Celebration of the New Year: history and traditions. New Year Celebration Ideas

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

New Year is the most favorite holiday for many of us. What is the pre-holiday fuss worth! Choose and beautifully wrap gifts for family and friends, buy a new outfit, decorate the Christmas tree and paint a delicious and unusual menu. And how this holiday is waiting for the kids! And no wonder - after all, on New Year's Eve, Santa Claus and his assistants, led by the Snow Maiden, lay out coveted gifts under the tree for obedient kids.

And of course, no preparation for a magical night goes by without some innovation. Someone decorates the Christmas tree in the latest fashion, someone arranges a theme party, and someone conjures in the kitchen, inventing a culinary masterpiece. And despite the fact that traditional gatherings in front of the TV and a vase of Olivier are still observed in many families, each of us wants to bring something new to this holiday that will make New Year's Eve special and unique. Unusual and interesting ideas for celebrating the New Year you will find in this article.

A trip to the past

According to informationscientists, the custom of celebrating the New Year originated in ancient Mesopotamia 3000 years before our era - and this is almost 25 centuries ago! True, among the ancient people the year lasted 10 months, and the beginning of a new one was celebrated at the end of March, when the rivers flooded and a new agricultural period began. The celebration of the New Year lasted for 12 whole days, and on these days people were strictly forbidden to work. In addition, everything was allowed to everyone, slaves became masters and vice versa. The strictest taboo was imposed on the trial, punishments and executions on holidays - it was a period of a kind of anarchic permissiveness.

Innovation of Julius Caesar

Celebration of the New Year on January 1, or rather on the night of December 31 to January 1, is considered quite common nowadays, and few people know that this tradition appeared thanks to Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar. It was he who, in 46 BC, increased the annual cycle from 10 to 12 months, adding January and February, and signed a decree that the year should begin on January 1. On this day, the inhabitants of the Roman Empire brought gifts and sacrifices to the two-faced god Janus, the patron of entrances and exits, as well as the end and the beginning. Over time, the Julian calendar began to be used in all corners of the globe, and the celebration of the New Year began to be carried out in accordance with it.

First day of the year

Until the Julian calendar appeared in Russia, the year of the Russian people began in March, and the holiday itself was called only "The first day of the year." This continued until 1492, when a deeply believing Christian, the great Tsar John the Third, with the assistance of the Moscow Cathedral,signed a decree appointing September 1 as the first day of the annual cycle. On this day, it was customary to pay tribute, collect duties and dues. The New Year, the celebration of which was accompanied by monetary donations for ordinary people, nevertheless, despite this unpleasant moment, was loved by many of them. After all, only on this one day of the year any commoner could come to the Kremlin before the royal eyes of the tsar and seek justice and mercy from that one.

Emperor's New Year Decree

Decree on the celebration of the New Year on January 1 in 1700 was signed by the great innovator - Emperor Peter the Great. It was he who introduced the Julian calendar, which was widely used in Europe.

Besides this, the sovereign ordered to celebrate the beginning of a new annual cycle within a week and personally checked whether the subjects were complying with his decree. So the New Year familiar to us entered the Russian Empire. The traditions of the celebration of Peter the Great "peeped" everything in the same Europe: it was thanks to him that this holiday became the way we know it to this day.

Christmas tree, candles, New Year

Thanks to the decree of Peter the Great, the doors of all houses were open for any guest for 7 days, whether it be a simple hard worker or a boyar. In all yards and streets, festive bonfires were burned every night, and in the windows of the houses the lights of lit bowls of oil flashed merrily. At the same time, a tradition appeared to put up a Christmas tree, which was decorated with everything that the soul desired: nuts, sweets, home-made toys and apples. It was such a fun celebration. New Year in Russia has quickly become a favoriteholiday of all people.

First New Year fireworks

By the way, Peter the Great also approved the New Year's fireworks, signing a decree to arrange a big fireworks display on Red Square, and also ordering everyone who has a cannon or a gun to shoot three times. More than 300 years have passed since then, but on the night of December 31 to January 1, we still celebrate the New Year. Celebration traditions and festivities, fireworks, richly laid tables and gifts - all these innovations of Peter the Great are still alive.

