Should you celebrate the Old New Year? Each person decides for himself, because a lot depends on the circumstances. However, if there is a mood and opportunities, why not arrange another small, pleasant holiday for yourself.
It is not difficult to remember when the Old New Year is celebrated in 2019 or any other year, because the date remains unchanged - from January 13 to January 14. These numbers fall on a magical old-style night. How can you spend this time if your soul still requires a holiday and winter magic?
How to celebrate the Old New Year: a few nuances
New Year's Eve and the following Old Style night hours offer a warm and intimate atmosphere. It is worth spending this time in the company of loved ones and family. According to old traditions, it is best to be at home at this time, but you can go on a visit only in the afternoon of January 14th. In the same period, it becomes possible to have time to congratulate those with whom it was not possible to see or call on the previous holidays.
It is worth considering the following nuance: it is not recommended to go for a walk on this night. In the old days, it was believed that in such a period the border between the worlds is erased, therefore any evil, any evil spirits can meet on the way. Because of this, it is necessary to celebrate the Old New Year exclusively in a home and safe environment. If you really need to go out into the street, then you need to take an example from the carols - dress up in ridiculous and frightening costumes, or at least put on one or two pieces of clothing topsy-turvy.
It is not necessary to clean the tree and say goodbye to all the decorations in the apartment before the onset of the winter holiday. Flickering garlands, beautiful decor, burning candles - all this will create the necessary mood. And a special entertainment can be various fortune-telling with candles, wax, cards or mirrors, which are a traditional pastime for this celebration.
If you want to keep the traditions, then you must not forget to draw up a festive menu for the Old New Year. After all, it has its own peculiarities.
Treats for the Old New Year: what to cook
In particular, meat dishes are held in high esteem. They should be hearty, tasty, fatty, with an abundance of spices and seasonings. It is best to fry in lard or use as much oil as possible. Jellied meat, fried meat (especially pork and rooster / chicken) are considered classic options for the New Year's table in the old style.
Our ancestors, celebrating the onset of the new year according to the old style, always cooked kutya. Now this dish is considered traditional for Christmas, but on a light holiday it is made with less oil. Having decided to make it for the Old New Year, you should definitely add plenty of raisins and other dried fruits, poppy seeds, natural flower honey, nuts. These ingredients have a certain sacred meaning. So, for example, nuts in a hearty porridge symbolize good health, and honey is responsible for the abundance of good news and joyful events in life.
Traditionally, the table should be very rich, then this will provide a satisfying life for the next year. You should definitely add some homemade products to the treats, for example, jams and pickles, as well as drinks - tinctures and homemade wines, compotes, and so on. The festive table should also contain fresh fruits, vegetables and soft aromatic bread.
Two must-have traditions of the Old New Year
- Having decided to celebrate the Old New Year, before its onset and on the magic winter night itself, it is necessary to light as many candles, lanterns, nightlights as possible. This tradition is based on the fact that in the past, during the celebration, large bonfires were necessarily made. Our ancestors believed that such a light would drive away evil spirits, and in an open fire everything bad would burn out, from which we so want to get rid of.
- Until the evening of January 13, it is imperative to throw out old personal items from the house - clothes, shoes, accessories, bed linen. If possible, then you need to conduct a burning ceremony. You also need to try to get rid of wardrobe items and various items that can carry the spirit of illness, for example, throw away pajamas that were previously worn during the flu, cold or other illness. By tradition, such actions will help cleanse the negativity, refresh the energy of the house / apartment and forget about diseases.
