On December 31st, the world celebrates the arrival of the New Year. Without a doubt, this is the most favorite date of all people, when children and adults rejoice at the change of year. Some celebrate this holiday at home surrounded by relatives, others spend the evening in a restaurant with friends, others rent a small house in the mountains and go sledding and skiing in the morning. There are a lot of options for celebrating the upcoming New Year, it all depends solely on your taste. In most countries that follow the Gregorian calendar, the New Year falls on the night of December 31st to January 1st. This holiday was founded in 46 BC. e. in the Ancient Roman state. At that time, the date was dedicated to the god Janus. In the Russian Empire, until the 15th century, the New Year was celebrated on the first day of spring, and after that on September 1, according to the Julian calendar. People began to celebrate the arrival of the New Year on January 1 only in 1700 by decree of Peter the Great. On the eve of the holiday, in every apartment, restaurant, office and on the street you can admire the beauty of the New Year tree, with multi-colored balls, shiny garlands, and original toys. But few people know why we decorate the house with spruce. On the day Jesus entered the gates of Jerusalem, the joyful people greeted him with palm branches. And now in hot countries a palm tree is used as a New Year's tree, but they do not grow here, so instead of palm branches, willow was used for a long time. During the Middle Ages, the ancient pagan custom and the German tradition of going into the forest for a spruce tree on Christmas Eve and decorating the house with it took place. After the adoption of Christianity by the Germans, the Christmas tree began to be used as a New Year's tree. Each country celebrates the arrival of the New Year differently. In Spain, during the chiming clock, it is customary to consume 12 grapes. Residents of the sunny state are sure that if they manage to eat the required amount of berries, they can count on good luck in the coming year. In the USA, at exactly 12 o'clock at night, people kiss. Americans are also meticulous about their New Year's outfit, choosing bright things that symbolize a happy life. The British decorate their homes with mistletoe branches. In Cuba, New Year's Eve always turns out to be “wet”, since local residents fill all available containers with water in advance and throw it out of the window at midnight. In Italy, unnecessary old things are thrown away before the holiday, so a lot of junk on the streets and entrances at this time is a common occurrence. Colombians celebrate the occasion on a grand scale, setting off a huge number of fireworks and holding festivities. And the artist on stilts symbolizes the passing year. In Japan at this time the bells ring, striking 108 times. Each blow represents one of human shortcomings. Despite the fact that there are 6 vices in total, the Japanese are convinced that each of them has 18 shades.

People tend to put off making important decisions until later. However, New Year's Eve often becomes a milestone that even the most timid and fearful people cross. Someone thinks it’s time to decide on a change of place of residence and takes out a loan from the bank, someone proposes marriage at the festive table. December 31 is Decision Day, which calls for an end to lack of will and uncertainty. At Make Up Your Mind Day, you don’t have to plan drastic changes in your life - moving to a new city or starting a new job. Indecisive people who have long irritated their loved ones with their vague life position should start small. Can't decide what to order in a restaurant when other people sitting at the table are already starting to eat hot dishes? Are you afraid to approach your boss and ask for a raise in the salary that everyone at the company has raised except you? The day of decision making will push you to take, if not a step, but a small step towards a better life. Despite the fact that the idea of ​​celebrating Make Up Your Mind Day appeared abroad, it quickly took root in Russia. So, not far from the Novosibirsk drama theater "Red Torch" in 2013, a special place for decision-making appeared. There is a small decorative patch on the pavement of Dmitrov Avenue. In its center there is a QR code symbol, around which “Decision making place” is written in Russian and English. Its memorial plaque indicates that in 1912 a project of the City Business Club on the development of Novosibirsk was drawn up here. Psychologists talk about at least 12 reasons that prevent a person from making a decision. These are established habits (“What will people say?”), and unsuccessful life experiences (“Last time I was wrong, there is a high probability this time too”), and the equivalence of choice, when both options are good or bad. When making an important decision, there is often a conflict between feelings and logic, fear of leaving your comfort zone, stress and anxiety due to the endless scrolling of pros and cons in your head. All this greatly complicates the situation and pushes us to postpone important things until later. On December 31, it is customary to sum up the results of the outgoing year. Therefore, it is no coincidence that Decision Day falls on this date. The holiday encourages you to think about your life, understand how much its circumstances satisfy you, and decide what needs to be changed in it. Without decision-making, the implementation of any, especially the most daring projects, is impossible. Make Up Your Mind Day guides weak-willed or insecure people onto the path of change and great achievements. Usually December 31st is a troublesome and a little exciting day. In the pre-holiday bustle, it is difficult to find a moment to at least mentally take stock of the past 365 days and make plans for the coming year. But you still need to find time and focus - changes in your life will not come without a decisive and even radical approach. Think about the achievement of which goals requires leaving hesitation, overcoming uncertainty and timidity. Cast aside doubts and celebrate 2 holidays on December 31 - Resolution Day and New Year!

