New Year is probably the most long-awaited favorite holiday in every family. In Russia, this holiday is held on a wide scale everywhere. We all go to visit each other.
In pre-Petrine Russia, everything was different: the new year was considered not in January, as it is now, but on March 1. But Peter I gave the order to celebrate at a more familiar time for us: from December 31 to January 1. Today, the main characteristic of the holiday is the numerous dishes. And in the time of Peter there was a ball with dances and delicious drinks. Almost until the middle of the 19th century. in our traditions, there was no custom of celebrating in lavish feasts.
The cuisine at the celebrations was simple: mushrooms, pickles, porridge. And the Christmas goose, stuffed pig, various fricasse and tangerines came to the Russian table later and they are rather borrowed from the Christmas feast of Europeans. A little later, caviar, cheeses, and noble fish began to coexist on the tables next to milk mushrooms and marinades. Kvass has replaced orangeade, liqueurs and mash - cognac and overseas liqueurs. Wonderful delicacies appeared - ice cream and sherbet. And at the beginning of the 20th century, lobsters and hazel grouses began to be served at New Year's tables.
In post-revolutionary Russia, the celebration of the New Year was canceled at the state level. However, all people also celebrated this holiday near the forbidden Christmas tree and quiet gatherings-dances. In 1936, the tree was rehabilitated. True, the Soviet New Year's table was not so magnificent. But boiled potatoes and herring with onion rings were always present. And sometimes the table was decorated with sausage. After the war, life became better and more fun. Large companies began to gather around the table. The guests ate herring under a fur coat, vinaigrette, sprats and jellied meat. Skits were arranged with games and contests. Later, the popular and nowadays salad "Olivier" and "Soviet Champagne" appeared on the tables. And the main attribute was a TV with New Year's music programs.
Today everyone has a wide choice of how to celebrate the New Year: someone is celebrating in a close circle of relatives and friends, someone in a restaurant and a nightclub, others go on tourist trips. But one thing is invariable: this holiday is loved and expected by almost everyone.
