When they began to celebrate the new year on January 1. New Year: the history of the holiday

Since 1700, Tsar Peter issued a decree - to celebrate New Year not from the day of the creation of the world, but from the Nativity of the God-man, referring to European peoples. It was forbidden to celebrate September 1, and on December 15, 1699, the drumbeat announced to the people on Red Square (from the mouth of the royal clerk) that “as a sign of a good undertaking and the beginning of a new century, after thanksgiving to God and prayer singing in the church, it was ordered to streets, and noble people in front of the gates to make some decoration from trees and branches of pine, spruce and juniper. And for poor people (i.e., the poor), at least put a tree or branch over the gate. And so that it ripens by the 1st number of 1700 of this year; and to stand for that decoration of Invar (i.e., January) until the 7th day of the same year. On the 1st day, as a sign of fun, congratulate each other on the New Year, and do this when fiery fun begins on Red Square and there will be shooting.

The decree recommended “if possible, everyone in their yards should shoot three times with small cannons or small guns and fire several rockets. From January 1 to January 7, at night, light fires from firewood, or from brushwood, or from straw.

Tsar Peter I was the first to launch a rocket. Wriggling in the air like a fiery snake, she announced the New Year to the people, and after that the celebration began throughout Belokamennaya.

As a sign of the national holiday, cannons were fired, and in the evening, in the dark sky, multi-colored fireworks fireworks never seen before flashed. Illumination flashed. People had fun, sang, danced, congratulated each other and gave new Year gifts. Peter I steadily made sure that this holiday was no worse and no poorer in our country than in other European countries.

He was a resolute man and in one fell swoop resolved all calendar inconveniences.

By the beginning of the reign of Peter the Great in Russia was the year 7207 (from the creation of the world), and in Europe 1699 (from the birth of Christ). Russia was beginning to establish ties with Europe, and such a time difference was very disturbing. But that was over. It was from January 1, 1700 that the folk New Year's fun and fun gained their recognition, and the celebration of the New Year began to have a secular (non-church) character.

From now on and forever this holiday was enshrined in the Russian calendar. This is how the New Year came to us, with Christmas tree decorations, lights, bonfires (which Peter ordered to be arranged at night from January 1 to January 7 by lighting tar barrels), snow creaking in the cold, winter children's fun, sledding, skiing, skating, snowmen, Santa Claus, gifts...

It must be said that new new year customs took root among the Slavs quite quickly, because earlier at that time there was another Christmas holiday. And many old rituals: funny carnivals, tricks of mummers, sleigh rides, midnight fortune-telling and round dances around the Christmas tree - fit well into the New Year's ritual.

And although it was frosty at that time, the cold did not frighten people. As you know, they burned bonfires in the streets, performed dances around them, calling on the sun (which they deified from time immemorial) to warm the earth bound by snow and frost.

Good afternoon friends. accept my my sincere congratulations happy new year. May your innermost desires come true on this fabulous day. Let's hope that the coming 2019 will bring success and good luck!

Friends, do you know when Russia began to celebrate the New Year on January 1st? Let's take a look at this question. In 1700, the future All-Russian Emperor Peter Alekseevich issued a decree on the transfer of the New Year holiday from September 1 to January 1. Thus, for the first time in Russia, the year lasted only 4 months.

On December 15, 1699, with the help of a drumbeat on the main square of the country (Red), the clerk of the tsar delivered a speech to the people in which he said: - of good will and voluntary undertaking, the future century will begin on January 1st. So, having served a prayer service and thanksgiving to the Lord, the tsar commands, along the large traveled streets of Moscow and in the estates of noble people, over the gates to build something like an ornament from trees and twigs of pine, Christmas trees, juniper.

For poor people, above the gate to create decoration from a tree or a branch. All this must be built by the first day of 1700. This product must be located until the 7th day of January. On January 1, for fun, it is necessary for citizens to give each other gifts and congratulate on the coming year. All this, the autocrat ordered to begin at the hour when the main gate of the Kremlin will fire fun, with shooting!

In his order, Peter recommended that if any of his subjects have the opportunity, in their yards, who have small cannons and small guns, start shooting and launching rockets. From 1 to 7 at night it is necessary to burn firewood and brushwood with straw.

The first rocket was launched by the autocrat himself. She flew in the form of a fiery snake in the sky, thereby announcing to people about the coming of the New Year. After that, in fact, the holiday began throughout Moscow.

