What is New Year? Did you know that...? Interesting and funny facts about celebrating the New Year Did you know that it’s a new year?

The Russian people kept a record of years “from the creation of the world.”

In Europe, by the time he became the Russian Tsar Peter I, there was a different calendar: the year began on January 1, and the counting of years was carried out from another event - the Nativity of Christ. So it turned out that in Russia the year was 7207 (from the creation of the world), and in Europe - 1699 (from the Nativity of Christ)

Russia was beginning to establish connections with Europe, and such a “time difference” turned out to be a great inconvenience: we had to keep in mind the 5508 years that had passed from the creation of the world to the birth of Jesus Christ.

Tsar Peter was a decisive man and put an end to this inconvenience in one fell swoop.

On December 20, 1699, he issued a decree:
“As a sign... of a good beginning and a new century in the reigning city of Moscow... congratulate each other on the New Year; meanwhile, along the large streets... place decorations from trees and branches of pine, spruce and juniper... in addition, where space allows, light bonfires and tar barrels at night from January 1 to January 7...”
In Moscow, on Red Square, 200 guns saluted the New Year throughout the week.

So the new year came to Russia - 1700, followed by the beginning of a new century - the 18th century, and so a new calendar appeared.

I wonder where these animals came from and why they lead the whole year?

It turns out that there is such a legend in the East.

One day, on the eve of the New Year, the Great Buddha discovered that the years passed without names, without signs, in a boring, gray series. He then ordered to announce to all the animals: if they come to him for advice, they will be rewarded with gifts. But not all animals responded to Buddha's invitation. Only twelve came, but they received truly divine gifts. Each, according to the order of arrival, was gifted with a whole year with the right to assign him his own name and character traits. This is how Buddha’s turn turned out: a charming, honest, slightly fussy Rat; patient, hardworking, reserved Wolf; sensitive and selfish Tiger; Lucky Rabbit; the generous and sincere Dragon; wise beauty Snake; cheerful and often unlucky Horse; the artistic, shy Sheep; inventive, sociable Monkey; dreamy and outspoken Rooster; loyal and stubborn Dog; hot-tempered intellectual Pig.

Thus, every year within the 12-year cycle passes under the sign of some animal, and a person born in a certain year receives a number of innate qualities that influence his life.
What kind of interesting people are people born in the year of the Horse?
It is believed that these are popular, personable people, that they have a cheerful character, and know how to handle money. They dress well, love shows, theater, concerts, meetings, sports competitions, in short, everything that has to do with a crowd. Often these are good athletes who know how to achieve high results. More dexterous, they are not always firm in their endeavors; they are often tormented by doubts. Despite this, they always remain confident. They easily lose their temper and therefore often lose what they have achieved with such difficulty.

If you turn to the same eastern horoscope, you can find out that for people born in the year of the Horse, people born in the year of the Tiger, the year of the Dog and the Sheep are ideal friends or life partners.

And in conclusion, I would like to congratulate everyone on Happy New Year and wish everyone health, happiness, love and good luck in everything and everywhere. May all your wishes come true and your goals bring good results.

It turns out that the tradition of celebrating the New Year arose a long time ago. According to scientists, already several thousand years BC. residents of distant Mesopotamia celebrated the arrival of the New Year.

True, it came on March 1st. This month in people's minds was associated with the beginning of a new stage in their lives (the awakening of nature, the beginning of work on growing the future harvest).

Later (46 BC), Julius Caesar, the Roman emperor, moved the New Year's celebration to January 1.

The holiday was noisy and fun. On this day it was customary to congratulate each other and give gifts.

Once again you are convinced of the vitality of traditions and customs. Millennia have passed, but we still celebrate in the same way today. New Year.

Gradually all states in different time switched to celebrating the New Year from January 1 (for example, Germany - in the second half of the 16th century, France - in the 17th century, England - in the 18th century).

What happened in our Fatherland?

