Each country has its own specific differences regarding the features of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Sometimes there are quite unusual, extravagant and even exotic traditions. Let's look at some interesting facts about celebrating the New Year.
New Year's Eve
The date for which a holiday is planned for some peoples differs from the usual time for us all. If we talk about antiquity, in Babylon it was customary to celebrate the event with the advent of spring. During this period, the highest government left the city with a retinue, which allowed the population to have unrestrained fun and walk freely on the streets at any time of the day.
The peoples of Micronesia traditionally celebrate the holiday in winter. At this time, the inhabitants of numerous islands give loved ones new names. At the same time, a loud drumming is heard everywhere. Thus, local residents are protected from evil spirits who, according to beliefs, try to eavesdrop on the names and steal the souls of their owners.
It is also worth noting interesting facts about the New Year in Russia. Starting from the 10th to the 15th centuries in Russia, the holiday was celebrated on March 1. Only in 1699, according to a special decree of Tsar Peter I, the event was postponed to January 1. However, traditions still have many ancient Slavic customs.
Christmas tree
The tradition of bringing the spruce or pine tree to the house based on the Vikings on holidays. They sawed a large trunk, which sokh and matured throughout the year. On Christmas Eve, the tree was brought into the house and lay in the hearth. If the latter caught fire and only ash remained from it, the residents would be lucky. An extinct trunk portended trouble.
Considering interesting facts about the New Year, one cannot fail to mention how the tree arose in the Christian tradition. For the first time, tree decoration is mentioned in documentary evidence of the 17th century. According to historians, the inhabitants of Alsace, who at that time was considered part of Germany, and today is the territory of France, resorted to this method of celebration. Decorations for spruce then served as paper flowers, sugar cubes, fruits, cookies and tinsel.
The first Christmas balls made of glass appeared in the 16th century in Saxony. The production of such jewelry on an industrial scale began here, but already in the 19th century.
Birthday cake
It is worth noting interesting facts about the New Year and
Christmas in France. With the advent of the holidays, pies are traditionally baked here, in each of which is placed a bean. The person who gets such an ingredient is awarded the title of king of the evening, and all those present at the New Year holiday must obey his orders implicitly.
It is amazing that such interesting facts about the New Year have still not reached our latitudes. Surely we would have chosen a similar tradition.
Luminous garland
The first electric garland of multi-colored light bulbs appeared in the United States in 1895. The invention was posted on public display at the White House. The novelty was so inspired by eyewitnesses that the Americans subsequently began to universally decorate houses and public places with such products.
Noise, firecrackers and fireworks
If we talk about interesting facts about the New Year, one cannot but note the tradition of making noise with the onset of the holiday. So, during the battle of the chimes, the inhabitants of Panama start shouting and banging loudly with any objects that are currently at hand. All this is complemented by explosions of fireworks, the buzz of car sirens.
With the advent of the New Year, the inhabitants of Hungary whistle loudly. Thus, everything bad is driven out of the house and well-being is brought in. Iranians traditionally shoot rifles at the chiming clock.
The massive use of an abundance of firecrackers, sparklers and fireworks is most common among residents of Asian countries. But this is not surprising, because pyrotechnics was invented here.
New Year's table
There are interesting facts about the New Year, which relate to the design of the festive table among various peoples. For example, residents of Norway, Denmark and Sweden consider the main goose of the evening to be a Christmas goose baked with apples. The traditional dish here is rice porridge, where sugar, cinnamon and raisins are added. The dish is left open all night on the table. According to beliefs, gnomes regale their porridge, who, in gratitude to the owners, guard the house throughout the year.
Opposing traditions are held by the inhabitants of Lithuania, who try to observe the fast with the advent of the Christmas holidays. At the festive table there is always present kutya, vegetable salad, fish dish. Meat is consumed only after attending church services and cleansing from sins.
Finally
There is still much that would be interesting to learn for adults and children about the New Year. The interesting facts discussed in this material are only part of the traditions that are practiced in different parts of the world. Perhaps some of them will be useful to the inhabitants of our country.