Celebration

During the year we celebrate many holidays. They have different themes, directions, historical and religious roots. As a rule, people anticipate their birthdays the most, but for me it's New Year's. Every time this holiday plunges me into a kind children's fairy tale, and it gives me good vibes and a good mood. Christmas and New Year’s are very close and have different stories and traditions. I will try to explain the significance of the New Year for people who were born in the USSR, or grew up in the former countries of the Soviet Union.

The tradition of celebrating the New Year on the night of December 31 to January 1 appeared under Peter I. There was a tradition to decorate houses and yards with spruce and pine branches. Peter I adopted this custom from foreigners who lived in the German Quarter. Then, under Elizabeth I, who loved luxury, the tradition of New Year's masquerade balls appeared, and during the time of Catherine II, the New Year tradition included the exchange of gifts and a special festive table. In the 19th century, other attributes of the holiday appeared - champagne, Christmas decorations, and postcards. After the revolution in 1918, the Bolsheviks canceled the celebration of the New Year, believing that it was “counter-revolutionary”. In 1935, the New Year returned and Ded Moroz (Santa Claus) and his granddaughter Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), tangerines, salad Olivier, New Year's lights and chimes, the solemn speech of the head of the country and festive songs gradually became companions of fun.

In the USSR, atheism was spread, and popularized religious holidays, such as Christmas for example, were banned. Therefore, they put up a Christmas tree, decorated it and the house, put gifts under the Christmas tree, dressed up in carnival costumes, set up the festive table and invited many guests to celebrate the New Year. For children, Ded Moroz and Snegurochka were invited, who made a small performance, listened to poems from children and gave them gifts. For everyone, it was the brightest and kindest holiday, children were waiting for gifts, adults gathered with the whole family with friends at the same table and celebrated the New Year. After that there were almost two weeks of rest for everyone, the children did not go to school, and the adults did not go to work.

Family traditions are laid in childhood. What we celebrated in childhood we transfer to our family and continue to celebrate. For my family, this is the New Year, and on December 31 we will gather with the whole family and with friends, put gifts under the Christmas tree, make salad Olivier, open champagne, and celebrate the New Year by wishing each other that it will be even better than the previous one.