Initially, in the Russian state, the New Year also began on March 1. Then from 1492 - from September 1 (the time of collection of rent, taxes and tribute).

And this continued until 1700. In 1699, Peter the Great issued a Decree according to which changes were made to the calendar, and the New Year was ordered to begin on January 1.

The celebration of the New Year, by order of Peter I, was to be accompanied by fireworks and illuminations, amusements and fun until Christmas, the obligatory decoration of squares, streets and houses with fir trees and the obligatory congratulations to each other and the giving of gifts.

Why is a decorated Christmas tree a symbol of the New Year?

As you know, Peter the Great willingly introduced everything he liked in overseas states.

This happened with the advent of the tradition of dressing up christmas tree garlands of lights, candles, toys and sweets.

Tsar Peter borrowed this beautiful custom from the Germans, for whom the spruce has long symbolized the renewal of life, eternal youth, longevity, immortality, light that attracts good spirits.

Gifts and sweets are a kind of offering to ancestors and good spirits, and at the same time they are a symbol of gifts from these same spirits to the family, and, above all, to children.

What about the main character of the New Year holidays - our beloved Santa Claus?

It turns out that there were times when our good grandfather there was no trace of it at these holidays.

His modern look was formed only at the beginning of the 20th century, and from that time on, Father Frost, who comes to children and gives them gifts, became the main figure at the New Year holiday.

According to one version, Santa Claus came to us from pagan religion as a collective image of an ancient Slavic deity. According to other sources, this is a fairy-tale character, the master of winter, personifying winter cold, severe frosts and cold.

Unlike our Russian Father Frost, prototype of American and European Santa Claus is a real historical figure, subsequently canonized for his good deeds - St Nicholas.

Where does Santa Claus live?

I don’t think anyone knows for sure where our Russian Santa Claus actually “lives” today. Most likely, where all year round cold and biting frost.

But the official patrimony of Father Frost is his residence in Veliky Ustyug in the Vologda region. Since 1999, both summer and winter, Grandfather Frost and his faithful companion, granddaughter Snegurochka, have been welcoming their guests in their wooden mansion.

The Belarusian Father Frost settled in his residence in Belovezhskaya Pushcha.

Santa Claus, together with his gnome helpers, lives beyond the Arctic Circle in the town of Rovaniemi (Finland). There is a real Santa Claus village built there.

The Finnish Santa Claus, Joulupukki, also lives there.

There are Santa Clauses in every country: Santa Claus, Pere Noel (France), Vasily (Greece, Romania, Cyprus), Babbo Natale (Italy), Papa Noel (Spain), Papa Christmas (England), Grandfather Mikulas (Czech Republic).

They are all so different. But this does not change the essence: on the Christmas and New Year holidays, children wait for a miracle - the appearance of a kind fairy-tale wizard with long-awaited gifts.

In Russia, the New Year began to be celebrated by decree of Peter the Great on January 1, 1700. Previously, the beginning of the new year was celebrated on September 1. This holiday with a Christmas tree (although under Peter the Great the Christmas tree was not decorated, but paws and twigs), decorations, and carnivals were very much loved by the Russian people. Now this is one of our favorite holidays. Did you know that earlier, instead of a Christmas tree, other trees were decorated. These were cherries specially grown in tubs. Previously, people believed that all trees were endowed with good powers, that good spirits lived in them. And by hanging treats and gifts on the trees, they tried to appease these spirits. Well, the evergreen spruce occupied a special place among all trees. She was the sacred center, the “world tree,” symbolizing life itself and a new rebirth from darkness and gloom. Previously, instead of toys, they hung them on trees. various fruits, For example:
apples - a symbol of fertility
nuts - the incomprehensibility of divine providence
eggs are a symbol of developing life, harmony and complete well-being.
As you know, the custom of decorating a home spruce branches, came from Peter the Great. In the 30s of the 19th century, Christmas trees were put up for the holiday only in the houses of St. Petersburg Germans. By the end of the 19th century, Christmas trees became the main decoration of both city and village houses, and in the 20th century they were inseparable from winter holidays until 1918, when, due to the affiliation of the decorated tree with Christmas (that is, the religion of the church), it was banned for as long as 17 years (until 1935). It was only in 1949 that January 1 became a non-working day. So putting Christmas trees in houses is not such an ancient invention as it might seem. In Rus', he is 60-65 years old (no more).

