January 14 is an old new year tradition. What is the old New Year and why is it celebrated? Too sweet is also bad. Why are sugar factories being closed in Russia?

Old New Year, which is celebrated on the night of January 13-14, is a special, mystical time. It is believed that it is on this night that the best time for fortune telling. How to find out your destiny, the name of your betrothed or the date of your upcoming wedding - read the material.

Why do they tell fortunes for the Old New Year?

The Christmastide period (from January 7 to January 19) has long been considered special; people believed that it was on these days that fate could reveal its secrets and mysteries. We learned about the future through fortune telling and various folk signs. On the night of the night, unmarried girls wondered not only about their future, but also about their betrothed.

During the Christmastide period, you can find out not only the name of your betrothed, but also the color of his hair, character or figure. As well as the wedding date, number of children, successful or unsuccessful marriage.

People believed that fortune telling on the night of January 13-14 was the most truthful. There was even such a saying: “Everything that the red maiden wishes for Vasily will come true, but what will come true will not pass.”


Fortune telling for Christmas time - the most accurate and truthful

Folk traditions of fortune telling are forgotten, losing their form and content. However, on the night of January 14, many girls still want to look into their future, as our great-grandmothers once did. If you also want to tell fortunes on this mystical night, read the material about how this can be done at home.

How to prepare for fortune telling for the Old New Year

Before fortune telling, you need to get in a serious mood, let your hair down, untie all the knots that are on your clothes (belts, straps, decorative elements), remove bracelets and rings and accurately formulate the question that interests you.


How to tell fortunes for the Old New Year

If you are guessing about your future husband, then this should not be done in family home. At this moment, men should not be present in the house.

They say that every fortune-telling for the Old New Year had to be done without doubting its veracity, only then it would certainly come true.

Fortune telling with a comb

Before going to bed, the girl puts a comb under her pillow with the words “Betrothed, mummer, come and comb my hair.” If in a dream she sees a man combing her hair, then this year she will be married to the man who dreamed about it.


Fortune telling for the Old New Year with a comb

Fortune telling with cups

For fortune telling, you need several cups (as many as there are people doing fortune telling). A ring, a coin, bread, sugar, onion, salt are placed in cups, and a little water is poured into one cup. With their eyes closed, each of those who guesses, in turn, chooses a cup.

Predictions for the future are as follows: ring - for a wedding; coin - to wealth; bread - to prosperity; sugar - for fun; onion - to tears; salt means bad luck, and a cup of water means life without much change.

Fortune telling for marriage with candles

You need a bowl of water, halves of walnut shells, in quantities equal to the number of those who are telling fortunes, and the same number of small candles or pieces thereof. You need to insert the candles into the shells, light them and let them float in a bowl.


Fortune telling for the Old New Year with candles

The girl whose candle burns out first will be the first to get married. Accordingly, the girl whose candle burns last will be the last to get married. If someone’s shell sank with fire, that girl will never be married at all.

Fortune telling for the future husband

Another very popular fortune telling for the Old New Year is searching for the groom under the pillow. To do this, you need to place pieces of paper under your pillow with words written on them. male names. In the morning, take out one of the leaves. The name on it will be the name of your betrothed.

You can also go out into the street at midnight and ask the first person you meet for their name. They believe that whatever name they give you, that’s what your future husband will be called.

Fortune telling about the character of the future husband

On the night of January 13-14, before going to bed, girls need to put playing cards with the image of kings. In the morning, without looking, you should draw one card. Whichever king the girl gets, that’s how the husband will be: king of spades- old and jealous, the king of clubs is military, the king of hearts is young and rich, and the king of diamonds is desirable.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year with cards

Fortune telling for the betrothed with a stocking

Girls will have to prepare for this fortune telling in advance - buy stockings. Before going to bed, you need to put on a new stocking on one leg and go to bed. At the same time, the girl must say: “Betrothed, mummer, come take off my shoes.” A man who takes off a stocking in a dream will become a future husband.

Fortune telling by thread

Insert three threads into three needles: black, white and red. Have someone carefully pin them to the back of your clothing. Without knowing in what order the needles are located, pull out one thread. A red thread means an early marriage and the birth of a baby, a white thread means loneliness, and a black thread means marriage will not bring you happiness; you need to pay attention to career growth.


Fortune telling for the Old New Year by thread

Wedding fortune telling

On the Old New Year at midnight, girlfriends go out into the yard and, taking turns blindfolding each other with a scarf, spin them around several times, and then push the girl in the back. If she goes towards the gate, she will soon get married. If she goes to the porch, then she will have to sit as a girl for another year.

Fortune telling on dumplings

The housewife, preparing dumplings with potatoes, puts “surprises” in some of them along with the usual filling: coins, rings, nuts. The fortune telling itself occurs directly while eating the dish. Whoever gets what falls is waiting for him.

