can resort to the ancient Christmas fortune-telling. These divinations refer to the period of Christmas, as it was previously called the night of 13 to 14 January.

Young girls listen, what the neighbors say, through the door. Hearing the word "go", the virgin realizes that soon her marriage is waiting. The word "sit" signals another "bachelor" year.

Carols for the Old New Year

The most cheerful and noisy event of the old days is, perhaps, caroling. Bypassing the house, you can not only communicate with people, show your talents, pay tribute to the traditions, but also seriously save on festive food.

Traditionally, carols were performed in sheepskin coats turned outward. The faces were painted with bright colors, which today can be replaced by colorful cosmetics or a real mask. Previously, they wore really terrible masks. Today, rather than scare people, it is better to choose a magical and attractive "second person".

From the inventory you will need a bag, and the more it is, the better. In it you will collect your holiday trophies - home delicacies and cash rewards. But it's not so simple to share sweets, meat and money. You will have to learn a few sentences or songs - carols. Sentences can be with a humorous tinge, for example "Do not give me a cheesecake - you'll get on the top of your head! Do not give me a pie - I'll take the cow for the horns! "," Shchedrik Vedrik, give me a dumpling, a pile of kashka, a ring of sausage "," Open a chest - get a penny! "Such carols are usually chanted, repeating and repeating - loud,until you open the door and do not give them goodies.

IMPORTANT: Someone in response to your comic couplets may also wish to joke. Take care that in your bag do not turn out bowls with salad, otherwise all your trophies will be soiled.

How to meet Christmas Eve?

Christmas is a solemn Orthodox holiday, one of the main festivals of the church. It was on this day that Jesus Christ appeared. When he was born, a large Star of Bethlehem was lit in the sky. Therefore, even today, the evening meal on the eve of Christmas does not begin until the appearance of the first star in the sky.

Christmas Eve is called Christmas Eve. The name of this day comes from a special food, whose name is osobivo. This dish was prepared from grains, soaked to softness in the juice from the seeds. Sochi was served on Christmas Eve just after the appearance of the first star.

Traditionally, Russians fasted to the first star. From the moment of its appearance, they treated themselves to eating and started a rich meal. The table under the tablecloth was covered with hay in tribute to the legend of the birth of Jesus in the manger for animals.

On the table, they always put kutya, which was a pearl porridge from the oven, jelly and other dishes. Rich people could afford to put on the table marmalade figurines. And today in some families there is a custom to bake cookies in the form of animals to Christmas tree.

On Christmas Eve you can participate in the den. This is a special kind of art, which in one way or another - sculpture, theater, etc. - represents the main scene of the holiday - the birth of Christ.

In Russia and the near abroad - in Ukraine, Belarus, Poland - the puppet theater was popular, playing the birthday of Christ and the misfortune to which the infants and their parents were subjected by Herod. Today you can make a composition that symbolizes Christmas. Put in the center of a nursery with a baby Jesus, at the edges of the figurine of the Virgin Mary and Joseph. The composition can include the Magi, angels, domestic animals, as well as King Herod.

Idea of ​​a nativity from a paper

Idea of ​​a nativity scene with silhouettes

IMPORTANT: You can make a simplified version of the nativity scene. In the wicker basket lay the spruce paws and place in the original "creche" the icon of Jesus Christ.

Simplified nativity scene with needles, flowers and icon

In addition to the den, decorate the house with a special star - Bethlehem. Welcome images of angels, which can be cut from paper or painted on a mirror and decorated with sequins, braid, lace.

Bethlehem Star

How to celebrate Christmas?

The night from 6 to 7 January was given for Christmas service. All believing people aspire to participate in the solemn liturgy, go to confession and take communion on this holy night. Day 7 January, spend with the closest people.

It is common for people close to give presents. But Christmas is not an ordinary holiday, therefore, the gifts should be appropriate. Children will be happy with developing toys or the one that will teach them something good. A neutral gift will be a festively packed set of sweets. In general, gifts should bear spiritual meaning.

It is not necessary to present something that will be bought in a church store. It can be a thing that tells a person which path to take in life, helps him find answers to difficult questions. The spiritual book will best cope with such a mission. But to any gift, you can simply attach a postcard with extracts from a similar book.

One of the most interesting Christmas traditions has survived to this day. It's about caroling, which is something similar to the old-year walk from house to house.

IMPORTANT: Christmas carols, unlike the old-New Years, were timed to coincide with the holy event of the birth of Jesus.