Following the footsteps of Santa Claus

Without what in a family where there are children, not a single New Year can do? The celebration for kids begins with gifts that the kind Santa Claus brought them personally or quietly left under the Christmas tree. Do you know who he is and where he came from?

They say that the prototype of Santa Claus was a very real person who lived in the 4th century. His name was Nicholas, and besides the fact that he had a kind soul and a warm heart, he was an archbishop. According to legend, this holy man helped poor people by throwing bundles of gold into their windows, and if there were children in the family, then in addition to gold, the bundle contained toys carved from wood and homemade sweets. After the compassionate Nicholas ascended to heaven, he was canonized and declared a saint. Nikolin's day (Nikola the Wonderworker's Day) began to be celebrated on December 19, and the saint's admirers continued the good tradition. In connection with the change of calendars, the dates were mixed up, and the custom of giving sweets and gifts to children was shifted to the New Year. The appearance of Santa Claus acquired new details onthroughout the centuries. The familiar image of a kind old man, without which not a single celebration of the New Year can do, found in 1860.

Christmas chores

New Year is not only everyone's favorite bright holiday, but also very troublesome. On the eve of New Year's Eve, you need to solve a lot of issues: finish important things, come up with a New Year's menu, buy gifts, go to the hairdresser, buy a new outfit. But the most important: how, where and with whom to spend the New Year? The celebration scenario can be different and vary depending on what kind of impressions you want to get. After all, one thing is suitable for married couples with children, and completely different for unmarried boys and unmarried girls. Here are some ideas to make New Year's Eve a happy and unforgettable one!

Idea 1: Restaurant

Let's make a reservation right away: for kids, celebrating the New Year in a restaurant will be too tiring: they will be capricious and cry, and their parents will get annoyed and nervous. As a result, the holiday will be hopelessly spoiled. Therefore, it is better to celebrate the New Year in a restaurant without children.

If you decide to spend a magical night in a restaurant, the algorithm of your actions should be as follows:

1. Choose a restaurant in advance, get acquainted with the cost of the entrance ticket and the show program, inquire about the menu and learn about the dress code.
2. Determine the company for the New Year, discuss the details.
3. Book a table at your favorite restaurant.
4. Think over your image in accordancewith a dress code approved by the restaurant program.
5. Make time to sleep in before a long New Year's Eve and visit the beauty salon to look perfect.

Idea 2: rent an apartment

Celebration of the New Year in a rented apartment is a favorite practice of young people. And no wonder: the budget of most of them will not stand the test of a restaurant, and celebrating a holiday with their parents is no longer interesting. The main thing is to develop a plan and strictly follow it:

1. Gather a group of friends to celebrate the New Year with.
2. Find an apartment that fits the bill (preferably with multiple rooms for privacy).
3. Choose who will be in charge of the rented apartment.
4. Design a menu and make a grocery list.
5. Split the budget among all guests.
6. Come up with a scenario for the holiday and, in accordance with it, decorate temporary housing.
7. Determine in advance who does what and schedule tasks for everyone.
8. Stock up on mineral water and activated charcoal tablets.
9. After New Year's Eve, cooperate and clean up the traces of the celebration together.

Idea No. 3: a country house

Celebrating the New Year in a new place is unusual and a lot of fun. And a country house, especially if it is located in the forest, is a great solution for both a couple with children and teenagers.

Fresh air, snow whitefluffy snow, clear stars and close people nearby - this is truly fabulous! Unlike the metropolis, where the snow turns into a gray mess, outside the city you can go sledding and skiing, sculpt funny snowmen with carrot noses and play snowballs. New Year's menu can be both exquisite and the simplest. And what could be better than hot mulled wine and barbecue grilled in a quiet winter forest? By the way, you can decorate a Christmas tree right in the forest - the main thing is to take toys with you. And if, instead of traditional plastic balls, you hang corncobs, apples, nuts and cookies on Christmas tree paws, you can become a real Santa Claus for squirrels and other forest dwellers. So, to unforgettably celebrate the New Year in a country house, you need:

1. Determine the number of people who will celebrate the New Year with you.
2. Use the Internet or reviews of friends and choose a country house.
3. Agree with the landlord, if required - make an advance payment.
4. Collect a bag with things and, in addition to festive outfits, grab more warm clothes.
5. Think about and take a first aid kit with you (note that situations are different, and it will take a long time to get to the pharmacy).
6. Discuss the menu of the New Year's table and decide whether you will cook everything in a country house or buy it already prepared in a supermarket.
7. Think of a Christmas tree outfit.
8. If you will be driving to your destination, make sure that the fuel tank is full and that the trunk has all the necessaryemergency tools.
9. Don't forget to bring hygiene products with you!