As a sign that the celebration was nationwide, the arrows began to fire from cannons. With the advent of darkness, against the background of the sky, fireworks that had never been seen before began to appear. Muscovites saw the illumination for the first time. The people began to have fun. Many danced, songs were heard. Citizens began to congratulate those around them and give them various gifts. The king himself saw to it that new holiday we celebrated no less than they celebrate it in Europe.

As you know, Peter was a man of action; therefore, by his decree, he removed many of the inconveniences of the calendar. Peter I came to the kingdom in 7207 from the creation of the world. In Europe, the year was 1699, from the birth of Christ.

Before Peter the Great, Russia traded with Europe, and such a temporary difference was a hindrance. The king was done with it. So, in our country, from 01/01/1700, fun begins with fun on New Year's Eve. Their people officially recognized. The New Year itself has become a secular holiday. From now until today, this celebration was fixed in the state calendar.

This is how the New Year holidays appeared in Russia. The obligatory attributes of which were decorated Christmas trees, bonfires, lights (their king made at night from 1 to 7, using lit barrels of resin). At this time there was a frost, the snow creaked, sonorous voices were heard. People had fun with sleds, skates, skis. The children made snowmen. Santa Claus and his gifts appeared!

By the way, this celebration took root with us very quickly, since at a similar time before Peter the Great people celebrated Christmas time. Hence, such ancient traditions and customs, such as the fun of mummers, carnival, sleigh races, fortune-telling at midnight, round dance around the spruce, perfectly entered the New Year's ritual.

At the beginning of the 18th century the winters were much colder than now. But, this did not bother people much, since they lit bonfires, led round dances over them, thereby calling on the sun (the Slavs deified the sun) so that it would warm the earth with its rays, which was bound by snow and frost.

Decorating the Christmas tree for the first time was made during the reign of Nicholas I in 1825, at the insistence of his wife Alexandra, the former Prussian princess Charlotte. This is how this fabulous day appeared in Russia! Good luck to you in the coming year!

Mikhailov Andrey 12/23/2014 at 18:30

On December 20, 1699, the Russian Tsar Peter I signed a decree on the transition of Russia to a new chronology and the transfer of the celebration of the beginning of the year from September 1 to January 1. Since then we have been celebrating main holiday years on this very day. In general, the history of the New Year in Russia is quite curious. At different times, in addition to the above dates, we celebrated it on March 1, March 22, and September 14.

But first, let's return to the young Russian tsar. By his decree, Peter ordered on January 1, 1700 to decorate houses with pine, spruce and juniper branches according to the samples exhibited in Gostiny Dvor, as a sign of fun, be sure to congratulate each other on the New Year and, of course, on the new century.

As the historical chronicles say, fireworks, cannon and rifle salutes were arranged on Red Square, and Muscovites were ordered to fire muskets and launch rockets near their homes. In a word, it was ordered to have fun with all the might of the Russian soul, however, in the European manner! The boyars and servicemen were ordered to dress in other people's costumes - Hungarian caftans. And the women were also to be dressed in foreign dress.

In the decree of Peter the Great it was written: "... On the large and passing streets, noble people and at the houses of deliberate spiritual and worldly rank in front of the gates, make some decorations from trees and branches of pine and juniper ... and for meager people, each at least a tree or a branch on the gate or over his temple put…" In the decree, it was actually not specifically about the Christmas tree, but about trees in general. At first, they were decorated with nuts, sweets, fruits and even various vegetables, and they began to decorate a particular beautiful Christmas tree much later, from the middle of the last century.

On January 6, the mighty festivities ended with a procession to the Jordan. Contrary to the old custom, the tsar did not follow the clergy in rich attire, but stood on the banks of the Moscow River in uniform, surrounded by the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments, dressed in green caftans and camisoles with gold buttons and braid.

In general, the celebration of the New Year in Russia has the same difficult fate as its history itself. old folk tradition even after the officially introduced changes in the calendar, it retained ancient customs for a long time. Here is what he told Pravda.Ru about new year story Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Nikolai Kaprizov:

“In Russia, in the old, still pagan times, there was a long span, that is, the first three months, and the flying month began in March. in the current three spring and three summer months - the last six months concluded winter time. The transition from autumn to winter was shading like the transition from summer to autumn. Presumably, the New Year was originally celebrated in Russia on the day of the vernal equinox, that is, March 22. Maslenitsa and The New Year was celebrated on the same day, the winter was driven away, which means that the new year has come.

