The tradition of celebrating the New Year originated five millennia ago in Ancient Mesopotamia. It was celebrated on the days of the vernal equinox, before the start of agricultural work, and was associated with the arrival of water in the Tigris and Euphrates. Gradually, this tradition spread among neighboring peoples, overgrown with specific customs, characters and signs. How to celebrate New Year in different countries today? Let's talk about it.
New Year traditions in Russia
Initially, our ancestors celebrated this holiday in March, and it was associated with the advent of spring, the awakening of the earth from winter sleep. New Year was preceded by "carols", when the mummers walked around the yards, sang songs, scattered grain. They were served ritual dishes - pancakes and kutya.
With the adoption of Christianity, the New Year was also celebrated on September 1. It was believed that on this day God created the world. This date was officially approved by John III in 1492. After 200 years, in 1700, Peter I ordered to celebrate the New Year on January 1, as all of Europe did. It was then that they began to decorate the Christmas tree, which since ancient times in Russia was considered a death tree.
New Year traditions in Russia took root heavily. Peter I forced the subjects to have fun, arranged fireworks and fun. Elizabeth I acted softer, organizing free holidays for the people and magnificent masquerades for the nobility. Gradually, the New Year fit into everyday life, merged with the traditional winter carols. His main characters - Santa Claus and Snow Maiden - appeared much later, in the 30s of the XX century. At present, the New Year is strongly associated with a Christmas tree, tangerines, Olivier salad, chimes and gifts.
New Year traditions of different countries of Europe
The main holiday here is Catholic Christmas. Celebrate it on a grand scale on the night of December 25th. New Year is celebrated more modestly. As in Russia, it is associated with decorated Christmas trees, clockwork and champagne. However, each country has its own New Year traditions:
- In England on this day, a man can kiss any woman standing under the branches of mistletoe. Doors open to let in the New Year and guests.
- In Spain, with every stroke of the clock, it is customary to eat on the grape. If you managed to eat all 12, then your desire will come true.
- In France, baked bean pie is served on the table. He who finds him in his piece becomes the king of the night. The rest obey his orders.
- In Germany, the chimes are heard, climbing on a chair with legs. And then they jump into the New Year with the last blow.
- In Italy, under the chiming clock, they also eat grapes, and then turn out the lights in the house and kiss with everyone present. Everyone puts on something red, whether socks or underpants. But the tradition of throwing old things out of the window is gradually becoming a thing of the past.
- In Norway, children receive small gifts from the gnome Elenissen and the goat that King Olaf II once saved. To appease these characters, they leave oats or cereal to the fairy-tale animal.
Greenland
The largest island in the world belongs to Denmark. Here, in the Arctic climate, Eskimos and a small percentage of Europeans live. Hence the specific customs of the celebration of the New Year, which comes twice. The first time is at 20.00, Danish time. Then - at midnight, as in the whole world. As a gift, you can be presented with an ice figurine of a walrus, a polar bear or a deer.
The traditions of the New Year's table are quite specific. Eskimos, in addition to conventional products, eat raw meat with a "sweetheart." For example, a seal or a shark that is buried in frozen ground for several months. After such manipulations, the meat acquires a special taste and smell. Locals love the liver of gulls, seals, which are eaten without any processing.
Canada and the USA
Christmas is celebrated here on a large scale as well as in Europe. Santa Claus flies to the children on the magic deer, leaves gifts under the Christmas tree. The New Year is celebrated more modestly, but it is with it that hopes for a new life are associated. The Americans, like us, promise to make important changes to their habits under the chiming clock: quit smoking, go to the gym. White swans are hung on a Christmas tree - a symbol of a bright future.
In both the USA and Canada, festivities, colorful festivals, parades, concerts of stars and other spectacular events are timed to this holiday. Many people prefer to celebrate New Year on the street, with friends. In Canada, ice rinks are very popular.
New Year's Eve traditions are interesting, which some Navajo Indians still observe. They put on white clothes, paint their faces and dance around the fire at the forest edge. In the hands of the Indians are sticks with balls of white feathers, which are burned to drive away the winter. Then, strong men raise a huge red ball on a pole, which marks the birth of a new Sun.
Cuba
On the eve of the holiday there is no snow and the usual Christmas trees. Outside the window there is thirty-degree heat, ocean waves run ashore, and the sun shines brightly. Therefore, it is customary to decorate a palm tree or araucaria with toys - a tree with flat needles.
New Year’s traditions are similar to Spanish ones - 12 grapes are also rushing to eat chimes, and then pre-prepared water spills out of windows and doors onto the street. It is believed that the negative goes with her, and opens the way to all that is pure, bright.
