What is an Old New Year? What is the Old New Year

Old New Year is a “product” of the transition from one “version” of the reckoning to another. For Europe, such a landmark event was the replacement of the old Julian calendar with a new Gregorian one, as a result of which all dates shifted by 13 days. However, the traditions of some peoples preserved the memory of the past, and to this day two New Year’s nights survived right away: on January 1 and 14.

Few people know about it, but the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars becomes more and more with each century, when the number of hundreds in a year from Christmas is not a multiple of four for one day. Now the difference is 13 days, but another 85 years will pass and from March 1, 2100, it will grow to 14 days. And if by that time people would not come up with another version of the reckoning, then from 2101 Orthodox Christmas and Old New Year will be celebrated a day later.

In Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and some other countries, the Old New Year is of particular importance for Orthodox believers. After all, with the end of the Christmas Lent, the merriment that is inappropriate on December 31, when the Lent still lasts, becomes justified. But even among those who do not consider themselves believers, the New Year in the old style does not lose popularity, but only gains additional “points”. More and more people regard this date as an independent holiday that extends the charm of the New Year or even allows you to feel this charm for the first time. After all, the celebration of January 13, which is much calmer, is not characterized by the bustle, which is the inevitable companion of the "ordinary" New Year.

Customs and traditions for the old New Year

There are many customs and traditions associated with the old New Year. In the national calendar, this day was dedicated to Vasily the Great and was called Vasily's Day. Our ancestors believed that this day has a great influence on the whole subsequent year. In villages and villages in Vasiliev’s day, “fawn” was celebrated - a holiday associated with the ceremony of sowing, appeasing the future harvest. On this day, children scattered around the house grains of wheat, oats, rye, saying: "Freak, God, every man lives in the bunker, that in the bunker is great, but the whole world would be baptized." The mistress of the house collected grains from the floor and stored them until sowing.

Also, our Slav ancestors had an important rite of cooking porridge. This tradition was reminiscent of fortune-telling for next year. The ceremony of cooking porridge was carried out on the night of January 13-14 according to the new style. The eldest woman in the family at exactly two in the morning brought cereal from the barn, and the eldest of the men brought water from a river or a well. Croup and water stood on the table until the stove was heated, and no one touched them, so as not to frighten away fate. Then the whole family sat down at the table, and the older woman, stirring the porridge, lamented: “They sowed, raised buckwheat all summer; Buckwheat porridge was born Both large and blush. They called, they urged our buckwheat to visit Constantinople, to feast at the princely feast. Buckwheat went to Constantinople To visit with the princes, With the boyars, With honest oats, With golden barley. Waited for buckwheat, Waited at the stone gate; Princes and boyars met buckwheat, They planted buckwheat at an oak table Feasting feast, And our buckwheat came to visit us. " After that, everyone got up from the table, and the hostess bowed the porridge into the oven. When the porridge ripened, they looked to see if the pot was full. If porridge crawled out of it, this portended trouble to the whole house. From a cracked pot, too, good was not to be expected. After removing the foam, the porridge itself was examined - if it was rich, then there would be happiness and a harvest. Good porridge was eaten for breakfast, while bad porridge was thrown into the river.

In the evening, the peasants went out on the street to be generous (they put on masks, dressed up and went to the neighbors). People who walked sang generosity (special songs in which the owners of the house, to which the mummers came, are called). For these songs the mummers received the most generous gifts for all the caroling. Hence, one of the names on January 13 is generous. On New Year's Day, it was decided to generously treat home and guests meat and fatty dishes, so this day was also called "fat kutia". It was believed that the more generously the hosts treated or gifted carols, the richer they would live in the coming year.

Fortune telling for the old New Year

On the night of the New Year’s Eve, the girls divined on the narrowed one - after all, the period of Christmas time continued, the best time of the year for all kinds of fortune telling and predictions. It was believed among the people that fortune-telling on the night of January 13-14 was the most truthful, and it was at this time that you could see your future husband in a dream. For this, the girls combed their hair before going to bed, put a comb under their pillow and spoke the magic words: “narrowed-mumbled, come and comb my head.”