Not a single New Year's holiday can be imagined without a richly and brightly decorated Christmas tree. In many countries, in addition to the Christmas tree, the house is decorated with bouquets of mistletoe. This custom originated from England. IN festive evening English houses are decorated with these plants. There are even mistletoe bouquets on lamps and chandeliers, and, according to custom, you can kiss a person standing in the middle of the room under a mistletoe bouquet.

In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, young girls look forward to this holiday with great anticipation, because it is on the night before Christmas that they will find out whether they will get married this year? The proof is... a house slipper, which they must throw over their heads towards the door. If the slipper falls with its toe towards the door, the groom will soon appear, and if towards the room, the bride will have to wait another 1 year.

New Year holidays in Italy they are quite simplified. Old traditions are rarely observed, mainly in villages. On the day before Christmas they work only until lunch, and after lunch they decorate the trees and prepare gifts. An ancient custom requires that gifts be given old woman, befinoy. But she gives out gifts after the New Year, on January 7th.

In the land of the rising sun - Japan - all residents of cities and villages on the morning of February 1 go out to watch the sunrise. When the first Sun rays illuminate the earth, the Japanese congratulate each other on the new year and exchange gifts. And the evening is usually spent with family. And in order to prevent evil spirits from entering their homes, they hang wreaths made of straw in front of the entrance to the house. They believe it brings them happiness. They also have a custom - to laugh at the beginning of the New Year.
As we all know in Japan and other Eastern countries, according to the calendar adopted in these countries, within a 12-year cycle, every year passes under the sign of some animal. A person born in a certain year receives a number of properties, depending on which his fate is shaped.
These are the animals:
- rat (aggressiveness)...2008, 2020...
- bull (work, family, homeland)...2009, 2021...
- tiger (energy)...2010, 2022...
- cat/rabbit (calm person)...2011, 2023...
- dragon (“all that glitters is not gold”)...2000, 2012...
- snake (wisdom)...2001, 2013...
- horse (honest person)...2002, 2014...
- goat/sheep (capricious)...2003, 2015...
- monkey (cunning)...2004, 2016...
- rooster (fanfaron)...2005, 2017...
- dog (justice)...2006, 2018...
- pig/boar (good old days)...2007, 2019...

In another eastern country - Vietnam - New Year is celebrated at night. At dusk, Vietnamese people light bonfires in parks, gardens or on the streets. Several families gather around them and cook special rice delicacies over the coals. On this night, all quarrels are forgotten, all insults are forgiven, because the New Year is a holiday of friendship! The Vietnamese spend the entire next day with their families. The Vietnamese believe. that the first person who enters their house in the New Year will bring them good luck, or vice versa - grief and misfortune. Therefore, my advice to you is that these days, meet only trusted people, just in case.

It is very beautiful during the New Year celebrations in China. The whole country looks like a big glowing ball. And this happens because during the festive procession that flows through the streets of China in New Year's Eve, people light a lot of lanterns. This is done in order to light your way into the New Year. Since they believe that the New Year is surrounded by evil spirits and evil spirits, they scare them away with the help of crackers and fireworks.

In Mongolia, the New Year coincides with the cattle breeding holiday, so it is characterized by sports competitions, tests of dexterity and courage. Even Santa Claus comes to them dressed as a cattle breeder.

In Burma, the New Year comes at the hottest time of the year, so its arrival is celebrated with the so-called “water festival,” when people pour water on each other when they meet. The tradition of pouring water is a kind of wish for happiness in the New Year.

And in Iran, the New Year is celebrated on March 21. There, people plant wheat grains in small pots several weeks before New Year. By the New Year they emerge - this symbolizes the beginning of spring and the New Year.

