Today is a funny day. I am off the site, after sending greetings. What is the reason, what is the Holiday? Well, it is New Year!
How come we send greetings on January 13 and call it New Year?
It is because Russia and Greece converted to more astronomically correct Gregorian calendar relatively recently. Russia by Lenin's decree in 1918, and Greece in 1923. Before they used Julian Calendar, and the difference between the calendars is now 2 weeks.
In Russia some Holidays are still celebrated both in Gregorian Calendar, which Russians call «Old Style», and in Julian calendar. Orthodox church does not accept New Style, so Russian Christmas is January 7. With New Year it is simply the most loved Holiday, and though 31st of December turning to January is the official holiday and most widely celebrated, Russians did not forget their Old Style New Year, and celebrate is as well.
In Russian tradition the tree was set in the last days of December and is not taken out until after the Old Style New Year. And our tree will stay at least until February. It is beautiful, so why not?
The funniest thing about this other New Year is the way we write the greeting.
It goes like that: «Happy Old New Year»
I am wishing everybody a Happy Old New Year! It better be good...
Comments(30)