Three magical sorcerers fulfill their childhood desires - Gaspar, Balthasar and Cupronickel. It was they who saw the Star of Bethlehem and brought gifts to the baby Jesus. In Cuba, they are called kings, and the New Year itself is called Kings Day.
Brazil
In this country, the New Year is celebrated without Santa Claus. December 31 is the height of summer, so the people of Brazil rush to the coast. The main character of the holiday is the sea goddess Iemange. She decided to bring gifts in the form of flowers, candles, jewelry, perfumes, fruits and champagne. They drink it on the beach, making a wish, and the remainder splash out into the ocean. The remaining gifts are floated in wooden boats in gratitude for all the good and asking for help in the coming year.
New Year's tradition is a universal "fraternization". On this day, the Brazilians forgive the grievances, they promise to be more tolerant in the future. The tree here is floating, fireworks are also launched from rafts. The holiday is accompanied by universal fun, music and dancing.
Africa
The ancient Egyptians were among the first to celebrate the New Year. They timed the holiday to the time of the flood of the Nile. His offensive was indicated by the appearance in the sky of the brightest star - Sirius. And how is New Year celebrated in different countries of Africa today?
Firstly, there is no one settled date. In "advanced" South Africa, for example, they adopted European traditions and celebrate New Year on January 1. In Ethiopia, it falls on September 11, when the rainy season ends. In other places, the date may be tied to a flood of rivers, various agricultural work, and ancient legends.
Instead of fir trees, Africans dress palm trees. They do not have colorful balls, therefore fruits and luminous garlands are hung on trees. The more of them, the more fertile the coming year will be. Champagne is too expensive, so locals drink homemade beer, scooping it from a bucket. The holiday is accompanied by numerous rituals, ritual dances. To wash away everything bad and enter the new period of life clean, Africans bathe in water.
India
This country has very interesting New Year traditions. Representatives of different religious movements live on its territory, so the holiday is celebrated several times. Hindus are happy to meet January 1, dressing up a mango tree instead of a Christmas tree.
Even more solemnly celebrated is the "lunar" New Year, which falls in the spring. Celebration dates vary by state. As a rule, a fun carnival is organized these days. In South India, early in the morning, mothers lay small gifts on a large tray, and the children pick them with their eyes closed.
In the fall, another New Year comes - Diwali. Its other name is the festival of lights. Everywhere lights are lit, fireworks soar into the sky, ships with candles are launched on the river. Hindus praise the goddess of wealth - Lakshmi. They also celebrate the Muslim New Year. There is hardly any other country in the world where this holiday is loved so much.
China
The New Year traditions of this country are very ancient and associated with the onset of spring. The holiday is celebrated in accordance with the lunar calendar, usually it falls between January 17 and February 20. This is a family celebration when relatives get together. Instead of a Christmas tree, the Chinese decorate an ordinary tree. Lanterns and red balls are hung on it. They call it the Tree of Light.
Streets are also decorated with lanterns. In the New Year, it is customary to scare away evil spirits with a loud noise, so firecrackers and fireworks are everywhere launched. One of the main events is the dragon dance, which is made from wire and paper. Its length sometimes reaches 10 meters.
Before family dinner, festive dishes are "offered" to the dead ancestors. After following the ritual, the living proceed to the meal. This symbolizes the unity of the race. Sleep in the New Year, the Chinese do not go to bed. They believe that on this day the gods bring luck to their homes, and are afraid to oversleep it.
Japan
The history of New Year’s traditions is no less ancient than in China. Once the holiday was celebrated in the spring and was associated with the birth of a new life. But at the beginning of the 20th century, the Japanese switched to the generally accepted calendar, while preserving specific customs. Mandatory attributes of the holiday here are:
- White arrows protecting the house from troubles.
- Rake for raking happiness.
- The image of a ship on which seven spirits sailing to the Japanese on New Year bring good luck. Such pictures are usually put under the pillow.
- Eyeless doll, one eye of which is painted, making a wish. The second is depicted only after the plan is fulfilled.
The houses are decorated with bamboo and pine branches. Children under 12 years old dress up in new clothes. New Year is celebrated with family. Must visit the temples, where ritual fire is brought from. At midnight, the bells are beaten 108 times. With every stroke, the Japanese get rid of one of the sins. They go to bed early here, because you have to get up at dawn. Sunrise January 1, according to ancient tradition, must be met with applause.
Australia
Unusual New Year traditions of this country are related to weather conditions. Forty-degree heat is here on the night of January 1, so the celebration takes place on the beach. At the same time, European attributes are preserved: Santa Claus in a swimsuit, decorated Christmas trees, dazzling fireworks and sparklers. Also, a parade of boats and a competition of surfers timed to this time.
New Year traditions of different countries are different from each other. But the common thing is people's hope for the best, the pursuit of happiness, the light that lives in each of us, regardless of nationality.