Nowadays many people attach high value to such great holiday as New Year. And this is not surprising, because New Year's Eve associates with gifts, frosty evenings and snow, as well as decorated Christmas tree. But if you ask your parents or grandparents how New Year appeared, nobody have no the answer, because the holiday originated long ago.
In many countries all over the world, New Year is considered as one of the oldest holidays. Especially it is loved by children, as they expect to get an interesting present in that day. For adults that is a good reason for getting together with family or friends and just have fun.
There are lot of different theories about the origin of New Year. Someone consider that it was celebrated in Babylon first, others that it was originated in Mesopotamia, and still others-in ancient Egypt. Many historians claim, that New Year was started to celebrate by ancient Celts first. Whatever it be, it must be admitted that initially New Year was absolutely pagan holiday. On this day, people paid tribute to the good and evil spirits they believed, and organized festivities accompanied by food and fun.
In ancient Egypt New Year was customary celebrated in September. Exactly in that period the Nile River overflowed its banks, which meant that a new agricultural season began, important for Egyptian farmers. And in that period one usually gave each other presents.
Ancient Celts considered the winter solstice as a start of next year. On this day, their whole families gathered in the forest near the spruce, as they believed that it was this tree that was endowed with magical powers. They believed that since the spruce is an evergreen tree, destructive forces are beyond its control, and there is spirit dwells in it, which must be placated in order to have a bountiful harvest next year. To placate the spirit, people made sacrifices. Domestic animals were chosen as a sacrifice, which were butchered, and their entrails were hung on the branches of the spruce. Gradually, over the years, the animals were replaced with more humane offerings. The spruce was decorated with bread pieces, apples and so on. A bouquet of wheat ears was placed on top of a green tree to appease the gods. They placed figures of people under the tree so that there were no diseases, various vegetables so that the new year was fruitful, and much more. This tradition has established among people, thus, a spruce has become an unchangeable New Year's symbol.
The time was passing by and gradually they began to transfer the forest spruce to warm houses, so as not to go to the cold and wind-blown forest. The selected spruce was dug up and carefully replanted under the roof so that the tree remained alive and did not die. The tradition to cut down the spruce appeared a little bit later. When the celebrations ended, the spruce was carefully replanted back, as they still believed that there was a spirit dwells in it.
It is generally believed that New Year in Russia appeared thanks to Peter the Great. The tsar loved everything new and foreign, and by his decree of 1699 ordered to celebrate New Year on the first of January, so the New Year holiday officially appeared in our country. After the death of the emperor, they began to gradually forget about the celebration of New Year, the Christmas trees were put up less and less, and then mainly in drinking establishments. And only in the end of 1830 years tsar Nikolas I reverted to that custom. But, as it turned out, again for a short time. Eighty years later, at the beginning of the First World War, the Christmas tree was removed in Russia again, as they believed that it was all German traditions and did not want to have nothing in common with the warring side.
It was only in 1935 that the Soviet government managed to revert New Year and the Christmas tree. The author of this idea was the secretary of the Communist Party Pavel Postyshev. He relied on the argument that earlier the Christmas tree and the holiday in general were reserved of wealthy families, and the children of ordinary workers could only, sighing, watching this luxury only through the window. Postyshev believed that it would be fair to make the celebration of the New Year a generally accepted holiday, so that all the children of the country could enjoy what was previously only available in wealthy bourgeois families. The initiative was supported, and thanks to this, New Year reverted in Russia and has survived to this day.
Certainly, the modern Christmas tree, decorations and another New Year's objects have not such meaning as that people attached to them in ancient times. The customs of appeasing spirits are long gone, and the New Year is nothing more than the beginning of a new calendar year and a good reason to give gifts and get together for fun. However, the modern celebration of this celebration varies in different countries and has its own, local traditions that are not accepted in Russia and the countries of the former USSR.
For example, in England, when the clock starts striking at midnight, the back door is opened, as if releasing the old year in this way. Then, with the final blow, the front doors opened and a new year is invited into the house. In Spain, during the striking of the clock, everyone must have time to eat twelve grapes, for several months of the outgoing year.
In Scotland, on New Year's Eve, processions are organized along the streets of the city: lighted tar barrels are rolled in front of them. This symbolizes the "burning" of the old year and the lighting of the path for the new one. But in Vietnam, instead of the usual Christmas tree, they put small tangerine trees in the house, always with bright fruits.
In Italy there is their own tradition: before New Year people throw from all windows old and unnecessary things and objects. Italian people believe, that is necessary to meet next year not only with an updated home interior, but also in new clothes. In Japan with the first minute of the new year, everyone starts laughing loudly. Japanese believe that such funny laugh will certainly bring them good luck in the New Year.
In India New Year celebrate four times during the whole year- such an interesting national-specific. And in Cuba, on December 31, water is poured into all the vessels that are in the house. And when midnight comes, all the water is poured out of the windows, thus wishing the new year a bright, like water, path. These are just a few examples, but it seems that New Year is a very versatile holiday.
Perhaps someone will be surprised, but there are countries in which people do not celebrate New Year at all. For example, in Saudi Arabia on January 1, there is usual everyday atmosphere. The same in Israel. People also work there at this time, unless this day is a Saturday. In Iran, people live in their own way, according to the Persian calendar, and on March 21 they celebrate Nowruz, or a new day. From that day the next year is counted there, and a similar picture is observed in some other Muslim countries.
However, how to celebrate New Year and whether to celebrate at all - everyone chooses for himself, but by telling the story of how New Year holiday appeared at the festive table, you will surprise most of your guests.
