Happy Old New Year People!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! Like you haven't heard that enough already. However, I bet what you don't hear that often is: Happy Old New Year! :) And it is a real thing as well, celebrated in Russia on the 13th January.
While it may sound like an oxymoron or a paradox, for many Russians the winter holidays aren’t finished until January 13, when they celebrate Stary Novy God: Old New Year.
In fact, tradition dictates not to take down the Christmas tree until then. Old New Year marks the changing of the year according to the old Julian calendar, instead of the Gregorian calendar that the world officially uses today. According to recent polls, more than half of all Russians celebrate Old New Year in some way.
New New Year is an official holiday, and the one that Russians celebrate most heartily. This leaves Old New Year as a more relaxed time when Russians celebrate as they please. Some see it as a nostalgic holiday and spend it at large family gatherings where they eat and sing carols. Others see it as simply another reason to go out and party with their friends and colleagues, especially if it falls during a weeknight. They often eat traditional holiday foods. They may bake dumplings with small objects inside, like a button or a thread; the diner who discovers the object is said to receive good fortune in the year ahead.
So Happy Old New Year everyone!!!
With lots of love,
Ksenia - Russian Student Ambassador
While it may sound like an oxymoron or a paradox, for many Russians the winter holidays aren’t finished until January 13, when they celebrate Stary Novy God: Old New Year.
In fact, tradition dictates not to take down the Christmas tree until then. Old New Year marks the changing of the year according to the old Julian calendar, instead of the Gregorian calendar that the world officially uses today. According to recent polls, more than half of all Russians celebrate Old New Year in some way.
New New Year is an official holiday, and the one that Russians celebrate most heartily. This leaves Old New Year as a more relaxed time when Russians celebrate as they please. Some see it as a nostalgic holiday and spend it at large family gatherings where they eat and sing carols. Others see it as simply another reason to go out and party with their friends and colleagues, especially if it falls during a weeknight. They often eat traditional holiday foods. They may bake dumplings with small objects inside, like a button or a thread; the diner who discovers the object is said to receive good fortune in the year ahead.
So Happy Old New Year everyone!!!
With lots of love,
Ksenia - Russian Student Ambassador
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