At 1452 Great Prince of Moscow Joann (John) declared the date of clerical and civil New Year at 1 of September. This day was the day of paying different taxes, rents and tributes. A day before the New Year tsar usually visited the Moscow Kremlin where everybody, both nobles and peasants could ask him for judgment and mercy. At September New Year the church ceremony took place, which was taken from Byzantium and started by Constantine the Great. The head of Russian Orthodox Church and 400 clerics went out to the Kremlin Square and wished health to the tsar and his family as well as to the nobles, troops and all orthodox Christians. More than 20000 people in confirmation of this New Year wishes loudly shouted: "Amen!"
The last time of this way New Year celebration was 1 of September 1698. At this day tsar Peter the Great greeted people with New Year by himself. At first year of 18 century Peter ordered to introduce the time scale from Birth of Christ instead of the time scale from the beginning of the world. He declared this custom for "better agreements in contracts and treatises." He took this custom from Holland and other countries of Western Europe where he
studied.
This
reform by Peter the Great began in a special manner: 1699 it was forbidden to
celebrate somehow September 1. And December 15 under drum-type fight on the Red
Square in Moscow to the people they have read the decree about counting of years
from Birth of Christ since January 1. 7208 year has turned to 1700. To the
people they declared after church ceremony to make on streets and at houses the
arrange ornaments with pine and fur-tree branches.
They declared also to congratulate each other on 1 of January and wish
each other the happy New Year. On the Red Square the shooting and fiery funs was
carried out, they let out rockets. On the large streets from January 1 till
January 7 on night they ordered to light fires.
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Now New Year is a family holiday. In many families children and the
adults are going in the evening of a house near by fur tree decorated by special
glass toys and wait for midnight. That moment the radio translates the sound of
the Moscow main clock - chiming clock on Spasskaya tower of Kremlin and
congratulation of the president to the people. The people fill glasses with
champagne vine and wish each other all the best.
From January 1 till January 10 there are winter vacations at school. At this time for children the public holidays, so-called "fur-trees" are arranged. On these holidays to children come the Grandfather a Frost, Snow girl, Snowman and other characters.
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The Grandfather Frost has replace
in Russia the European Saint Nicolas. It is the high old man with a long
white beard in a red fur coat, special mittens, felt boots, with magic staff and
bag of gifts for children. He rides not by deer’s, but on daring Russian
sledge with 3 horses and with little bell under an arch. His usual place of stay
is winter snow wood, where he organizes blizzards and snow fallings.
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His charming granddaughter Snow girl is a character, which in Europe is
not present. She is dressed in light-blue fur coat with white ermine fur, white
boots. From under round fur hat is lowered fair-haired braid below than belt.
She is a mistress for birds and animals of a winter wood: hares, squirrels, and
bullfinches.
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Usually malicious Baba Yaga and Forest man steals bag with
gifts and presents. The
malicious wolf and artful fox help them. The Snowman is comic person. Snow girl
speaks: « Children, let's help the Grandfather Frost to find a bag with
presents!
» Before to distribute children the found gifts, Grandfather Frost lights fires
on fur tree with the magic stuff. Then Grandfather Frost drives a round dance
around fur tree together with the children and other characters of a holiday.
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The senior youth simply suits parties. But on these parties somebody is necessary dress up by the Grandfather Frost and Snow girl. There is also distribution of gifts. And after a midnight the cheerful company leaves on a street, covered by snow, and starts up in the star sky multi-colored rockets and fireworks, plays snowballs.
Here are some pictures of different Russian attributes of New Year holiday.
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