Whatever it be, nowadays this is one of the most popular holidays, which many people love and wait for.
In many countries all over the world, New Year is considered as one of the oldest holidays. Especially it is loved by children, as they expect to get an interesting present in that day. For adults that is a good reason for getting together with family or friends and just have fun.
Where New Year first appeared
There are lot of different theories about the origin of New Year. Someone consider that it was celebrated in Babylon first, others that it was originated in Mesopotamia, and still others-in ancient Egypt. Many historians claim, that New Year was started to celebrate by ancient Celts first. Whatever it be, it must be admitted that initially New Year was absolutely pagan holiday. On this day, people paid tribute to the good and evil spirits they believed, and organized festivities accompanied by food and fun.
In ancient Egypt New Year was customary celebrated in September. Exactly in that period the Nile River overflowed its banks, which meant that a new agricultural season began, important for Egyptian farmers. And in that period one usually gave each other presents.
Ancient Celts considered the winter solstice as a start of next year. On this day, their whole families gathered in the forest near the spruce, as they believed that it was this tree that was endowed with magical powers. They believed that since the spruce is an evergreen tree, destructive forces are beyond its control, and there is spirit dwells in it, which must be placated in order to have a bountiful harvest next year. To placate the spirit, people made sacrifices. Domestic animals were chosen as a sacrifice, which were butchered, and their entrails were hung on the branches of the spruce. Gradually, over the years, the animals were replaced with more humane offerings. The spruce was decorated with bread pieces, apples and so on. A bouquet of wheat ears was placed on top of a green tree to appease the gods. They placed figures of people under the tree so that there were no diseases, various vegetables so that the new year was fruitful, and much more. This tradition has established among people, thus, a spruce has become an unchangeable New Year's symbol.
The time was passing by and gradually they began to transfer the forest spruce to warm houses, so as not to go to the cold and wind-blown forest. The selected spruce was dug up and carefully replanted under the roof so that the tree remained alive and did not die. The tradition to cut down the spruce appeared a little bit later. When the celebrations ended, the spruce was carefully replanted back, as they still believed that there was a spirit dwells in it.
How New Year appeared in Russia
It is generally believed that New Year in Russia appeared thanks to Peter the Great. The tsar loved everything new and foreign, and by his decree of 1699 ordered to celebrate New Year on the first of January, so the New Year holiday officially appeared in our country. After the death of the emperor, they began to gradually forget about the celebration of New Year, the Christmas trees were put up less and less, and then mainly in drinking establishments. And only in the end of 1830 years tsar Nikolas I reverted to that custom. But, as it turned out, again for a short time. Eighty years later, at the beginning of the First World War, the Christmas tree was removed in Russia again, as they believed that it was all German traditions and did not want to have nothing in common with the warring side.
It was only in 1935 that the Soviet government managed to revert New Year and the Christmas tree. The author of this idea was the secretary of the Communist Party Pavel Postyshev. He relied on the argument that earlier the Christmas tree and the holiday in general were reserved of wealthy families, and the children of ordinary workers could only, sighing, watching this luxury only through the window. Postyshev believed that it would be fair to make the celebration of the New Year a generally accepted holiday, so that all the children of the country could enjoy what was previously only available in wealthy bourgeois families. The initiative was supported, and thanks to this, New Year reverted in Russia and has survived to this day.
Certainly, the modern Christmas tree, decorations and another New Year's objects have not such meaning as that people attached to them in ancient times. The customs of appeasing spirits are long gone, and the New Year is nothing more than the beginning of a new calendar year and a good reason to give gifts and get together for fun. However, the modern celebration of this celebration varies in different countries and has its own, local traditions that are not accepted in Russia and the countries of the former USSR.
How celebrate New Year in other countries
For example, in England, when the clock starts striking at midnight, the back door is opened, as if releasing the old year in this way. Then, with the final blow, the front doors opened and a new year is invited into the house. In Spain, during the striking of the clock, everyone must have time to eat twelve grapes, for several months of the outgoing year.
In Scotland, on New Year's Eve, processions are organized along the streets of the city: lighted tar barrels are rolled in front of them. This symbolizes the "burning" of the old year and the lighting of the path for the new one. But in Vietnam, instead of the usual Christmas tree, they put small tangerine trees in the house, always with bright fruits.
In Italy there is their own tradition: before New Year people throw from all windows old and unnecessary things and objects. Italian people believe, that is necessary to meet next year not only with an updated home interior, but also in new clothes. In Japan with the first minute of the new year, everyone starts laughing loudly. Japanese believe that such funny laugh will certainly bring them good luck in the New Year.
In India New Year celebrate four times during the whole year- such an interesting national-specific. And in Cuba, on December 31, water is poured into all the vessels that are in the house. And when midnight comes, all the water is poured out of the windows, thus wishing the new year a bright, like water, path. These are just a few examples, but it seems that New Year is a very versatile holiday.
Perhaps someone will be surprised, but there are countries in which people do not celebrate New Year at all. For example, in Saudi Arabia on January 1, there is usual everyday atmosphere. The same in Israel. People also work there at this time, unless this day is a Saturday. In Iran, people live in their own way, according to the Persian calendar, and on March 21 they celebrate Nowruz, or a new day. From that day the next year is counted there, and a similar picture is observed in some other Muslim countries.
However, how to celebrate New Year and whether to celebrate at all - everyone chooses for himself, but by telling the story of how New Year holiday appeared at the festive table, you will surprise most of your guests.
Whatever it be, nowadays this is one of the most popular holidays, which many people love and wait for.