Old New Year

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Old New Year (Russian: Старый Новый год) or the Orthodox New Year (Serbian: Православна нова година or Pravoslavna nova godina) is an informal traditional Slavic Orthodox holiday celebrated as the start of the New Year by the Julian calendar. In the 20th and 21st centuries the Old New Year falls on January 13/14.

[edit] In Russia

Although Soviet Russia officially adopted the Gregorian calendar back in 1918, the Russian Orthodox Church continued using the Julian calendar. The New Year became the only holiday which is celebrated by both calendars.

Like in most countries that use the Gregorian calendar, the New Year's Day in Russia is a public holiday and is celebrated on January 1. On that day, lots of joyous entertainment and fireworks and other festivities, and elaborate and often large meals are common.

The New Year by the Julian calendar is still informally observed and the tradition of celebrating the coming of the New Year twice is widely enjoyed.

Usually not as festive as the true New Year, for many this is a nostalgic family holiday ending the New Year holiday cycle.

[edit] Former Yugoslavia

The tradition of the Old New Year has been kept in the some former Yugoslav Republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia; as the Serbian Orthodox Church and Macedonian Orthodox Church continues to celebrate its feasts and holidays according to the Julian calendar. Unlike Russia, January 14 is not a public holiday in these countries.

[edit] In art

The Old New Year tradition has received mention in Russian art. The playwright Mikhail Roshchin in 1973 wrote a comedy drama called The Old New Year which was on stage in the theaters for many years. He also made it a screenplay for the TV-film which was played by famous actors and featured music by Sergei Nikitin with the poetry lyrics by Boris Pasternak. The film was released by Mosfilm studios in 1980.