Friday, which falls on the 13th day of the month, is considered unlucky according to superstition. In Russian there is even a special name for 13 - the devil's dozen. In China, the unluckiest day is April 4 (04.04), because... The number "4" in Chinese means "death". The eighth day of the month, under the patronage of the god of strife and karma Shani, is considered unfavorable among Hindus. In Japan, nothing good is expected from September 9 (09.09), in Italy - from Friday the 17th. It is not entirely clear who and what did not please December 31st, but it is precisely on it that the Unlucky Day falls. Unlucky Day is only symbolically called unsuccessful. Although December 31st cannot be called happy for those whose birthday fell on New Year's Eve. In the pre-holiday bustle, relatives and friends often do not consider it necessary to separately celebrate name days and bring out a cake with candles to the song Happy Birthday. The hero of the occasion, born on December 31, has to be content with one gift instead of two all his life. Therefore, for him and millions of other people, the last day of the outgoing year is partly unlucky. According to Christian traditions, on December 31, they pay tribute to the memory of Saint Modestus, Archbishop of Jerusalem. Our ancestors asked him to protect livestock from predatory animals and death, and honored him at a richly laid table with meat products. According to ancient Slavic beliefs, this day was considered dangerous due to the activation of evil spirits that harm people. Dark forces that can take possession of knives and axes, if they are not removed out of sight, will chop and cut up home happiness and comfort. On Modest's Day, milk, a symbol of motherhood and brotherhood, and other containers with liquids were covered with lids and towels. This is how the ancient Slavs protected their drink from the penetration of evil spirits. Today, December 31st is an Unlucky Day only symbolically. It is believed that on the eve of the New Year, everyone is given the opportunity to experience some kind of failure or fiasco in order to get rid of them before January 1st. All misfortunes will remain in the past, and the next 365 days after December 31 will be filled with good luck and joyful events. For the Unlucky Day, various wishes are made up, which are written in postcards or sent in messages. Relatives and friends are promised a good Unlucky Day, filled with unpleasant events as much as possible, and happiness in the new year. Funny holidays, unlike official celebrations, demonstrate a non-trivial look at the lives of those who invented them. Our ancestors believed that in order to get something from fate, we had to sacrifice something in favor of the spirits of nature, gods and other higher powers. Unlucky Day personifies this idea - on an Unlucky Day you need to experience troubles. This will allow you to count on luck in the future, and also begin to appreciate it much more against the backdrop of previous fiascoes and failures.