Very beautiful rituals of celebrating the New Year in India. There people decorate themselves with pink, red, white flowers. Hindus have their own rules for giving gifts. For example, gifts for children are placed on a special tray. In the morning, the children close their eyes and are brought to this tray.

In Ireland, on the evening of New Year's Eve, everyone opens the doors of their houses. Anyone who wishes can enter any house and will be a welcome guest: he will be received with great joy, seated in a place of honor, treated to a glass of good wine, not forgetting to say: “For peace in this house and in the whole world.” The next day everyone celebrates the holiday at home. At half past twelve, the Irish go out to the illuminated and festively decorated central city square.

Happy New Year in Bulgaria. When people gather at festive table, the lights in all houses are turned off for three minutes. These minutes are called "minutes of New Year's kisses", the secret of which is preserved by darkness.

In Romania, it is customary to bake various small “surprises” into New Year’s pies - small money, rings, hot pepper pods. If you find a ring in the cake, it means that the New Year will bring you happiness.

In European countries, Christmas holidays precede New Year's, so all the main preparations are carried out here from the beginning of December. In Italy, for example, celebrations begin on the day of St. Lucia (December 13), when they celebrate the festival of light. This is followed by the coming of Babbo Natale - the local Santa Claus (December 24). And all this ends with the appearance of Befana - a little old witch who brings all kinds of sweets (traditionally chocolate) to children on January 6 - the Epiphany holiday. Thus, little Italians are lucky twice: on Christmas night they receive gifts from Babbo Natale, and on the Epiphany Day they receive sweets from Befana. Moreover, Befana is a very picky fairy: she brings chocolate to obedient and kind children, and fills a stocking, specially hung for this purpose from the Christmas tree or to the ceiling in the nursery, with tiny black coals for little naughty children and pranksters.
In general, Befana is a rather funny character; Italians love him very much. This witch has large, protruding teeth, a hooked nose, and wears a pointed hat, a long cloak, and holey woolen stockings. He carries a bag of chocolate and coals on his back and moves from roof to roof on foot, on a broom or on a horse. According to ancient legend, she came to Italy by accident, but she liked it here so much that she settled forever. Originally from Bethlehem, Befana allegedly met the Magi on her way, hurrying with gifts to the newborn Jesus. She wanted to go with them, but was refused. Instead, she was asked to go around the world and give gifts to all obedient and prudent children. Since then, Befana has “settled” in Italy.
In Rome you can still “meet” this funny witch and even take a photo with her. By the way, on New Year's Eve, it is at the insistence of Befana that the Italians, who are not without a sense of humor, deal with all the junk that has accumulated over the year. Often they throw it all right out of the windows.

For the Spaniards, who use any occasion for a merry fiesta, the main holiday (due to intense religiosity) remains Christmas. This evening is spent exclusively with the family, at a richly laid table, which, by the way, is more refined and plentiful the poorer the family, since it is for this dinner that the hostess tries to stock up on the most incredible delicacies. Moreover, despite their age, gourmets, young and old, prefer sweets, which can be represented by dozens of different dishes. There are pies made from wine dough, almond cakes, and cookies with caraway seeds. As for gifts, according to tradition, mostly children receive them. The night before, the kids hang out the window the stocking they prepared ahead of time, which by morning is full of gifts. But December 31st - St. Nicholas Day - is a true holiday among friends. Here no one is bound by religious rites, and everyone has fun as his heart desires. It happens that entire floors or houses celebrate together, going into their neighbors’ apartments with a glass of their favorite sangria or reja and a dish of some treat.

For the Belgians from the province of Namur, who are slightly laughed at in Europe, Christmas night is spent at the gaming table. In every cafe, snack bar or village restaurant there is a card game (reminiscent of the domestic “fool”). The winner receives a surprisingly tasty bun made from pretty dough large sizes, in the shape of an angel or little Jesus, with icing and powdered sugar, which is called kerstbroden. Sometimes such treats are replaced with a 30 cm long chocolate log. And a week before the New Year, an International Fair opens in Brussels, where you can buy goodies for the New Year's table, brought from all European countries.

