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Celebrating Old New Year In Russia

by Anna Wood  
12/03/2008 / Holidays

I once read somewhere that the main difference between the ways that Western people and Russian people view life can be summed up in this: whereas Western people are devoted to getting as much enjoyment out of life as possible, the Russian people believe in enduring through whatever trials that they have to, because God Himself endured. They are used to lives of deprivation and have learned to make do with what they have while still seeking for reasons to celebrate.

Russia is a unique country where traditions from the East and the West successfully meet and coexist. In Russia, the old and the new intertwine like in no other place; this is especially evident in the celebration of their holidays. Before 1918 and the inception of Communism, Russians used the old Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar (which we use); there is a difference of about two weeks between the two calendars so when the Gregorian calendar was adopted by the Russian government there was some confusion as to when, and due to Communism, how, certain holidays should be celebrated. Because of this, and in order to cope, many Russians started to celebrate some holidays twice: once according to the new date and style, and, once according to the old. This mind-set was applied to New Year's Day, also, thus, a new holiday known as the "Old New Year" was created. It is not an official holiday nor is it recognized by the state; its importance lay in the hearts of the brave people who were facing so many, many struggles. Old New Year has now long been a family holiday that is celebrated with food, drink and sometimes small gifts; New Year's Day itself is frequently celebrated by indulging in a feast at a gathering with friends.

Before the Communists took power in 1918, Christmas in Russia was celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church as an important and sacred holiday. The atheistic Communists banned religion, and, therefore, religious holidays were also banned. Christmas itself was banned in 1925 and was not reinstated until the year 1992 (after the fall of the Communists in Russia). The Russians missed their Christmas celebration and all that went with it so eventually the New Year's celebration replaced the Christmas one. Over time the Russian people transferred Christmas symbols and traditions to New Year's Day. In Russia, the Christmas Tree became the New Year tree and the giving of gifts was transferred to New Year's Day by usurping the tradition of Santa (known in Russian as 'Ded Morozh' or 'Grampa Frost' or 'Grandfather Frost' or 'Father Frost'), who lives in the village of Velikiy Ustyug in the Volgoda region with his pretty granddaughter 'Snegurochka' or 'Snow Girl' or 'Snow Maiden', who helps him to distribute New Year's gifts. Father Frost wears a suit of blue and threatens to freeze the naughty children (instead of leaving them lumps of coal in place of presents).

The Russian people consider the coming year to be the beginning of new life and a chance to make their dreams come true. Today most Russians' claim New Years as their favorite holiday. New Year is so important to the people, that, in Russia, it perhaps outstrips the importance of Christmas in the United States to us. The Russian New Year is heralded with gifts, celebrations, hope for the future, and a feast of traditional, delicious foods.

The Russian Old New Year, is also celebrated with a table groaning under delicious foods and has, more or less, taken on the role that New Year's Day had had. Regrettably, the popularity of the Old New Year is beginning to wane some with younger generations who don't understand its history quiet as well as the old folks did.

Anna Wood is a Christian wife, mother of 9 children, homeschooler and writer. Her desire is to know, love, and obey God and bring Him glory and help others to do the same. Her website is called The Apples of Gold and is at http://theapplesofgold.com

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