A coin or some grains - for wealth, a thread - for the road, salt - for tears, sugar - for a good and prosperous life, a ring - for marriage, a nut - the presence of two gentlemen, pepper - a new boyfriend, a cherry pit - for replenishment in family.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year with dumplings

Fortune telling on cereals

In a circle you need to place saucers with different cereals: buckwheat, millet, rice, semolina, oatmeal, pearl barley, and pour water into a separate saucer. The girls take turns spinning a raw egg in the center of the circle and see which way it rolls.

If to buckwheat - the groom will be rich, to millet - he will be blond, to rice - he will be married, to semolina - the groom will be from the north, to pearl barley - the groom will be a military man. Water means that the girl is waiting for travel. If the egg spins in place, it means that the girl will not get married this year.

Fortune telling by wish

Before going to bed on January 13, write 12 wishes on separate pieces of paper, carefully roll them up and place them under your pillow. When you wake up in the morning, pull out 3 of them - they will definitely come true in the new year.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year at will

Ecology of life: The tradition of celebrating the old New Year among the Slavs originated back in 1918, when Soviet Russia was forced to switch to life according to the Gregorian calendar in order to eliminate the frightening time difference between Europe and Russia.

The tradition of celebrating the Old New Year among the Slavs dates back to 1918, when Soviet Russia was forced to switch to life according to the Gregorian calendar in order to eliminate the frightening time difference between Europe and Russia.

Subsequently, the Julian calendar was abolished, but the Orthodox Church did not obey the order of the Soviet government and continued to celebrate the holiday in the old regime, but now on January 14. That is, the old New Year is a New Year that people continue to celebrate according to the old style.

Signs and traditions on Vasilyev's evening

On the night of January 13-14, people again celebrated the arrival of the New Year, the eve of which was called Vasilyev's evening in honor of the patron saint of pig farmers - St. Basil. On this day, a pig was usually slaughtered, from whose meat countless hearty dishes were prepared, since the pig was a symbol of livestock fertility and family well-being among the ancestors. In addition to the above-mentioned name, this day was often called “Generous Evening” or “Autumn” among the people.

How did you prepare for the holiday?

In the morning, the housewives treated the whole family to wheat porridge, which was generously seasoned with meat or honey. There was a popular saying: the tastier the porridge, the better the coming year. But if the dish failed, then the family will be haunted by failures. Then from lunch until the evening the women baked pancakes, made dumplings with various fillings and baked piglets. The men helped them with housework, and the children went caroling.

The ritual of “bowing” was accompanied by dressing in national costumes and walking from house to house singing songs that were supposed to attract good luck and prosperity to the village. The owners who allowed caroling on their doorsteps always treated the children to something tasty. In the evening, a generous table was set to appease the coming year, and at night the whole family went to visit neighbors to bring peace and grace into the relationship.

On the morning of January 14, young people went out into the streets and lit fires to burn the “didukh” and jump over the New Year’s fire as a sign of purification. On this night they believed: the more stars there are in the sky, the greater the harvest.

Mandatory dishes on the table for the Old New Year

To festive table corresponded to the canons of Old Slavonic traditions, it is important to serve kutya on the Old New Year holiday, which is prepared from buckwheat and barley (today we use refined rice) with the addition of a variety of dried fruits, nuts, grapes and honey. The richer the filling, the better. It's all about what each product carries sacred meaning: nuts symbolize health, raisins - longevity, grain - the beginning of a new life, honey - good news, poppy - prosperity.

By the way, our ancestors special attention also related to rituals related to fortune telling. The main tradition in every family was eating special dumplings with a surprise. A variety of objects were hidden in their filling - from bay leaves to coins. Got a cherry dumpling? To temptation. With cabbage? To the money. The ring spoke of an imminent wedding, the thread warned of a long journey, the button - of a new thing, pepper and salt - of chagrin.

Popular fortune telling in the old New Year

The peasants were not only engaged in festivities at the festive table. Everyone, young and old, waited with special reverence for the onset of darkness to begin fortune-telling. People believed that the night from 13 to 14 was magical; it was during this period that dark and light forces descended onto the earth and possessed knowledge.

Fortune telling "Look up your ear"

If you want to know what year lies ahead, then you just need to listen to someone else's conversation. Ask yourself a question and listen to what the people around you say: if they laugh - everything will be fine, if they cry or swear - it means hard times await you, and if they drink, stay away from temptations.

Fortune telling "Prophetic line"

In the old days, girls especially loved to tell fortunes with books. They prepared questions in their minds and then called out the page number and line. The answer served as a prophecy.

Fortune telling "Green sprout"

To find out who will get married first, unmarried girls They picked out an onion and placed it with the root in the water. The one who sprouted first will be the first to get married.