Fortune telling on a nutshell. They also guessed on nutshells. For this, it is necessary to pour water into a vessel and drop two walnut shells there. It is believed that if they get close together, the matchmakers will soon come. And here are some more fortune-telling for the Old New Year.

Fortune telling in a glass. With the help of this fortune-telling, the girls found out what awaits them in the coming year. For this, four glasses were taken, which were half filled with water. They put salt in one, sugar in the other, a ring in the third, and left the fourth empty. One girl stood behind the one who wondered. In her hands on a tray she held glasses, moved them so that the fortuneteller did not know where which one was. After that, the girl behind her ran a finger along the glasses and asked: this glass, this, this? .. And so - until the fortuneteller stopped her. Water from the selected glass had to be tried. The events of the following year predicted the taste of water: salty - sadness; sweet - success, happiness; fresh - normal year; ring - a wedding or meeting with a fiancée.

Fortune telling on pies. January 14, on the old New Year, you can bake pies that predict fate. To do this, the hostess of the house must make fresh dough and bake small pies with viburnum jam or mushrooms. Before making pies, the dough is brought to the icon with the words: “Saints of the image, bless my little dough, what is waiting for me in the new year, indicate. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now, forever, forever and ever. Amen".

In addition to the selected filling, buttons are placed in the patties different color, guessing in advance (at your discretion) what each button found by the eater means. For example: a red button - to be rich, a blue button - to be married, a white button - to go to idle, a black button - to be killed, a pockmarked button - to live a long century, etc. Bite such a pie carefully so that, God forbid, a tooth don't break!

Fortune telling. Put your left hand in the blower and take out a handful of ash. Select nine coals in the ash and wrap each piece of paper with the inscription: HAPPINESS, SADNESS, POVERTY, MAETA, WEALTH, LOVE, SEPARATION, DISEASE, Boredom. Put the coals under the pillow, having prewound them with thread so that the inscription papers do not come off. Before you go to bed, read the plot for a true fortune-telling: “I go to bed on an oak bed. It’s not ash in my heads, but my girl’s fate. Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen". In the morning, as soon as you wake up, get the first piece of coal from under the pillow. Word on paper predicts your life in the new year.

Fortune telling about marriage. By the old New Year's Eve, at midnight, girlfriends go out into the courtyard and, taking turns blindfolding each other with a handkerchief, turn the “Julie” around themselves, and then push the girl in the back. If she goes towards the gate, she will soon get married. If she goes to the porch, then she will sit in the girls for another year.

When exactly to celebrate the Old New Year, January 13 or 14? To answer this question clearly and distinctly, you have to go a little deeper into history. Although, if you need to get a quick and clear answer, it will be January 14th. That is, January 14 in the old style is like January 1 in the new style.

Accordingly, in the traditions of our country, the onset of the old New Year is celebrated on the night of the 13th to the 14th due to which, and there was some confusion. But in order to finally understand this issue, you just need to understand that this is an analogy of how we celebrate the official New Year on the night of December 31 to January 1. Although, the official holiday and day off is precisely January 1 - the first day of the new year.

Why is the New Year "old"

Old New Year 13 or celebrated a little less than a hundred years. This holiday arose in 1918, when our country switched to a new calendar. It turns out that the celebration of the Old New Year is just the date when, exactly two years ago, the celebration of the onset of the new calendar period.

At that time, Russia counted the dates according to the Julian calendar, which was developed and introduced into the everyday life of people during the reign of the great Emperor Julius Caesar in Rome. But since 1918, the Gregorian calendar has been used in our country, which is exactly two weeks behind the Julian calendar.

When is the holiday?