Christmas carols

Young people or children gather in groups and go from house to house( and today from apartment to apartment), carry a Christmas star with them and sing special couplets with wishes of good, wealth, health, happiness to the owners. For their hymns the carol singers receive refreshments - dishes from the Christmas table and sweets.

Here are some simple Christmas carols that you can memorize yourself or study with your child.

1 carol:

Christmas carol, carol,
On the eve of Christmas!
Auntie aunt,
A cake somehow
Do not cut, do not break,
Hurry up,
Two, three,
A long time ago,
We can not stand it!
Stove something to be heated,
Pie you want!

2 kolyadka:

You, the host, do not torment,
Give it soon!
And as the current frost
Does not bother to stand for long,
Orders are soon to be submitted:
Either from the oven pies,
Either money a penny,
Or a pot!
Give you God
Full court of the bellies!
And in the stables of horses,
In the hut of calves,
In the hut of the guys
And in the kittens for the kittens!

3 kolyadka:

Today the Angel descended to us
And sang: "Christ was born!".
We came to glorify Christ,
And congratulate you on the holiday.

Here we go, the shepherds,
All sins are forgiven us.
To the house the way to its rules,
of Christ God is glorified.

IMPORTANT: Christmas carols are valued for their assertiveness and zeal. Those who sing cheerfully and loudly, always gave more treats.

Festive table for Christmas: recipes

RECIPE: Rice cake

Ingredients:

• rice cereal - 250 g;
• poppy - 100 g;
• honey - 2-3 tablespoons;
• walnuts - 100 g;
• raisins, dried apricots - optional;
• sugar, salt - to your taste.

Boil the rump. When it is almost ready, without removing the porridge from the fire, add sugar to it to taste and a little salt. Put the soaked dried fruits, chopped nuts, add honey and poppy.

RECIPE: Lenten vinaigrette

Ingredients:

• beet - 1 pc.;
• boiled beans - 150 g;
• corn( canned food) - 150 g;
• green peas( frozen or canned) - 100 g;
• sour cabbage - 200 g;
• lemon juice;
• greens;
• vegetable oil for refueling;
• soy sauce - to taste.

Beans soak for 6 hours or more. Boil the grains with salt, also boil beets and peas, if used not canned. Cut off cabbage and corn from excess liquid. Cut the greens, cut the beets into cubes. Connect all the components in one container.

IMPORTANT: To ensure that the beets do not color all ingredients in the crimson color, immediately fill it with vegetable oil after cutting.

For the sauce, grind lemon zest, mix it with a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil and the same amount of soybean oil, pour all the juice of half a lemon. With this dressing, stir the salad well.

RECIPE: Baked carp with mushrooms and lemon

Ingredients:

• fish carcass - up to 2 kg;
• mushrooms - 0.5 kg;Onion bulb
• - 2 pcs.;
• carrots - 1 piece;
• lemon - 1 piece;
• sour cream - 4 tablespoons;
• vegetable oil for frying;
• salt, spices - to taste.

Cleaned and washed fish carcass with lemon juice, salt and season to taste. Leave the fish to soak in lemon juice for 10-15 minutes. At this time, chop mushrooms, onions, carrots. Fry the vegetables and mushrooms, and then fill this carp with this mass. That the abdomen does not disperse, tie up or sew it with threads. Can be used for fastening and toothpick. The back of the fish is cut in several places, in the slits arrange thin slices of lemon.

Bake the dish in a baking sheet on parchment at a temperature of 180 degrees for 60 minutes. After 20 and 40 minutes from the beginning of cooking, remove the fish and grease it with a thin layer of fatty sour cream.

RECIPE: Uzvar - traditional Christmas dish

Ingredients:

• dried fruit( apples, pears) - 100 g each;
• dried plums - 100 g;
• dried cherries - 100 g;
• raisins - 50 g;
• sugar - 100 g;
• honey - optional.

Berries and fruits well wash, pour water and let them brew for 15 minutes. Put in the sugar, send the saucepan to the stove and boil the compote. Once the liquid is boiling, remove the pan from the heat and leave it at room temperature for 6 hours. When serving, you can add a little honey.

IMPORTANT: Uzvar is prepared from any dried berries and fruits, it is not necessary to use the strictly listed ingredients.

Celebrating the New Year in China and Thailand

The New Year holiday in China was originally associated with sacrifices in honor of the gods and the remembrance of ancestors. These customs were common in the second millennium BC and had the name Xinyun, which translates as the New Year.in 1911 the Chinese switched to a modern calendar, and our culture, our European New Year, came to their culture. But the holiday of Xinyun remained, now called the Spring Festival - Chunjie.

