by Daniil of Moscow
[REGNUM] On the night of January 13th–14th, Russia celebrates Old New Year—a holiday whose very name sounds like a paradox. For most foreigners, this phrase is pure nonsense. For us, it's a reason to gather around the table once again, after the main New Year's bustle has passed and the Christmas tree is still up.
The holiday emerged after the country switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1918. January 31, 1918, was immediately followed by February 14—the country literally skipped two weeks. The Church, however, retained the Julian calendar.
A unique situation has arisen in Russia: secular society lives by one calendar, while church life is structured by another. This gap has given rise to the phenomenon of the Old New Year.
WHO AND HOW CELEBRATES
According to VTsIOM, 58% of Russians celebrate Old New Year. Older people are more likely to uphold the tradition: 66% of Russians aged 60+ celebrate the holiday, while half of those under 35 skip it.
Geographically, the most active celebrations are in Siberia and the Far East, where 64-65% of residents celebrate Old New Year. The holiday is viewed more reservedly in the Northwest, where more than half of respondents ignore it.
On the evening of January 13th, most people enjoy a feast with close family, friends, or a loved one. More TV, more Olivier salad, and another glass of sparkling wine—a classic choice for 36% of Russians.
People make wishes and light sparklers. Some admit to fortune-telling or reading tarot cards—Old New Year falls on the last days of Christmastide, and this practice hasn't disappeared.
Holiday expenses are relatively modest. Most people spend between two and five thousand rubles on the feast. Another 12% spend over 10 thousand, and 9% spend nothing—they have enough food left over from December 31st.
Before the Old New Year in Russia, demand for tangerines, champagne, and boxed chocolates traditionally increases, according to Check Index.
WHAT IS BEING COOKED AND WHY?
Old New Year's is, above all, a feast. But not like December 31st: more intimate, more homely, without fireworks outside. And with its own set of dishes, each with its own story.
Kutia is the main ritual dish. While it's prepared as a Lenten dish for Christmas, it's prepared "generous" and "rich" for the Old New Year: with butter, cream, honey, nuts, and dried fruit. It's made from rice, wheat, or barley.
Kutia symbolizes prosperity, fertility, and renewal. The grain is boiled until tender, then topped with steamed raisins, dried apricots, and chopped nuts, and seasoned with honey. Some families add poppy seeds, others butter. Served cold, it invariably takes center stage on the table.
Vareniki with surprises are another evening tradition. Small objects are hidden in the filling along with potatoes, cabbage, or cottage cheese. A coin promises money (watch your teeth!), beans a new addition to the family, a string a trip, and a bay leaf a career advancement. The whole family makes the vareniki and eats them carefully. This tradition stems from the fact that St. Basil's Day fell during the period of Christmas fortune-telling.
Pork dishes are a must. "The pig was considered a symbol of fertility and prosperity," explains Ekaterina Kotova, a cultural scientist and head of the Intercultural Communications Department at the Training Center of the Association of Etiquette Specialists, in an interview with Regnum News Agency." The tradition of serving 'Caesar's pig' is associated with the memory of Basil of Caesarea (the Great), who is honored on this day."
The table might feature boiled pork, jellied meat, roast meat, homemade sausage, and pork rolls. Wealthy families used to roast a whole pig—a rarity today, but pork in some form is almost always present.
And what would we do without pancakes and pies? Pies are baked with meat, cabbage, mushrooms, and fish. Jellied pork or beef on the bone is served with horseradish—it symbolizes prosperity and solidity.
FROM SOWING TO QUIET GATHERINGS
Old New Year is celebrated differently in different parts of the country, and regional differences have persisted for centuries.
In southern Russia, in stanitsas (councils) and villages, the tradition of scattering seeds still persists. On the morning of January 14, boys and young men go from house to house, scattering grain from a sleeve or bag. "We sow, we winnow, we sow, Happy New Year!" they say, wishing the owners a rich harvest, health, and prosperity. In return, they receive treats—pies, sweets, and small change.
In the Volga region, there are "shchedrivki" (singings of rites)—ritual songs wishing well-being. Young people go from house to house, congratulating the hosts, singing short songs with the refrain, "Generous evening, good evening, good health to good people!" Since ancient times, it was believed that through the mummers, the spirits of ancestors bless the hosts, so the "shchedrivki" (singings of rites) were greeted warmly.
In Central Russia and the Russian North, the holiday is often celebrated in the family circle, without any formalities or rituals—a generous table, conversations, and a quiet evening at home.
Russia is not alone in its calendar dichotomy. The Old New Year is celebrated everywhere where Orthodoxy is strong: in Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, it is called the "Serbian New Year" or the Orthodox New Year.
"As a native of Little Russia, I can say that the tradition is alive and well here and is still celebrated in the most ancient way, " shares Ekaterina Kotova. " Children sing Shchedrovki and sow seeds on the morning of January 14th—just as their great-grandfathers did."
WHY THE HOLIDAY DOESN'T DISAPPEAR
Old New Year has no official status, is not included in the holiday calendar, and is not supported by the state. Nevertheless, it is celebrated by most people.
Since the Russian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar, the calendar occasion itself remains: New Year's Day, according to the old calendar, falls on January 14. For many families, this is part of their history—something their parents and grandparents celebrated.
The holiday truly occupies a convenient niche: the New Year holidays are already over, and the workdays have not yet fully returned. January 13th marks the last of the January days when one can indulge in a feast without remorse.
Old New Year is an unusual holiday, a paradoxical one. It reminds us that traditions can be stronger than calendars. On the night of January 13th–14th, you can make a wish once again, make some vareniki with surprises, gather with those you missed on New Year's Eve—and realize that time is a finite thing.