Well, along with Christianity, that is, after the Baptism of Russia in Russia (988), naturally, a new chronology appeared - from the Creation of the world. There was also a new European calendar, the Julian, with a fixed name of the months. The beginning of the new year began to be considered March 1. According to one version at the end of the 15th century, and according to another in 1348 Orthodox Church moved the beginning of the year to September 1, which corresponded to the definitions of the Nicaean Council.

In general, the reform of the calendar system was carried out in Russia without taking into account the working life of the people, without establishing any special connection with agricultural work. The September New Year was approved by the church, following the word scripture. In the Old Testament church, the month of September was celebrated annually, as if to commemorate peace from all worldly worries.

Thus, the new year began to lead from the first of September. This day became the feast of Simeon, the first Stylite, which is still celebrated by our church. This holiday was known among the common people under the name of Semyon Pilots, because on this day the summer ended and the new year began. It was both a solemn day of celebration, and the subject of parsing urgent conditions, collecting dues, taxes and personal courts.

Well, in 1699, Peter I issued a decree according to which January 1 was considered the beginning of the year. This was done following the example of all Christian peoples who lived not according to the Julian, but according to the Gregorian calendar. Peter I, in general, could not completely, immediately transfer Russia to the new Gregorian calendar, despite all his determination - after all, the church lived according to the Julian.

Story

In ancient times, for many peoples, the year began in spring or autumn. AT Ancient Russia the new year started in March. It was met as a holiday of spring, sun, warmth, and expectation of a new harvest. When Christianity was adopted in Russia at the end of the 10th century, they began to celebrate the new year according to the Byzantine calendar - September 1, at the very beginning of autumn. On the eve of 1700, the Russian Tsar Peter I issued a decree to celebrate the New Year according to European custom - January 1. Peter invited all Muscovites to decorate their homes with pine and spruce flowers. Everyone had to congratulate relatives and friends on the holiday. At 12 o'clock at night, Peter I went to Red Square with a torch in his hands and launched the first rocket into the sky. Fireworks began in honor of the New Year holiday. About three hundred years ago, people believed that by decorating the New Year tree, they make evil forces kinder. The evil forces have long been forgotten, but the Christmas tree is still a symbol of the New Year holiday. How old is Santa Claus? It seems to us that this kind old man with a snow-white beard, a friend of children and forest animals, came to us a very long time ago, like other famous heroes of Russian fairy tales. But in fact, he is the youngest of the Russian fairy tale characters. Good Santa Claus, a symbol new year holidays, it became about 100-150 years ago. But already in ancient times, the Russian people told tales and legends about Frost - a strong and evil old man, the owner of snowy fields and forests, who brought cold, snow, snowstorms to the earth. He was called differently: Moroz, Morozko, and more often, with respect, by his first name and patronymic: Moroz Ivanovich. In those days, he rarely gave gifts, on the contrary, people who believed in his strength gave gifts to him so that he would become kinder. When in Russia they began to celebrate the New Year in winter, on the night of December 31 to January 1, Santa Claus became the main character of our holiday. But his character changed: he became kinder and began to bring gifts to children in new year's eve.

How old is Santa Claus?

Imagine that the ancestors of Santa Claus in some countries are considered "local" gnomes. In others, medieval itinerant jugglers who sang Christmas carols, or itinerant sellers of children's toys. There is an opinion that among the relatives of Santa Claus is the East Slavic spirit of cold Treskun, he is Studenets, Frost. The image of Santa Claus has evolved over the centuries, and each nation has contributed something of its own to its history. But among the ancestors of the elder, it turns out, there was a very real person. In the 4th century, Archbishop Nicholas lived in the Turkish city of Mira. According to legend, it was kind person. So, once he saved the three daughters of a distressed family by throwing bundles of gold into the window of their house. After the death of Nicholas, he was declared a saint. In the 11th century, the church where he was buried was robbed by Italian pirates. They stole the remains of the saint and took them to their homeland. The parishioners of the church of St. Nicholas were outraged. An international scandal erupted. This story made so much noise that Nicholas became the object of veneration and worship of Christians from different countries peace. In the Middle Ages, the custom was firmly established on Nicholas Day, December 19, to give gifts to children, because the saint himself did this. After the introduction of the new calendar, the saint began to come to the children at Christmas, and then on the New Year.