In the celebration of the New Year in the spring there is a profound meaning. The Chinese believe that the new year comes when nature awakens from hibernation, and seeds germinate in fertile land, giving new life.

There is a second name for the Chinese New Year - Hongyang. This is the name of a terrible monster, which, when coming, brought to the people endless misfortunes. From one of his breath trees dropped their crown, and the earth ceased to give birth and fell asleep in a winter sleep. As soon as Gonyan left the Chinese land, everything came to life. In order to frighten the beast, people came up with an original way out: loud crackers. The tradition of launching fireworks and using noisy crackers has survived to this day.

The Spring Festival in all is accompanied by a red color. Chinese decorate stores and their homes with red signs with wishes of happiness, health, wealth. They give each other red cards with congratulations. Scarlet tones can be seen everywhere - in decorations, clothes, festive figures at the festival.

Chinese New Year postcards

It is customary to put a coniferous tree in a house in the house of the Chinese people. But they show artificial trees, decorated with dried fruits and candied fruits. In addition, hospitable hosts will meet you with trays of oranges and tangerines, as well as a variety of other fruit compositions.

IMPORTANT: According to a special rule, people put exactly 8 oranges in one container. The figure of 8 in Chinese beliefs guarantees owners long years of life and fulfillment of all desires.

The New Year holiday in China is celebrated for several days in a row. Until the first day of spring, people are bought by products, sew or get completely new clothes, decorate their apartments with red paper figures, scarlet lanterns. In red paint doors and walls.

On the eve of the New Year, spirits roam the street. That's why in China people close windows and doors and are locked up until midnight. When the clock strikes 12, the Chinese pour out onto the street and launch festive crackers that scare away all evil spirits.

It is forbidden to sleep on New Year's Eve. A sleeping person can easily be dragged by a perfume or a wild beast. Therefore, people celebrate until dawn, and the morning meal is served chiao-zi - dumplings, shaped like gold bars. Such a meal is eaten in honor of future wealth.

Jiaozi Pelmeni

On the very first day of the New Year after unusual dumplings, the Chinese take to the streets in red dresses. They go from house to house of their relatives, they are treated and each and every word is greeted with warm words of congratulation.

IMPORTANT: There are no two Chinese left in the New Year in a quarrel. In the eastern country it is customary to condone and forgive, and leave all evil in the outgoing year.

In cities, mass festivities and festivals are held, in which actors perform in elegant costumes. The costumes of Chinese demonstrations are striking in scale and originality. The mummers pin to the chest rice ears. Bending over, they seem to send the seedlings to the ground. This is done in honor of subsequent sowing works.

Celebration of the Eastern New Year: the symbol of 2017 Rooster

In the eastern calendar there are 12 symbols of the year. There is a tradition how exactly these beasts have become custodians of their own year. The wild beast Ghonian appeared at the end of each year and carried wilting and sleeping from both, as well as eating defenseless people. One old man told a monster that people are too insignificant for such a majestic beast as he. And what is more worthy of him will fight with other powerful animals. Gonyan chose 12 animals for himself and summoned them to fight each year one by one. During this time, people have strengthened their homes and found a way to resist the monster - scarlet flashlights and loud crackers. Since then, people honor a dozen fearless animals, and in the New Year fireworks are launched and red lights are lit.

IMPORTANT: The beginning of 2017 in China falls on January 28.The guardian of this year is the red Rooster, and his element is fire.

Red Rooster is a symbol of the deity of the Sun, it protects against fire and other troubles associated with fire. It is also the image of dawn, the beginning of the day and a new life. The crest of a bird is like a crown and speaks of spirituality and greatness, and the spurs on the legs are about a warlike nature. This is also a sign of war, because the Rooster is dominated by a red rage.

And here are a few "cock" rules, following which you will surely attract yourself to well-being in the New Year 2017:

1. The rooster does not like dirt, so the house must be perfectly clean. Before the New Year's Eve, spend a general cleaning in your apartment.
2. To attract wealth, leave a bag with three copper coins on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator. The coins should be placed with the eagle down.
3. In the New Year's Eve drink from wooden utensils. And when the clock strikes, announcing that the old year is over, sip clean water from a wooden pot.
4. On the table, place a dish of cereals to propitiate the proud, and sometimes aggressive Red Rooster.

Video: How to celebrate the New Year in China