Old New Year is a holiday that is rooted in the traditions of the Ukrainian people. Every year, every family gathers at the festive table to once again congratulate each other on the advent of the new year. Like other Ukrainian holidays, Old New Year has its own traditions and rituals.

History of the celebration of Old New Year

Old New Year is an event that was previously celebrated according to the Julian calendar, according to the so-called old style. Like today, the holiday fell on the night of December 31 to January 1. In 1918, a new calendar was created, and the holiday itself was moved forward from January 13 to January 14 (according to the new style).

The exact date of the transition to the new calendar was February 14, 1918. It was at this time that Ukrainians had a rather unusual holiday, which we all call Old New Year. This holiday has never been celebrated on a grand scale, but this day has ceased to be ordinary for our people. When the Old New Year knocks on the door, Ukrainian families gather for a family festive dinner, exchange gifts and enjoy the comfort of a family atmosphere.

It is believed that the Old New Year is celebrated only in post-Soviet countries, but in fact this holiday has also affected a number of other states. For example, in Switzerland there are separate regions that celebrate the New Year in the old style. In Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia there are even their own traditions and rituals when celebrating the Old New Year.

Traditions and rituals of the Old New Year

On the Generous Evening of January 13, the family traditionally gathered together for a family dinner. The clothes of each family member had to be clean and neat, often embroidered dresses were chosen for the celebration, richly decorated with ornaments and patterns.

January 13 is also the day of memory of the venerable Melania (Malanka, Melanka), and January 14 is the feast of St. Basil. According to beliefs and legends, they met and married, one after the other. Such a dual holiday influenced the traditions of the Old New Year.

A delicious dinner was prepared for Melanka, and it was considered obligatory to prepare kuti, which was called “schedra”. It was made from wheat or rice, abundantly seasoned with jam with honey. Nuts, raisins, dried fruits and berries were also added to kuti. The festive table of the Ukrainian was also impressive with its luxury: in addition to 12 lean dishes, one could see baked sausages, underbelly, meat rolls and other dishes that were served to guests.

The traditions of the Old New Year included the process of malanka for girls on January 13. Malankuvannya included singing carols, entertaining guests with proverbs. On this day and until Epiphany, nativity scenes go, lead a goat and show performances. The participants of the nativity scene had to be dressed in Ukrainian embroidery, which emphasized the festive image.

The morning of January 14 usually began with sowing. Only boys participated in this process, who first sowed in their own hut, and then went to their neighbors. By sowing the Ukrainian hut with grain, they wished the owner and his family a bountiful harvest, prosperity and health throughout the new year.

In addition to nativity scenes and generosity, the traditions for the Old New Year also included their own customs. On January 14, boys who received pumpkins during matchmaking could send matchmakers again. It was considered a good omen to get married on Shchedry Vechir, Ukrainians believed that in this case, the young family would have a generous and joyful life.

Signs and beliefs associated with the holiday

Folk signs on the Old New Year were of great importance to our ancestors. They predicted the weather for the coming year, harvest or abundance. The most popular signs on the Old New Year were considered the following:

snow on January 14 (on Vasily) - there will be a harvest all year;
thaw on the Old New Year - it will rain in the summer;
fog on Vasily - to a generous harvest in the barn;
frost on trees during the celebration - the year promises to be honey;
blizzard on Malanka - to a bountiful harvest of berries.

In addition to weather signs, there were a number of others. For example, on Old New Year's Day, one could never borrow money so as not to need it in the coming year.

It was considered a good omen to wear everything new on the holiday, it was foretold that wearing only new clothes in the new year would be a sign. The first person to enter the house on Old New Year's Day was a man, if a woman entered first, it was considered a bad omen.

According to belief, it was a bad omen to count money, as it could lead to poverty, and one could not pronounce or mention the number “thirteen”.

Folk omens for the Old New Year included that to attract prosperity to the house, a plate of water was placed on the windowsill, into which various coins were poured. It was important that the water reflected nature in the sky. Girls washed themselves with such water in the morning to increase their beauty and youth.

How the Old New Year is celebrated in Ukraine and the world

In Ukraine, there are many traditions of the Old New Year. The celebration involves a delicious dinner with kutia and many other dishes. Signs and beliefs play a special role in carrying sacred meaning, being passed down from generation to generation.

The celebration also takes place in other post-Soviet countries, where there are also their own signs and beliefs. It is interesting that the Old New Year holiday has also affected countries such as Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina. We can say that these countries celebrate as actively as Ukraine.

Wales has its own analogue of the Old New Year - the Hen Galan festival. It symbolizes the beginning of the new year according to the Julian calendar. On this day, children go from house to house and receive gifts.

In Switzerland, this holiday is called “old St. Sylvester's Day”. It is celebrated mainly by the German-speaking population of the Swiss cantons. This day is a kind of rejection of the population of the transition to the Gregorian calendar during the Reformation.

Interesting facts about the Old New Year

Among interesting facts about the Old New Year, the following can be cited:

On this holiday, it was necessary to cook porridge, and when it was cooked, to see if the pot was full. Porridge was not supposed to escape, if this happened, then everything good would also escape from the house.
Pork is considered the main treat, but fish and poultry were usually not cooked, fearing that happiness and ease would escape from the house.
One of the signs for the Old New Year was the need to shake the branches of fruit trees on the morning of January 14. According to beliefs, this was supposed to protect the fruits from insect damage.
Recently, a tradition of fortune-telling with the help of food has appeared in Ukraine. The hostess prepares a “dish with a surprise”, most often dumplings are used for this, and puts a button, coin or wedding ring in it. If you find a button - this is for new clothes, a coin - for money, a wedding ring - for marriage.

Old New Year is a special holiday for Ukrainians, which carries a sacred meaning, has many signs and traditions that we inherited from our ancestors.