So, the Old New Year January 13 or 14? Now that all the information given in this material has already been put into your head, you can independently answer this question. In particular, to say that the New Year is approaching according to the old style on January 14, but the night the transition from year to year is festive. For this reason, the number 13 is also seen in this context.

It is because of the transition to new calendar It so happened that the New Year in a new style, from December 31 to January 1, falls on a strict period of Christmas Lent.
Once again about dates

So, we switched to the new calendar in our big country in 1918. Until now, this
the event, like the New Year's Eve, was on January 14th. As a rule, the date is shifted over the years by one day. So, already in 2100, the Old New Year, if it is still celebrated in Russia, will be on January 15th. And several centuries ago it was celebrated on January 13th. Today, the date of the beginning of the new year in the old style is January 14th.

It should also be noted that the people have not forgotten about the holiday of January 14, also thanks to the church. The thing is
that it is on this day that the feast of St. Basil the Great is celebrated. He is considered an advocate of agriculture. Therefore, in our ancestors, on New Year's Eve, it was customary to set up a lush and rich table. In particular, various pork dishes were placed on it, and in the center there was always a whole baked milk pig.

Fortune-telling tradition

Today, on the Old New Year, as many years ago in Russia, many girls gather to spend. It is believed that the gates are opened tonight, and guests from the parallel world can tell a lot of interesting things to those who correctly ask about it.

If you do not want to anger God, because the church has a negative attitude to fortune-telling, then you can cook dumplings for dinner in honor of the Old New Year. But, not just dumplings, but in some put a surprise. Such comic fortune-telling was traditional in Slavic villages precisely on the night of January 13-14.

The Old New Year is today remembered and celebrated in Russia, even if this holiday is not an official day off. It seems to us that the more holidays in the life of people, the better. So, do not forget on January 14 to once again congratulate those who are dear, wish them health, happiness and good luck, prosperity. Indeed, according to all traditions, the New Year at this time is finally coming into its own.

What is the history of the “Old New Year” holiday?

Until the 10th century new Year in Russia began with the full moon in the first spring days, close to the spring equinox.

In the X century. Ancient Russia adopted Christianity, and with it the chronology used in the Byzantine Empire from “creation of the world”, i.e. from 5508 BC, and the beginning of the year began to be celebrated on March 1 (according to the new style on March 14). From this time on, they used the Julian calendar, consisting of 12 months, the names of which were associated with natural phenomena.

Since 1492, the New Year in Russia was everywhere celebrated according to the church calendar on September 1 (September 14, according to the new style, 7000 from the "creation of the world").

After 2 centuries in 1700. (7208) Peter I promulgated the decree “to calculate the summer” from January 1 from Christmas 8 days later. Thus, in the Russian state in 1699, it lasted 4 months from September to December.

By the twentieth century, Russia’s Calendaring was 13 days behind Europe, which had long passed to the Gregorian Calendar. In order to narrow this gap in 1918, a decree of the Council of People’s Commissars made a transition to the Gregorian calendar - “new style”, and on January 14, St. Basil’s Day turned out to be the old New Year.

The tradition of celebrating the Old New Year comes from the divergence of the Julian calendar (or the “old style” calendar) and the Gregorian calendar - the one according to which almost the whole world now lives. The divergence of calendars is 13 days.

Old New Year is a rare historical phenomenon, an additional holiday, which turned out as a result of a change in the calendar. Due to this discrepancy in calendars, we celebrate two “New Years” - according to the old and new styles. Thus, on the night of January 13-14, everyone can afford to “celebrate” their favorite holiday. Indeed, for many believers, the Old New Year is of particular importance, since they can only celebrate it from the heart only after the end of the Christmas Lent.

Interestingly, the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars increases every century, when the number of hundreds a year from Christmas is not a multiple of four, for one day. Therefore, from March 1, 2100, this difference will be 14 days. And from 2101, Christmas and Old New Year will be celebrated a day later.