For residents of the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, the main New Year's event is the appearance of the local Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, in the city port. The guest arrives in the country by sea, through Rotterdam, and a meeting is organized for him in the tiny fishing village of Monnikendam not only by ordinary citizens, but also by city authorities, including the mayor of the capital. This usually happens in early December. And all the subsequent New Year's Eve, Dutch children try not to play pranks in order to earn long-awaited gifts from Nicolas and his servant nicknamed “Black Pete”.
In this country, holiday celebrations are held very traditionally, except for the obligatory skating on the city skating rink, built specifically for the holiday period. By the way, a similar skating rink exists in Copenhagen, and many Danes specially come to the capital with their families to “try out the ice.”
For the rest of the Scandinavian peoples, the New Year's week between Christmas and December 31st is especially fabulous. In the small town of Lapland, Romaniemi, on the very Arctic Circle, according to legend, the real Santa Claus lives. It is from here that he sets off on his journey on Christmas night in order to have time to distribute gifts to children all over the planet.
As for the locals, their holiday takes place not only with family, but also with friends: several families gather around a long table. A simple treat: beer homemade, seven varieties of dry hard biscuits with cumin, smoked fish and, as a dessert, julekake - a bun with raisins and lemon. In Norway, it is customary not to forget our little ones: before going to bed on New Year's Eve, children hang feeders full of wheat grains outside the window, and in the manger for a horse or foal, they put a bowl of oatmeal so that the gnome - nisse - who comes with gifts can also strengthen your strength.

For prim Austrians, New Year's Eve is almost the only opportunity of the year to play the fool. this evening, both young and old buy tin figurines, which are melted in a spoon, over a candle fire, and then poured into a special small plate: according to the shape that the tin will take, they judge what awaits the owner of the figurine in the coming year. God forbid it turns out to be the number 13! But the sun or a pointed hat are great! To warm up in friendly company, Austrians drink hot wine - mulled wine, and since the amount of wine is not limited, and the thrifty descendants of Sisi have a hard time with snacks, by the morning every second male representative practically cannot stand on his feet. But on January 1, the country’s cities and villages seem to be dying out: people wake up only in the evening and go to the nearest diner to refresh their alcohol-depleted body with sausages and hot...sauerkraut.

Very exotic New Year celebrations take place in Australia. The absence of snow, Christmas trees, deer and other usual attributes of the holiday does not sadden the inhabitants of the continent at all. Father Christmas marks the start of the New Year with his own appearance on a special, brightly decorated surfboard on Sydney beaches. Moreover, following the traditions of the Old World, his clothes always include a white beard and a red cap with a pompom at the end; as for the rest, the tanned body of the gift giver is covered by a swimming suit.
On New Year's Eve, it is customary for large groups to visit various open-air public places where fireworks take place. One of the most beloved is Victoria - a park in the center of the capital, where cheerful Australians celebrate the New Year amid international jokes and the mouth-watering smells of European-Asian-American cuisine.
A peculiarity of the Australian New Year's celebration is the virtual absence of such celebrations immediately after midnight.
Australians wake up at 5-6 in the morning, regardless of weekends or holidays, and go to bed no later than ten in the evening. So New Year's midnight is an exception in itself. But by 00.10 everyone is already in bed.

It's hard to imagine how many amazing things happen on the night from December 31 to January 1. But where did the tradition of celebrating the New Year come from? And how is it celebrated in different countries peace? Do you know really interesting facts about the New Year? If not, then let's figure it out.

It's no secret that it's New Year's Eve different nations varies significantly. For example, in Ancient Babylon the holiday was celebrated in the spring, and in Rus' - on September 1 since 1348. And only in 1699, according to the decree of Peter I, the New Year celebration was moved to January 1 - the day to which we are all so accustomed.