Fortune telling "Stranger"

To find out the name of their betrothed, unmarried girls often ran out of the house immediately after midnight to look for the first male they met. There was a belief: whatever name a stranger calls, that’s what the future husband will wear.

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Fortune telling "Bag with a surprise"

In the house, a bag was prepared in advance with a variety of small items - pebbles, cereals, handkerchiefs. A crust of bread, a ring and a hook were also hidden there. Without looking inside, you had to take the first thing you found out of the bag. If a girl pulled out a loaf of bread - she would live in wealth, a hook - to expect troubles or a difficult fate, and a ring - to a happy marriage. published

The Old New Year 2021 begins on the night of January 13-14. The holiday is celebrated in large groups of friends, with a rich feast, songs and dances. Young people go to parties in clubs and restaurants.

The popular name of the holiday “Vasil's Day” is associated with the name of St. Basil the Great. Orthodox Church honors his memory on January 14.

The content of the article

history of the holiday

The Old New Year is common in the CIS countries. Its occurrence is associated with a change in chronology. In 1918 Soviet authority decided to switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. The discrepancy between the calendars was 13 days. New Year according to the old style began to fall on the night of January 13-14, which was the reason for the emergence of a new holiday.

Traditions and rituals of the holiday

On the eve of the Old New Year, housewives clean their houses and prepare treats for the festive table.

The celebration begins on January 13, at. The owners of the house and invited guests gather at a sumptuous table. The holiday menu includes pies with mushroom or meat filling, pancakes, dumplings, cabbage rolls, homemade pork sausages, meat aspic, cutlets, salads, croutons. Placing fish or poultry meat on the table on this day is considered bad omen: Happiness can fly or swim. For dessert, housewives serve gingerbread, cookies, cakes and rolls with cream fillings. Among alcoholic drinks Wine and champagne are popular. In some regions, the menu includes generous kutya (sochivo) - porridge made from whole grains of wheat or rice with honey, poppy seeds, chopped walnuts, raisins and dried apricots.

At the festive table, housewives arrange comic fortune telling for their guests. They hide small objects in dumplings that can predict the future. A coin symbolizes wealth, a thread - travel, a button - new clothes, a black peppercorn - adventure, beans - an addition to the family.

At midnight, people light sparklers, set off fireworks and make a wish.

In some regions, after sunset and until midnight, it is customary to give generously (caroling). The generous people go around the houses, sing ritual songs wishing happiness to the owners. For this they are given sweets and money.

In villages, it is a common tradition among young men to steal gates or wickets in girls’ yards. To get them back, the owners must pay a ransom in the form of money or alcohol.

In some houses, on the eve of the Old New Year, the owners install a sheaf of ears of grain from the previous year's harvest - didukh. After the holiday, the sheaf is burned. They believe that such a ritual cleanses the house of evil spirits and troubles.

On the morning of January 14, young guys go home to sow. They bring grains of barley, wheat, and oats in their pockets or sleeves and sprinkle them on the floor. The process is accompanied by the singing of ritual songs that glorify the owner of the house and contain wishes for his family’s health, success and prosperity. For this they are generously presented with sweets and money. The grain that remains after sowing is not swept up, but collected with the palms of the hand and mixed with seeds for new sowing.

Fortune telling

On the night of January 13-14, they descend to the ground higher power. During this period, it is customary to guess about the events of the future, the fulfillment of desires, the betrothed, the date of the future wedding. Fortune tellers make magical rituals, in which good or evil forces are addressed. To carry them out, they use attributes: holy water, candles, mirrors, needles, paper. Everything that is predicted this night should come true in the near future.

Signs and beliefs for the Old New Year

  • If it snows or is foggy on the Old New Year, then the year will be fruitful.
  • On the eve of the Old New Year, it is necessary to ask forgiveness for grievances from all loved ones and acquaintances and forgive your own.
  • If a man is the first to enter the house on the morning of the Old New Year, then this is considered a good omen, and if it is a woman, then it will be a misfortune.
  • If there are large banknotes in the house for the holiday, then the coming year will pass in wealth.
  • On the eve of the Old New Year, you need to wear new, clean clothes so that the year will be accompanied by good luck and prosperity.

Old New Year is a holiday that allows you to once again feel the spirit of the New Year. It has preserved the ancient traditions of generosity, sowing, fortune-telling, and making juice. After this holiday, people remove Christmas trees and New Year's decorations from their homes and return to everyday work.

On the night of January 13-14, the Old New Year is celebrated in Russia, as well as in many neighboring countries. AiF.ru explains how and when this holiday appeared.

The Old New Year is a rare historical phenomenon, an additional holiday that resulted from a change in chronology. Because of this discrepancy in calendars, we celebrate two “New Years” - according to the old and new styles.