Ceremonies

Cooking porridge After removing the scum, they looked at the porridge - if it is red, full, there will be happiness, and a crop, and a talented daughter. If the porridge is small and white, then be in trouble. Good porridge was eaten for breakfast, while bad porridge was dumped into the river.

Sowing grains The scribbler is given something as a gift, and the grains scattered by him are carefully collected, stored until spring, and when sowing spring crops, they are mixed with other seeds.

Going home. The general festive mood and the desire for a good life in the coming year made people generous, tolerant, hospitable. After a noisy, cheerful walk around the houses, the young people gathered in a gathering hut and arranged a common feast.

Dumplings with surprises The most common tradition in Russia on the night of the old New Year is to sculpt and cook dumplings, some of which are with surprises. Possible surprises (example):

* Flour - to flour
* Beans - to children
* Button - for new clothes
* Sugar - life (year) sweet
* Salt is not very sweet
* Pepper - life with pepper
* Thread - to the road
* Money - to money

In each locality (even in every family) the meaning of surprises may differ, but the tradition itself is very warm and friendly - it allows the whole family to get together and chat.

Old New Year in other countries

After the collapse of the USSR, in addition to Russia, the old New Year is also celebrated in Moldova, Armenia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (about 40% of the population) and Georgia, as well as Slavs and residents of other former Soviet and Orthodox republics in the countries of near and far abroad.

In the USSR, on the theme of this holiday, the film Old New Year (1980) was shot

Former Yugoslavia:

The tradition to celebrate the old New Year has been preserved in Serbia and Montenegro, since the Serbian Orthodox Church, like the Russian Church, continues to live according to the Julian calendar. Serbs call this holiday Serbian New Year. Old New Year is celebrated in Macedonia.

Switzerland:

The Old New Year according to the Julian calendar (the old day of St. Sylvester, German: Alter Silvester) is also celebrated in some German-speaking cantons of Switzerland. As in Russia, these are traces of popular rejection of the transition to the Gregorian calendar (this transition in Protestant Switzerland took place in the XVII-XVIII centuries).

Old New Year

On the night of January 13-14, Russians celebrate the Old New Year - a holiday incomprehensible to many foreigners. No one can really say - what is the difference between the Old New Year and the traditional New Year, familiar to everyone? Of course, from the outside it would seem, the only thing is the divergence of dates. However, we all regard the Old New Year as a completely independent holiday, able to extend the charm of the New Year. And, perhaps, for the first time to feel it, because the situation can be different, but on this day the holiday is calmer, there is no fuss so characteristic of the January 1 holiday.

There are two reasons for the appearance of a unique New Year - a change in the date of the beginning of the New Year in Russia and the stubbornness of the Russian Orthodox Church, which did not want to switch to New style.
Old New Year Story

In pagan times, the New Year was celebrated in Russia on March 22 - the day of the vernal equinox, and this was due to the agricultural cycle. With the adoption of Christianity in Russia, the Byzantine calendar began to gradually supplant the old one, and now the New Year began on September 1. For a long time, discord still persisted, and in some places the New Year continued to be celebrated in the spring. Only at the end of the 15th century in Russia officially determined the beginning of the New Year - September 1.

By decree of Peter I in 1699, the New Year was postponed to January 1 according to the old style, that is, January 14 according to the new style. After the revolution in 1918, the Bolsheviks “abolished” another 13 days a year, which made up the difference between our timeline and the European one.
Thus, two New Year celebrations were formed - according to the new and old style.

Church about Old New Year

The custom to celebrate the Old New Year on the night of January 13-14 in Russia is due to the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church continues to celebrate both the New Year and the Nativity of Christ according to the Julian calendar, which still differs from the generally accepted gregorian calendar for 13 days. But already from March 1, 2100, this difference will be 14 days. Starting in 2101, Christmas and Old New Year in Russia will be celebrated a day later.

Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, said that the Russian Orthodox Church does not intend to make adjustments to its calendar. “Indeed, the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars increases by one day every 100 years, when the number of hundreds in a year from Christmas is not a multiple of four. And if the Lord allows this world to exist another 100 years, then the Orthodox will celebrate Christmas on January 8, and To celebrate the Old New Year on the night from 14 to 15, "Chaplin said.

According to him, one should not attach much importance to calendar differences. " Gregorian calendar is also not entirely accurate, so the Russian Orthodox Church continues to use the Julian calendar, "Chaplin explained.

“If agreement can be found in calendar disputes, then only after the development of a new, absolutely accurate calendar,” the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate concluded.

For many believers, the Old New Year is of particular importance, since they can celebrate it from the heart only after the end of the Christmas Lent, during the Holy Festivities.

Opinions of scientists about the Old New Year

Old New Year is an unscientific date, astronomers say. However, the current calendar is not ideal, according to experts from the Astronomical and Geodesic Society of Russia. According to them, the strict mechanics of planetary motion forces people to make changes in the chronology. Julian calendar, operating in our country until 1918, is 13 days behind the Gregorian, by which Europe lives. The fact is that the Earth does not turn round its axis in exactly 24 hours. Additional seconds by this time, gradually running up, add up to days. By the beginning of the twentieth century, they turned into 13 days, which made up the difference between the old Julian and the new Gregorian systems. The new style more closely meets the laws.

According to the assistant professor of astrophysics at Moscow State University, Edward Kononovich, the main thing is that the calendar accurately reflects the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun. Today, there are many enthusiasts who offer their own option for timing. Their proposals are mainly related to the change in the traditional week: some offer to make a week of five days or do without weeks at all, and introduce ten days. However, from the point of view of science, perhaps, there are no ideal proposals - experts of different countries came to this conclusion, studying applications for changing the calendar of times, even coming to the UN. Scientists consider it impractical to carry out any calendar reforms now.

Old New Year Celebration

And yet, not paying attention to the fact that this day, unfortunately, is not even a day off, the popularity of the Old New Year is growing. According to the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion, the number of people wishing to celebrate the Old New Year has already exceeded 60%. Among those who are going to celebrate the “old” New Year are the majority of pupils and students, workers, entrepreneurs, housewives and, in general, people under the age of 40, with secondary specialized and secondary education, with relatively high incomes.
Traditions for the Old New Year

This day in the old days was called Vasiliev’s Day, and was crucial for the whole year. On Vasilyev’s Day, they celebrated the feast of agriculture, which was associated with the future harvest, and performed the sowing ceremony - hence the name of the holiday is “fawn” or “avsen”. This rite was different in different regions of the country: for example, in Tula, children scattered spring wheat around the house, while saying a prayer for a rich harvest, and the hostess then collected it and kept it until the sowing time. Ukrainian rites were distinguished by fun, dancing and songs.

And there was a kind of rite - cooking porridge. On New Year's Eve, at 2 o’clock, the eldest of the women brought cereal from the barn, and the older man brought water from a well or river. It was impossible to touch the groats and water until the stove was hot, they just stood on the table. Then everyone sat down at the table, and the eldest of the women began to stir the porridge in the pot, pronouncing certain ritual words - the groats were usually buckwheat. Then everyone got up from the table, and the mistress put porridge in the oven - with a bow. The finished porridge was taken out of the oven and carefully examined. If the pot was just full, and the porridge rich and crumbly, then you could expect a happy year and a rich harvest - the next morning they ate such porridge. If the porridge got out of the pot, or the pot cracked - this did not bode well for the owners of the house, and then disasters were expected, and the porridge was thrown out. That was such a program - either for adversity or for prosperity, and it is not surprising that it was often realized - because they believed in it seriously.