As for traditions, here again there are differences. On New Year's Eve, Italians get rid of old things by throwing them out of the window, because they believe that the more rubbish is thrown away, the more luck the new year will bring.

The world's largest artificial Christmas tree is located in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Its length is 76 meters.

The first electric garland was lit in 1895 at the White House. But live trees are also a unique Christian tradition of Christmas and New Year celebrations. Legend says that a live Christmas tree in the house brings joy and charges those present with positive energy.

The most popular tradition, of course, is the burning of a piece of paper with a cherished wish written on it, which must be set on fire at the beginning of the chimes. If the piece of paper burns while the clock is ticking to the number twelve, then the wish will certainly come true.

On New Year's Eve in Tibet, pies are baked and distributed to passers-by. It is believed that wealth in the coming year directly depends on the number of pies given.

An original Russian tradition is watching “The Irony of Fate,” which has been shown for 40 years on December 31 on Channel One.

The famous Russian song “A Christmas tree was born in the forest” was first published in the children's magazine “Malyutka” in 1903.

In the old days, it was customary to give gifts to Santa Claus, and not to wait for gifts from him.

In Greenland, local Eskimo residents have a tradition of giving each other polar bears and walruses carved from ice, which do not melt for a long time, since it is almost always terribly cold there.

And in southern countries, where there is no frost, you have to proceed from what is available - for example, in Cambodia there is a certain Father Frost (similar to the Russian Father Frost).

In Germany, Santa Claus brings gifts to the windowsill, and in Sweden - to the stove. Mexicans find new Year gifts in a shoe, and the Irish and English - in socks. In Russia it is customary to put a gift under the Christmas tree.
The European Santa Claus has a wife who personifies winter. And the Russian Snow Maiden, the granddaughter of Father Frost, was invented in the fifties of the twentieth century by writers Lev Kassil and Sergei Mikhalkov for children.
Veliky Ustyug is considered the birthplace of Father Frost, and the birthplace of the Snow Maiden is the village of Shchelykovo, located not far from Kostroma. In Kostroma there is the estate of A.N. Ostrovsky, who wrote “The Snow Maiden” based on Russian folk tales. In Slavic myths, Santa Claus personified the winter cold, as he bound the water.

With the start of the chimes in England, they open the back door of the house for the outgoing year, and with the last blow they greet the coming year at the front door.

In Cuba, on New Year's Eve, all the dishes in the house are filled with water, which is then thrown outside to wash away all sins. Also, here the New Year is called Kings Day.

In Ecuador, there is such a tradition - people describe all the troubles that happened in the past year on a piece of paper, and then burn it along with a straw effigy.

In Greece, the head of a family breaks a pomegranate fruit against the wall of a house on the street on New Year's Eve. Good luck is promised by grains scattered in different directions.

In Scotland, it is considered bad manners to propose marriage and take out the trash on New Year's Day. Here they also set fire to barrels of tar on New Year's Eve and roll them through the streets, driving them away. old year and calling for a new one.

They began to sculpt a snowman in the 19th century with integral attributes - a bucket on his head, a broom and a carrot nose.

There is a belief that the New Year's dream (from December 30 to 31) predicts what will happen in the coming year.

People traditionally celebrate the New Year wearing new clothes. It is believed that thanks to this, new things will steadily appear throughout the next year.

The United States has held the record for the number of Christmas gifts and New Year cards for many years. The first New Year's card was printed in London in 1843.

It's amazing how many interesting facts And unusual traditions exists in connection with only one holiday, which without a twinge of conscience can be called great.

New Year is a truly amazing holiday, promising a lot of pleasant things and bringing joy to each of us. No wonder there is an alluring celebration atmosphere, when you only want comfort, little joys and big tangerines. It envelops us completely and allows both children and adults to plunge into the fairy tale. Isn't this magical?

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NEW YEAR - DID YOU KNOW THAT...

For many, New Year is their favorite holiday!

