The New Year holidays have always helped people survive long, hard winters. Perhaps that is why so many charming traditions and signs have arisen that make everyone at least for a moment believe in a miracle and forget about colorless everyday life.

Where did the New Year come from in Russia?

In Russia, the New Year is celebrated on January 1 for more than three hundred years. This date was proposed by Peter I, thereby laying the foundation for the tradition of weekly festivities. Volleys of cannons and smaller guns on Kremlin Square, decorated with wooden toys, spruce in rich yards and small twigs in poor, bright burning resin barrels - all this together was a truly impressive sight. And although such entertainments were borrowed mainly from Germany, by now they have become practically a part of Russian culture, having changed in accordance with the requirements of the time.

The main attributes of the modern New Year are spruce, Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden, gifts, as well as animals of the Chinese horoscope. A separate item is the old New Year comedies, so beloved by everyone for many years.

Christmas tree

The New Year tree is the most important fluffy evergreen symbol of the holiday, around which people of all ages gather. The features of its design changed over time: sweet edible decorations and wooden figures turned into glass balls with shiny tinsel and electric garlands.Recently, the decoration style of spruce in one or two colors of ribbons and balls has become popular. For artificial trees, there are variations in the color of needles - needles can be not only natural green, but also pure white, silver, golden and any other, depending on the imagination of the decorator. In addition to imitating spruce, imitation of pine is also in demand, loved by its voluminous lush branches.

Ded Moroz and Snegurochka

As for Santa Claus and Snegurochka, then since 1998 you can go to visit them, to Veliky Ustyug - one of the oldest northern cities of Russia. The image of a good old man is not always unambiguous, but involves several important attributes:

• Firstly, a thick gray beard and hair, symbolizing the wizard's old age and wisdom.
• Secondly, a long red coat embroidered with silver thread and insulated with swan fluff.
• Thirdly, red boots with a raised toe, sometimes with a small heel.
• Fourthly, the staff - it not only helps the old man overcome snowdrifts, but also creates New Year's magic.

Next to Santa Claus is always the Snow Maiden - his assistant in white or blue attire, the analogues of which are not found in any other cultures.

Why are they giving presents for the New Year?

The gift exchange ritual is rooted in the distant past, but they decided to put them under the tree only in the middle of the XIX century. Children were classically presented with sweets and toys, which, in fact, has not changed to this day. Large stylized packaging with sweets, fruits and chocolate is now popular.The choice of gifts and how to give them is also very diverse. If you wish, you can give them in person or put them under the tree. And there is also the opportunity to order the service of Santa Claus, who will come directly to the child’s house and congratulate him according to all the canons and ask for a gift to tell a poem or sing a song.

Chinese calendar

Since the 70s of the XX century, the comparison of the European New Year with the Chinese calendar has gained popularity in Russia. So a great many new signs, beliefs and traditions appeared. People dress up in animal costumes - symbols of the coming year, give each other the appropriate souvenirs, select a special holiday table. All so that the animal, whose year is celebrated, is not offended by the owners and brings a lot of happiness to their house.

New Year's miracle

On New Year's Eve, the family gathers at the festive table, lights candles and sparklers. The President’s congratulations are broadcast on all the channels, which summarizes the main results and talks about the prospects for the future. Exactly at midnight, the chiming clock sounds, announcing the coming of the New Year. At this moment, you should make a wish, because according to popular beliefs it will come true. After that, people often go outside, congratulate friends, start fireworks, arrange mass walks and round dances, mold snowmen and play snowballs. This continues until the morning.

Thus, in a simple way, a gloomy winter turns into a miracle, which both adults and children are looking forward to.This is an occasion to gather at one table, to remember all the good and express hopes for a bright future, which is so easy to forget about on a short rainy winter day.