How did the Old New Year appear?

The date of creation of the world (according to ancient translation Old Testament) was previously considered March 1, 5508 BC. e. Therefore, the New Year began on the first day of spring (March 14 according to the new style).

However, in the era of Constantinople, this date was recalculated more accurately, and September 1, 5509 BC was considered the day of the creation of the world. e. Therefore, the New Year henceforth began on the first day of autumn.

In pagan times in Rus', the New Year was celebrated on March 22 - the day of the spring equinox. After the adoption of Christianity in Rus', the Byzantine calendar began to gradually replace the old one, and the New Year now began on September 1. This date is still interpreted today by some teachings as the true birthday of Christ. D For a long time, New Year's inconsistency persisted in Rus' - some continued to celebrate the New Year in the spring, others in the fall. And only at the end of the 15th century - in 1492 - was a single date for the beginning of the New Year in Rus' officially determined - September 1.

Only 2 centuries later, on December 19, 1700, Peter I promulgated the decree of summer to be calculated from January 1 from the Nativity of Christ (that is, according to the “new” style - January 14). Thus, in Russian state The year 1699 lasted only 4 months, from September to December.

By the twentieth century, the calendar of Russia, which continued to use the Julian calendar, was 13 days behind Europe, which had long ago switched to the Gregorian calendar. To reduce this gap, in 1918, by decree of the Council of People's Commissars, the transition to the Gregorian calendar was carried out - a new style, and January 14 - the day of St. Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea of ​​Cappodacia - turned out to be the Old New Year.

What other countries celebrate the Old New Year?

The Old New Year is celebrated not only in the CIS. On January 13, a festive table is also set in the following countries:

  • Greece;
  • Macedonia;
  • Romania;
  • Serbia;
  • Montenegro;
  • Switzerland.

The Old New Year is also celebrated in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. True, it is celebrated according to the Berber calendar, which is the Julian calendar with minor differences. As a result of accumulated errors, the eve of the holiday falls on January 11th.

Old New Year today

On the night of January 13-14, everyone can afford to “pre-celebrate” their most favorite holiday. Indeed, for many believers, the Old New Year has a special meaning, since they can wholeheartedly celebrate the beginning of the new year only after the end of the Nativity Fast.

Today, the popularity of the Old New Year is growing from year to year, and Russia is no exception. More and more people treat it as an independent holiday, which prolongs the charm of the New Year or allows them to feel this charm for the first time. After all, this holiday is calmer, it is not characterized by the bustle that is an inevitable companion of the New Year.

When will New Year be celebrated in 90 years?

Interestingly, the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars increases every century when the number of hundreds in the year after Christ is not a multiple of four for one day. Now the difference between Julian and Gregorian calendar is 13 days. And from March 1, 2100, this difference will be 14 days. And from 2101, Christmas and Old New Year will be celebrated a day later.

The Old New Year is a holiday that arose due to the difference between the Gregorian and Julian calendars. According to the old (Julian) calendar, New Year would have begun on this day. In Ukraine, it is still customary to celebrate this holiday, calling it Generous Evening.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year using cereals

For the Old New Year, you can tell fortunes by taking any cereal. Hold your palm over a container with any cereal and mentally ask a question that can be answered “yes” or “no.” Take a handful of cereal and pour it onto the table. Count the grains - if the number is even, then the answer is “yes”, and if it is odd, then “no”.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year from a book

Take a book and mentally ask a question. After that, guess the page and line without looking, and read it. This will be the answer to the question, although it can be interpreted in different ways.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year on objects

For this fortune telling you will need bread, a ring and a hook. All these things need to be put in a bowl, add stones there, cover with a cloth and mix. Then take out an object without looking. If you get bread, your husband will be rich, if you get a ring, then he will be beautiful, and if you get a hook, then he will be poor or sick.

Fortune telling for the Old New Year using the names of passersby

You need to go out on the evening of January 13th and call out to the first man you meet on the way. You need to ask him for his name - this will be the name of the betrothed.

Signs for the Old New Year

  • A man should be the first to enter the house to attract happiness and prosperity.
  • The sowers need to be given sweets and other tasty food, but not money - they can also be used to give away the family’s material well-being.
  • There is no need to say the word “thirteen.”
  • You can’t count small things, it will attract misfortune.
  • On the morning of January 14, the owner of the house must take an ax and knock on the threshold with it, while saying “bread”, “health”, “life”.
  • If you don't take out the trash, you'll take happiness out of your home.
  • You should not eat fish and poultry - happiness will fly away or float away.

All signs and fortune telling work as long as you believe in them. In fact, all restrictions and “supernatural” coincidences are only in our heads. Therefore, you should rely on yourself, and not on folk wisdom.

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