Everyone knows that New Year is a fun weekend for adults

and long-awaited joyful holidays for children.

Did you know that...

The hero of the most popular legend about the Christmas tree was the leader of the German Reformation, Martin Luther. One Christmas Eve he was walking home through the forest. The evening was clear and starry. When he came home, he put up a Christmas tree for his family and attached many candles to its thick branches. The lights on it looked like stars in the sky.
There is a legend about why we decorate our Christmas trees with shiny silver tinsel.
Once upon a time there lived a kind, poor woman who had many children. The evening before Christmas she decorated the tree, but she had very few decorations. At night, spiders visited the tree and, crawling from branch to branch, left a web on its branches. As a reward for the woman's kindness, the Christ child blessed the tree, and the web turned into sparkling silver.

The time of celebrating the New Year differs greatly among different nations. New Year's Day in Australia falls on the first of January, and in Burma on the first of April. At this time, it becomes very hot there, so the main characters of the holiday - Father Frost and Snow Maiden - deliver gifts in swimsuits. And in Burma, besides, everyone generously pours water on each other. In Rus', the New Year was celebrated on March 1 - in the 10th - 15th centuries, on September 1 - from 1348 after the Council in Moscow, and from 1699, by decree of Peter I, it was moved to January 1. As a result, by now the New Year has become a dense mixture of ancient Slavic, Christian, Western European and Eastern traditions.

Father Frost's birthday is November 18. According to legends, it was at this time that winter came to his homeland - Veliky Ustyug, along with snow and severe frosts. The Snow Maiden is a truly Russian character. Only our Santa Claus has a granddaughter. The beauty was born in 1873. It was at this time that Alexander Ostrovsky wrote the play “The Snow Maiden”. At first, Snegurochka was the daughter of the owner of the New Year, but then she was reclassified as a granddaughter. For what reason is unknown. The Snow Maiden disappeared from the lives of Soviet people during the years of repression (1927-1937), and reappeared in the 50s, thanks to Lev Kassil and Sergei Mikhalkov, who wrote scripts for the Kremlin Christmas trees. The birthplace of the Snow Maiden is the village of Shchelykovo, Kostroma region. There A. Ostrovsky wrote a famous play.

First greeting card was printed in London in 1843

The favorite song “A Christmas tree was born in the forest” was first published as a poem in 1903 in the children’s magazine “Malyutka”. Only 2 years later, composer Leonid Bekman wrote music to the sweet lines of Raisa Kudasheva.

The unforgettable “Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath” has been shown on television for more than 35 years on the last day of the year.

On New Year's Eve in Tibet, people bake pies and distribute them to passers-by. Wealth in the New Year directly depends on the number of pies distributed.

In Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), a 76-meter artificial Christmas tree is installed, the largest in the world.

The first electric garland was lit on the Christmas tree in front of the White House in the United States in 1895.

January 1 became a day off in the USSR only by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of December 23, 1947.

Greenland is almost always cold and there is no problem with ice availability. Therefore, local Eskimos have a tradition of giving each other polar bears and walruses carved from ice, which do not melt for a long time.

In southern countries, where there is neither frost nor snow, you have to use other characters, for example, in Cambodia there is Santa Claus.
In Vietnam, for the New Year, a carp is released into a pond near the house, on whose back, according to legend, a brownie rides. The carp lives in the pond for a whole year, and the brownie looks after the family.

In Australia, Santa Claus has to wear formal swimming trunks and saddle a jet ski in the New Year's heat.

In the old days, it was customary to give gifts to Santa Claus, and not to expect gifts from him.

U Santa Claus has a wife who usually represents winter.

In the Southern Hemisphere, eucalyptus trees are usually decorated, since the New Year is the height of summer.

Record holder for Christmas gifts and greetings New Year's cards traditionally the USA.

The largest number of Christmas trees in Europe are sold in Denmark.

Santa Claus Pension Fund Russia was awarded the title of “Veteran of Fabulous Labor”.