Everywhere the good old man is called differently: in Spain ─ Papa Noel, in Romania ─ Mosh Dzharila, in Holland ─ Sinte Klaas, in England and America ─ Santa Claus, and in our country ─ Santa Claus. The Santa Claus costume did not appear immediately either. At first he was depicted in a raincoat. By the beginning of the 19th century, the Dutch depicted him as a slender pipe smoker, skillfully cleaning the chimneys through which he threw gifts to children. At the end of the same century, he was dressed in a red fur coat trimmed with fur. In 1860, the American artist Thomas Knight adorned Santa Claus with a beard, and soon the Englishman Tenniel created the image of a good-natured fat man. With such Santa Claus, we are all well acquainted.

How was the New Year celebrated in the old days

Some peoples keep track of time according to the lunisolar calendar, and the beginning of the year falls somewhere in autumn, where in winter. But basically, the celebration of the New Year among the ancient peoples coincided with the beginning of the revival of nature and was timed, as a rule, to March. March was considered the first month by the ancient Romans, because at this time field work began. The year consisted of ten months, then the number of months was increased by two. In 46 BC. e. Roman emperor Julius Caesar moved the beginning of the year to January 1st. The Julian calendar named after him spread throughout Europe.

The Romans on this day made sacrifices to Janus and started major events with him, considering the first day of the year an auspicious day. As you already know, the New Year was not always celebrated on January 1st. In France, at first (until 755) they counted from December 25, then from March 1, in the 12th century ≈ from the day of Easter, and from 1564, by decree of King Charles IX, from January 1. In Germany, the same thing happened in the middle of the 16th century, and in England from the 18th century. But how was it with us, in Russia? In Russia, from the time of the introduction of Christianity, fulfilling the customs of their ancestors, they also began the chronology either from March or, more rarely, from the day of Holy Easter, in 1492, Grand Duke John III finally approved the decision of the Moscow Cathedral to consider as the beginning of both church and civil year, the first of September, when it was ordered to pay tribute, duties, various dues, etc., but for. In order to give great solemnity to this day, the tsar himself appeared in the Kremlin the day before, where everyone, whether a commoner or a noble boyar, could approach him and seek directly from him truth and mercy (by the way, something similar happened in Byzantium during the time of Constantine Great).
The last time the New Year in Russia was celebrated with royal splendor was on September 1, 1698. Dressing everyone with an apple, the king calling everyone a brother, congratulated everyone on the New Year, on new happiness. Each congratulatory cup of Tsar Peter the Great was accompanied by a shot from 25 guns.

Since 1700, Tsar Peter issued a decree to celebrate the New Year not from the day of the creation of the world, but from the Nativity of the God-man, referring to the European nations. It was forbidden to celebrate September 1, and on December 15, 1699, the drum bai announced to the people on Red Square (from the lips of the royal clerk) that, as a sign of a good undertaking and the beginning of a new century, after thanksgiving to God and prayer singing in the church, it was ordered streets, and noble people in front of the gates to make some decoration from trees and branches of pine, spruce and juniper. And for poor people (i.e., the poor), at least put a tree or branch over the gate. And so that it ripens by the 1st number of 1700 of this year; and to stand for that decoration of Invar (i.e., January) until the 7th day of the same year. On the 1st day, as a sign of fun, congratulate each other on the New Year, and do this when fiery fun begins on Red Square and there will be shooting. The decree recommended, if possible, to everyone in their yards using small cannons or small guns "to fire three times and fire several rockets." From January 1st to January 7th "at night, light fires from firewood, or from brushwood, or from straw."

Tsar Peter I was the first to launch a rocket. Wriggling in the air like a fiery snake, she announced to the people the onset of the New Year, and after that the celebration began “and throughout Belokamennaya”. As a sign of the national holiday, cannons were fired, and in the evening, in the dark sky, multi-colored fireworks, never seen before, flashed. Illumination flashed. People had fun, sang, danced, congratulated each other and gave New Year gifts. Peter I steadily made sure that this holiday was no worse and no poorer in our country than in other European countries. He was a resolute man and in one fell swoop resolved all calendar inconveniences. By the beginning of the reign of Peter the Great in Russia was the year 7207 (from the creation of the world), and in Europe 1699 (from the birth of Christ). Russia began to establish ties with Europe, and such a "time difference" was very disturbing. But that was over. It was from January 1, 1700 that the folk New Year's fun and fun gained their recognition, and the celebration of the New Year began to have a secular (non-church) character. From now on and forever this holiday was enshrined in the Russian calendar. This is how the New Year came to us, with Christmas tree decorations, lights, bonfires (which Peter ordered to be arranged at night from January 1 to January 7 by lighting tar barrels), creaking snow in the cold, winter children's fun - sledges, skis, skates, snowwomen, Santa Claus, gifts ... I must say that the new New Year's customs took root among the Slavs quite quickly, because earlier at that time there was another Christmas holiday. And many old rituals - funny carnivals, tricks of mummers, sleigh rides, midnight fortune-telling and round dances around the Christmas tree - fit well into the New Year's ritual. And although it was frosty at that time, the cold did not frighten people. As you know, they burned bonfires in the streets, performed dances around them, calling on the sun (which they deified from time immemorial) to warm the earth bound by snow and frost.

