New Year is a holiday celebrated all over the world. Adults and children love him. They talk a lot about him, tell different stories, make films. It has a long history. There are many interesting and curious facts about this wonderful holiday.
New year in Russia
It is known that in Russia this holiday began to be celebrated at the behest of Peter I. The decree was issued in 1700. He was very strict and could be punished with a fine for his disobedience. The first fireworks display on New Year's Eve was also launched by Peter the Great. It happened in the same year 1700
In ancient times, gifts were given not by Santa Claus, but to himself. He was not as kind and cheerful as he is now. He personified the winter cold and blizzard, shackling everything around with ice and cold. Santa Claus was "lonely" in ancient times. The Snow Maiden appeared only in the 50s of the 20th century. It was invented by Soviet writers Lev Kassil and Sergei Mikhalkov. We did it specifically for children's events to please the children
- The snowman as a symbol of winter and the New Year also appeared not so long ago. They began to sculpt it only in the 20th century. The obligatory attribute for him has always been a bucket, a broom and a carrot instead of a nose.
- In Soviet Russia, starting from the 80s, Father Frost had 3 official residences - Veliky Ustyug, Arkhangelsk and Chunozero estate. And the permanent place of residence is the North Pole.
- Everyone or almost everyone knows the famous song “A Christmas tree was born in the forest”. It was written back in 1903. And they began to sing it in 1905, when the composer Leonid Bekman wrote music to it. Since then, it has been sung by children from all over Russia and beyond.
- In modern Russia, since 1991, not only New Year has been considered an official holiday, but also Christmas.
New Year in other countries
It is curious that the invariable attribute of the New Year - the Christmas tree - in the Middle Ages in Europe was placed and decorated in a completely different way. It was suspended from the ceiling. It was decorated mainly with sweets, cookies, gingerbread, etc. The children were the first to run into the house. They with great joy cut off the treats from her. So a Christmas tree suspended from the ceiling is not a new "trend", but an old custom
Christmas tree decoration - a glass ball was first made in the 16th century (Saxony). But they began to decorate with balls only in the 19th century, when mass production was established. There were special craftsmen who made these Christmas tree decorations. Their less experienced helpers made toys from other materials: nuts, cones, paper, cardboard, etc
- In many countries of the world, it is customary to first spend the Old Year, and then celebrate the New. For example, in Scotland, barrels are filled with tar for this purpose, set on fire and rolled through the streets. Thus, they supposedly banish the Old Year and invite the next one.
- With the onset of the holiday in the homes of the British, with the first blow of the clock, the back door is opened. The old year must be gone. And with the last blow, the front one opens and the New Year is admitted.