An interesting rite of going home is to treat yourself to pork dishes. On the night of Vasily, guests should definitely be fed pies with pork, boiled or baked pork legs, and generally any dishes that include pork. A pork head was also placed on the table. The fact is that Vasily was considered a “pig house” - the patron saint of pig farmers and pork products, and they believed that if there was a lot of pork on the table that night, these animals would breed in abundance and bring good profit to the owners. This sign is much more positive rite with porridge, especially for the zealous and hardworking owners. An amazingly sonorous and folding saying: “Mumps and boletus for Vasiliev’s evening” also contributed to the hosts ’mood for economic prosperity and abundance.

But the tradition of sculpting dumplings with surprises for the New Year’s Eve came not so long ago - no one remembers exactly where and when, but it is observed with pleasure in many regions of Russia. In some cities they are sculpted in almost every house - with family and friends, and then they arrange a fun feast and eat these dumplings, looking forward to whom and what kind of surprise comes across. This comic fortune telling is especially popular with children. They even bring dumplings to work to amuse acquaintances and colleagues; and local food companies often produce such dumplings - just before the Old New Year.

Old New Year 2018 begins on the night of January 13-14. The holiday is celebrated in large groups of friends, with a rich feast, songs and dances. Young people go to parties in clubs and restaurants.

The popular name of the holiday "Vasily’s Day" is associated with the name of St. Basil the Great. The Orthodox Church honors his memory on January 14.

history of the holiday

Old New Year is widespread in the CIS countries. Its occurrence is associated with a change in the reckoning. In 1918, the Soviet government decided to switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. The discrepancy between the calendars was 13 days. New Year's Eve began to fall on the night of January 13-14, which was the reason for the new holiday.

Traditions and ceremonies of the holiday

On the eve of the Old New Year, the housewives clean up the houses and prepare refreshments for the gala table.

The celebration begins on January 13, c. The owners of the house and invited guests gather at the lush table. The holiday menu includes pies with mushroom or meat filling, pancakes, dumplings, cabbage rolls, home-made pork sausages, meat aspic, cutlets, salads, croutons. Putting fish or poultry meat on the table on this day is considered a bad omen: happiness can fly away or float away. For dessert, the hostess serves gingerbread, cookies, cakes and rolls with cream fillings. Among alcoholic drinks, wines and champagne are popular. In some regions, the menu has a generous kutia (juiciness) - porridge made from whole grains of wheat or rice with honey, poppy seeds, chopped walnuts, raisins and dried apricots.

At the festive table, the hostesses arrange comic fortune-telling for their guests. They hide small objects in vareniki that can predict the future. A coin symbolizes wealth, a thread - travel, a button - new clothes, a pea of \u200b\u200bblack pepper - adventure, beans - an addition to the family.

At midnight, people light sparklers, launch fireworks and make a wish.

In some regions, after sunset and until midnight, it is customary to be generous (caroling). Generosity go around the house, sing ritual songs with wishes of happiness to the owners. For this they are bestowed with sweets and money.

In the villages, among young men, the tradition of stealing gates or gates in the yards of girls is widespread. To get them back, the owners must pay a ransom in the form of money or alcohol.

In some houses, on the eve of the Old New Year, the hosts establish a sheaf of ears of last year's harvest - diduh. After the holiday, a sheaf is burned. They believe that such a ritual cleanses the house of evil spirits and troubles.

On the morning of January 14, young guys go home to sow. They bring in their pockets or sleeves grains of barley, wheat, oats and sprinkle them on the floor. The process is accompanied by the singing of ritual songs that glorify the owner of the house, contain wishes of his family health, success and prosperity. For this, they are generously presented with sweets and money. The grain that remains after sowing is not overlooked, but is harvested with palms and mixed with seeds for new sowing.

Fortunetelling

On the night of January 13-14, higher forces descend to earth. During this period, it is customary to guess at the events of the future, the fulfillment of desires, the narrow-minded, the date of the future wedding. Fortunetellers perform magical rituals in which they turn to good or evil forces. For their implementation, they use the attributes: holy water, candles, mirrors, needles, paper. Everything that will be predicted that night should be fulfilled in the near future.