New Year: the history of the holiday. When did you start celebrating the New Year?

New Year: the history of the holiday

Story
In ancient times, for many peoples, the year began in spring or autumn. In ancient Russia, the new year began in March. It was met as a holiday of spring, sun, warmth, and expectation of a new harvest.
When Christianity was adopted in Russia at the end of the 10th century, they began to celebrate the new year according to the Byzantine calendar - September 1, at the very beginning of autumn. On the eve of 1700, the Russian Tsar Peter I issued a decree to celebrate the New Year according to European custom - January 1. Peter invited all Muscovites to decorate their homes with pine and spruce flowers. Everyone had to congratulate relatives and friends on the holiday. At 12 o'clock at night, Peter I went to Red Square with a torch in his hands and launched the first rocket into the sky. Fireworks began in honor of the New Year holiday. About three hundred years ago, people believed that by decorating the New Year tree, they make evil forces kinder. The evil forces have long been forgotten, but the Christmas tree is still a symbol of the New Year holiday.
How old is Santa Claus? It seems to us that this kind old man with a snow-white beard, a friend of children and forest animals, came to us a very long time ago, like other famous heroes of Russian fairy tales. But in fact, he is the youngest of the Russian fairy tale characters. Kind Santa Claus, a symbol of the New Year holidays, he became about 100-150 years ago. But already in ancient times, the Russian people told tales and legends about Frost - a strong and evil old man, the owner of snowy fields and forests, who brought cold, snow, snowstorms to the earth. He was called differently: Moroz, Morozko, and more often, with respect, by his first name and patronymic: Moroz Ivanovich. In those days, he rarely gave gifts, on the contrary, people who believed in his strength gave gifts to him so that he would become kinder.
When in Russia they began to celebrate the New Year in winter, on the night of December 31 to January 1, Santa Claus became the main character of our holiday. But his character changed: he became kinder and began to bring gifts to children on New Year's Eve.

How old is Santa Claus?
Imagine that the ancestors of Santa Claus in some countries are considered "local" gnomes. In others, medieval itinerant jugglers who sang Christmas carols, or itinerant sellers of children's toys. There is an opinion that among the relatives of Santa Claus is the East Slavic spirit of cold Treskun, he is Studenets, Frost. The image of Santa Claus has evolved over the centuries, and each nation has contributed something of its own to its history.
But among the ancestors of the elder, it turns out, there was a very real person. In the 4th century, Archbishop Nicholas lived in the Turkish city of Mira. According to legend, he was a very kind person. So, once he saved the three daughters of a distressed family by throwing bundles of gold into the window of their house. After the death of Nicholas, he was declared a saint. In the 11th century, the church where he was buried was robbed by Italian pirates. They stole the remains of the saint and took them to their homeland.
The parishioners of the church of St. Nicholas were outraged. An international scandal erupted. This story made so much noise that Nicholas became the object of veneration and worship of Christians from around the world.
In the Middle Ages, the custom was firmly established on Nicholas Day, December 19, to give gifts to children, because the saint himself did this. After the introduction of the new calendar, the saint began to come to the children at Christmas, and then on the New Year. Everywhere the good old man is called differently: in Spain ─ Papa Noel, in Romania ─ Mosh Dzharila, in Holland ─ Sinte Klaas, in England and America ─ Santa Claus, and in our country ─ Santa Claus.
The Santa Claus costume did not appear immediately either. At first he was depicted in a raincoat. By the beginning of the 19th century, the Dutch depicted him as a slender pipe smoker, skillfully cleaning the chimneys through which he threw gifts to children. At the end of the same century, he was dressed in a red fur coat trimmed with fur. In 1860, the American artist Thomas Knight adorned Santa Claus with a beard, and soon the Englishman Tenniel created the image of a good-natured fat man.
With such Santa Claus, we are all well acquainted.

