From 31 December to 1 January, with a tree and tobogganing - an alleged customary New Year were celebrated only three centuries ago. When the ancient new year celebrated in Ukraine? And celebrate it now?
New Year in March
In Ukraine, agricultural New Year, our ancestors celebrated in March, and this was associated with the beginning of spring field work. But in the late 15th century as the New Year according to the church, and on the secular calendar, began to celebrate the 1st September, says Julia Nikishenko cultural studies. Familiar to us on January 1 of the decree came after the Russian Tsar Peter I, who borrowed the tradition of celebrating New Year's winter in Western Europe, and this in turn - from ancient Rome. "Since 1700 greeted January 1 New Year. In order to decorate the king's house spruce branches, ride with hills. Also, do not "get drunk". That is everything to be civilized. In ancient times, for example, in Egypt as it was, we know little. Rather, it was the traditional bestowing gifts. So how do we posevayut on Old New Year. That is, it "was important in terms of agrarian magic" - explained культуролог.
Unconventional celebrations
As celebrate New Year, so spend it, they say. Who is limited to holiday with your family, and who aspire to a bright impression.
Anna from Kiev for the New Year can not be associated with agrarian traditions. New Year, said the girl - is primarily a fluffy snow, speed and good mood. Anna - a fanatical skier, therefore hopes that this year will be supportive nature, in Kiev, the snow falls, and it is lucky to celebrate New Year, doing their favorite sport. "A December - some corporate parties, always indoors. So you want a holiday in extreme snowy night of New Year. No, corporate New Year in our company will anyone, but I hope we will meet the next morning in ski suits, ski, but with champagne "- she hopes.
unusual New Year's Eve met 5 years ago, Natalie. But not in the frosty air, and in a stuffy cabin lift. "Until the New Year was 40 minutes. And we - 10-15 people - decided unanimously to go into the store, and then together to celebrate. When we pressed the 10th floor, lift our stop. We are fortunate that we had packages with drinks and food. Laid the table in the elevator, the elevator girl smeared with sandwiches, guys uncork the champagne. We really liked the wonderful holiday turned out ».
A singer Viktor Pavlik December 31 considers the usual mundane day. Despite the fact that on this day he celebrates his birthday, holiday feeling for Victor no. "I'm used, I do not celebrate. Just waiting for Christmas "- says the singer.
New Year in a restaurant or at home watching TV - it's not a holiday for the sports journalist Valentina Shcherbachev. He would gladly change warm slippers and Olivier to travel the snowy Alps. "Skiing lost in the Austrian Alps, the route did not work, the frost was strong, but in a backpack and some of it - in store just in case. Height - under 2,000 meters. A pint of brandy - and after that, because it is not afraid of anything "- recalls the extreme model.
But the writer and artist Les Podervyansky New Year does not like because they do not understand that he should celebrate.
«If the New Year of Our Lord, we have to celebrate New Year on Christmas Day. I do not understand why it is necessary in two nights without sleep, I do not understand why the President should listen, watch some stupid show on TV and a salad. For me the holiday - it is a spontaneous phenomenon, not a feast ».
European New Year's Eve
Christmas and New Year in all the countries of Europe - is, above all, family events, - says the Brussels correspondent for Radio Liberty, Vitaly Eremitsya. Although each state has its own special traditions inherited from their ancestors.
In Portugal and Spain, most families on Christmas night, going to Mass in the church, called "Mass of the cock." It is believed that he was singing his morning heralded the birth of Christ. It is interesting that Spain - the only country in Europe where neither eve nor the day of Christmas is not a weekend.
In many parts of Portugal on Christmas night and go to the musicians sing in each window.
with great enthusiasm celebrate Christmas in the UK. Popular since the past centuries is sending to relatives and friends Christmas cards. It became a kind of competition, and anyone who receives them, carefully puts everything on the fireplaces. A lot of Brits hung over the door of a branch of mistletoe. Every couple passing underneath must kiss.
Belgium celebrates the approach of Christmas since December 6. On this day, St. Nicholas with gifts for the obedient and Per Fuettar (literally, "Grandpa whipped"), for tricksy, visit the children. Eve meets a majority of the people in your family. However, more and more popular become public celebration of the night. For example, at the Brussels Grand-parade-ground, thousands of people gather at midnight to take part in the ritual lighting of candles.
The Social Science Research, for the vast majority of Ukrainians, New Year's - it's a family holiday, and every tenth Ukrainian never said it.