Idea 4: Home comfort

Celebrating the New Year at home is a tradition loved by many. This is a great opportunity to isolate yourself from the hustle and bustle and have a good time with your family. Indeed, in the cycle of events there are so few such moments! Celebrating the beginning of the year at home is not only cozy, but also fun! For example, you can cook dishes that are not usually cooked in your family, come up with a new family tradition, decorate the house together with handmade toys, paint windows with New Year's patterns.

You can invite your parents, grandparents, and close friends to visit. If you have pets, do not ignore them: you can tie festive ribbons with bells on cats and dogs, stick snowflakes on an aquarium, and hang a couple of bells on a cage with a parrot or a rodent. Here are some tips for celebrating the New Year in your native land:

1. Sit down with the whole family and discuss at home council exactly how and with whom the family will celebrate New Year's Eve.
2. If there are children in the family, ask them to make invitation cards for all guests (aunts and uncles, and especially grandparents, are very fond of crafts from kids).
3. Ask each family member what dish they would like to try at the holiday (you can use an old cookbook or the Internet).
4. Come up with a New Year's scenario or contests, don't forget to buy small prizes (handkerchiefs, lollipops, wet wipes, fridge magnets)!
5. Buy funny costumes for kids (you can get kind and funny masks for yourself).
6. Decorate your home with colorful garlands, Christmas figurines and balls, don't forget the Christmas tree.
7. Place lit candles around the house for a magical touch (remember fire safety!).
8. Prepare holiday meals 5-6 hours before guests arrive, so the whole family will have time to walk in the park, relax and clean up.
9. Don't forget to charge your camera and camcorder!

Idea 5: Visiting

If you are invited to visit, you should think about etiquette. To come to a welcoming house empty-handed is bad manners. Let's not forget about politeness and good manners, especially on New Year's Eve! So, if you are invited to visit, then you should consider the following details:

1. If the celebration will be held with close friends, discuss the menu in advance (you can agree that each guest will bring something to eat with them).
2. Alcohol tends to run out, so take a bottle of champagne, wine or cognac with you.
3. Remember that there are never too many fruits and sweets, tangerines and sweets are especially popular.
4. If there are children in the house, do not forget to buy them little surprises: girls will like beautiful hairpins,lip balm or a cute bracelet, and boys will be delighted with cars, dinosaurs or a laser keychain.
5. If the mistress of the house is not an avid tidy, you can bring confetti, crackers and serpentine, they will perfectly fit into the New Year mood;
6. In the event that the owners of the house completely take over the festive table, we recommend buying them good gifts: choose a present according to their preferences.
7. If you are taking any medication, remember to take it at home (same goes for feminine hygiene products).
8. Check with the owners of the house about the dress code, if the New Year's party is themed, take care of the proper costume.

Idea 6: Enjoy your bath

You can celebrate the New Year not only at a party, at home, in a restaurant or in the forest, but also in a sauna. The main condition is not to drink too much alcohol, as in conditions of hot steam it is dangerous to he alth. This option is suitable for people without children, as well as a bachelorette party or a purely male company. The hardest part is finding a free sauna. Everything else is just up to you. You can cook your own food, order it in a restaurant, or buy it in the ready-made meals section of a supermarket. A birch broom placed in a vase and hung with garlands can act as a Christmas tree. Champagne can be drunk from beer mugs, and the menu can consist of sushi, rolls and sashimi. The simplest is a New Year's costume: a snow-white sheet.

By and large, it doesn't really matter where you will becelebrate the New Year. The most important thing is to have those whom you love and by whom you are loved by your side. It's the best thing to have on the most magical night of the year. The rest is just decorations.