How was the New Year celebrated in the old days
Some peoples keep track of time according to the lunisolar calendar, and the beginning of the year falls somewhere in autumn, where in winter.
But basically, the celebration of the New Year among the ancient peoples coincided with the beginning of the revival of nature and was timed, as a rule, to March.
March was considered the first month by the ancient Romans, because at this time field work began. The year consisted of ten months, then the number of months was increased by two. In 46 BC. e. Roman emperor Julius Caesar moved the beginning of the year to January 1st. The Julian calendar named after him spread throughout Europe.
The Romans on this day made sacrifices to Janus and started major events with him, considering the first day of the year an auspicious day.
As you already know, the New Year was not always celebrated on January 1st.
In France, at first (until 755) they counted from December 25, then from March 1, in the 12th century ≈ from the day of Easter, and from 1564, by decree of King Charles IX, from January 1.
In Germany, the same thing happened in the middle of the 16th century, and in England from the 18th century.
But how was it with us, in Russia? In Russia, from the time of the introduction of Christianity, fulfilling the customs of their ancestors, they also began the chronology either from March or, more rarely, from the day of Holy Easter, in 1492, Grand Duke John III finally approved the decision of the Moscow Cathedral to consider as the beginning of both church and civil year, the first of September, when it was ordered to pay tribute, duties, various dues, etc., but for. In order to give great solemnity to this day, the tsar himself appeared in the Kremlin the day before, where everyone, whether a commoner or a noble boyar, could approach him and seek directly from him truth and mercy (by the way, something similar happened in Byzantium during the time of Constantine Great).
The last time the New Year in Russia was celebrated with royal splendor was on September 1, 1698. Dressing everyone with an apple, the king calling everyone a brother, congratulated everyone on the New Year, on new happiness.
Each congratulatory cup of Tsar Peter the Great was accompanied by a shot from 25 guns.

When for the first time in Russia they began to celebrate the New Year on January 1
Since 1700, Tsar Peter issued a decree to celebrate the New Year not from the day of the creation of the world, but from the Nativity of the God-man, referring to the European nations. It was forbidden to celebrate September 1, and on December 15, 1699, the drum bai announced to the people on Red Square (from the mouth of the royal clerk) that, as a sign of a good undertaking and the beginning of a new century, after thanksgiving to God and prayer singing in the church, it was ordered streets, and notable people in front of the gates to make some decoration from trees and branches of pine, spruce and juniper. And for poor people (i.e. poor), at least put a tree or branches over the gates. And so that it is ripe by the 1st day of 1700 year, and to stand that decoration of Invar (i.e., January) until the 7th day of the same year.On the 1st day, as a sign of fun, congratulate each other on the New Year, and do this when fiery fun on Red Square start, and there will be shooting."
The decree recommended, if possible, to everyone in their yards using small cannons or small guns "to shoot three times and fire several rockets." From January 1 to 7, "at night, light fires from firewood, or from brushwood, or from straw."
Tsar Peter I was the first to launch a rocket. Wriggling in the air like a fiery snake, she announced to the people the onset of the New Year, and after that the celebration began "and throughout Belokamennaya."
As a sign of the national holiday, cannons were fired, and in the evening, in the dark sky, multi-colored fireworks, never seen before, flashed. Illumination flashed. People had fun, sang, danced, congratulated each other and gave New Year gifts. Peter I steadily made sure that this holiday was no worse and no poorer in our country than in other European countries.
He was a resolute man and in one fell swoop resolved all calendar inconveniences. By the beginning of the reign of Peter the Great in Russia was the year 7207 (from the creation of the world), and in Europe 1699 (from the birth of Christ).
Russia began to establish ties with Europe, and such a "time difference" was very disturbing. But that was over.
It was from January 1, 1700 that the folk New Year's fun and fun gained their recognition, and the celebration of the New Year began to have a secular (non-church) character. From now on and forever this holiday was enshrined in the Russian calendar.
This is how the New Year came to us, with Christmas tree decorations, lights, bonfires (which Peter ordered to be arranged at night from January 1 to January 7 by lighting tar barrels), creaking snow in the cold, winter children's fun - sledges, skis, skates, snowmen, Santa Claus, gifts...
I must say that the new New Year's customs took root among the Slavs quite quickly, because earlier at that time there was another Christmas holiday. And many old rituals - funny carnivals, tricks of mummers, sleigh rides, midnight fortune-telling and round dances around the Christmas tree - fit well into the New Year's ritual.
And although it was frosty at that time, the cold did not frighten people. As you know, they burned bonfires in the streets, performed dances around them, calling on the sun (which they deified from time immemorial) to warm the earth bound by snow and frost.