Signs and beliefs for the Old New Year

If it snows on the Old New Year or there is fog, then the year will be fruitful.
On the eve of the Old New Year, you must ask for forgiveness for insults from all your relatives and friends and forgive your own.
If a man enters the house first in the morning on the Old New Year, then this is considered a good omen, and if a woman, then be unhappiness.
If for a holiday there will be large banknotes in the house, then the coming year will pass in wealth.
On the eve of the Old New Year, it is necessary to put on new clean clothes so that luck and well-being accompany the year.

Old New Year is a holiday that allows you to once again feel the spirit of the New Year. He retained the ancient traditions of generosity, sowing, fortune-telling, cooking Sochi. After this holiday, people clean Christmas trees and New Year decorations in their homes and return to workdays.

On the night of January 13-14, Russians celebrate - a holiday incomprehensible to many foreigners. No one can really say - how is it different from the traditional New Year, familiar to everyone? Of course, from the outside it would seem, the only thing is the divergence of dates. However, we all regard the Old New Year as a completely independent holiday, able to extend our charm. And, perhaps, for the first time to feel it, because the situation can be different, but on this day the holiday is calmer, there is no fuss so characteristic of the January 1 holiday.

There are two reasons for the appearance of a unique New Year - a change in the date of the beginning of the New Year in Russia and the obstinacy of the Russian Orthodox Church, which did not want to switch to the New Style.

Old New Year Story

Church about Old New Year

The custom to meet on the night of January 13-14 in Russia is due to the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church continues to celebrate New Year and Christmas according to the Julian calendar, which so far differs from the generally accepted Gregorian calendar for 13 days. But already from March 1, 2100, this difference will be 14 days. From 2101 and the Old New Year in Russia will be celebrated a day later.

According to him, one should not attach much importance to calendar differences. "The Gregorian calendar is also not entirely accurate, so the Russian Orthodox Church continues to use the Julian calendar," Chaplin explained.

“If agreement can be found in calendar disputes, then only after the development of a new, absolutely accurate calendar,” the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate concluded.

For many believers, the Old New Year is of particular importance, since they can celebrate it from the heart only after the end of the Christmas Lent, during the Holy Festivities.

Opinions of scientists about the Old New Year

Old New Year is an unscientific date, astronomers believe. However, the current calendar is not ideal, according to experts from the Astronomical and Geodesic Society of Russia. According to them, the strict mechanics of planetary motion forces people to make changes in the chronology. The Julian calendar, which operated in our country until 1918, is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, according to which Europe lives. The fact is that the Earth does not turn round its axis in exactly 24 hours. Additional seconds by this time, gradually running up, add up to days. By the beginning of the twentieth century, they turned into 13 days, which made up the difference between the old Julian and the new Gregorian systems. The new style more closely meets the laws of astronomy.

Old New Year Celebration

Traditions for the Old New Year

This day in the old days was called Vasiliev’s Day, and was crucial for the whole year. On Vasilyev’s Day, they celebrated the feast of agriculture, which was associated with the future harvest, and performed the sowing rite - hence the name of the holiday is “fawn” or “avsen”. This rite was different in different regions of the country: for example, in Tula, children scattered spring wheat around the house, while saying a prayer for a rich harvest, and the hostess then collected it and kept it until the sowing time. Ukrainian rites were distinguished by fun, dancing and songs.

Then everyone got up from the table, and the mistress put porridge in the oven - with a bow. The finished porridge was taken out of the oven and carefully examined. If the pot was just full, and the porridge rich and crumbly, then you could wait for a happy year and a rich harvest - the next morning they ate such porridge. If the porridge got out of the pot, or the pot cracked - this did not bode well for the owners of the house, and then disasters were expected, and the porridge was thrown out. That was such a program - either for adversity or for prosperity, and it is not surprising that it was often realized - because they believed in it seriously.