December 31 is the Universal Hour of Peace Day, which is becoming increasingly popular. It is believed that at this hour it is necessary to stop any conflicts, strife and think about a peaceful resolution of the situation. Of course, it cannot be said that conflicts, clashes, various quarrels and strife really stop on planet Earth. Rather, the holiday has a purely symbolic meaning in order to attract public attention to the identified problem. It is known that the founder of the holiday was Barbara Condron, an activist and public figure. And since 1995, the Day began a solemn procession across the planet. Prior to this, the celebration dates were postponed, and in the end the date was finally chosen as December 31st. Perhaps this is also due to the fact that at the end of the year it is customary to take stock and make plans for the future. Therefore, it would be logical to assume that people make plans for the future, for the entire next year, without planning conflicts and participation in violence. Yes, this cannot be achieved with ordinary planning, because it requires a lot of work on oneself, but at least the appearance of such a holiday inspires optimism. All this became a natural and logical result. The little man has always lived in constant wars and conflicts. Ordinary families were not spared from quarrels and strife. Many writers, public figures, and humanists paid attention to this. In particular, when they talk about the General Hour of Peace, they often remember such great people as Leo Tolstoy, Mother Teresa and others. This holiday is celebrated in Eastern Europe and other regions, in North America. Often, various events and activities are timed to coincide with this date. As a rule, they are of a charitable, humanitarian nature. For example, charitable organizations helping victims of wars and conflicts are becoming more active. Humanitarian aid is being provided to people, journalists are more actively covering events related to the emergence of stress points on the planet. However, it cannot be said that the holiday is not humorous in nature. Peace should be everywhere: on the planet, in the family, in the hearts of people. This means that it is at this time that you can approach your soulmate and offer to forget all the squabbles and start life anew. You can invite your partner for a cup of coffee or organize a trip to a restaurant, where in a festive and relaxed atmosphere, without mutual claims, you can discuss all your differences and come to a compromise. Yes, this Day should be used as an excellent occasion to make peace with your loved one. Also on December 31, it is customary to give gifts to show loved ones your peaceful nature. Since this is also the last day of the year, coinciding with another major celebration, it is not surprising that many people combine the holidays by giving gifts and their attention to loved ones. On the eve of the New Year and Christmas, you don’t want to sort things out and drag unresolved problems into next year. Yes, rather, the date has a purely psychological meaning to make a person look at the world more positively, in rosy tones. This approach is very effective; it will not only allow you to get rid of conflicts in the family or on the love front, but also make the world a better place on a global scale. As you know, any wars and even small local conflicts and skirmishes begin precisely with the inability to find a compromise and because too much negativity accumulates in people’s souls. This means that on December 31, the day the year ends, it is worth thinking about how to remove negativity from the soul and life in general. This will become the guarantor of peace and prosperity.

The most important, most intimate and all-powerful winter festival of our pagan ancestors was considered Yule - 13 nights, called “Nights of the Spirits”, and in the German interpretation Weihnachten (Christmas). On these nights, the deities of all worlds gather in Midgard - a kind of middle border fortress between the worlds. Elves and trolls easily talk with people, gods and goddesses descend to earth, the deceased appear to loved ones. For 13 nights the gates are open, this sacred time has no usual restrictions, during this period the spindle of Fate rotates and the plan destined by higher powers is accomplished. The end of Yule celebrations falls on Twelfth Night, from December 31 to January 1 according to the ancient German calendar, or January 6-7 according to the Christian calendar. According to various assumptions, the word “Yule” comes from the Scandinavian “wheel”, “to spin”, and perhaps it reflects the solar solar symbol, because according to an unwritten law, the longest night of the year must end with the victory of the renewed Sun and the onset of the New Year - the newly-minted cycle of life . Therefore, special significance is attached to the signs that happened on this magical night, and the most secret wishes made at this time come true, since every word has extraordinary power. The day that followed Twelfth Night was called “Day of Destiny.” Before sunset, it was recommended to especially carefully monitor both your speech and your actions and actions, because it was believed that they determined the further events of the New Year. Of course, in the twenty-first century, the celebration of the Twelfth Night of Yule has changed somewhat, but even now many people retain their original perception of the purpose of the wonderful New Year's Eve, which came to us from deep pagan antiquity. Many beautiful traditions, such as caroling, shchedrovki, and dressing up, have not lost their attractiveness to this day. For example, the British hold performances next to the Shakespeare Theater on Twelfth Night, and in Spain children take out gifts from shoes left outside the windows. Italians leave gifts in front of a closed door, because according to legend, the fairy Befana, who delivers gifts on a donkey, opens it with her golden key. In Mexico, they bake pies, in one of which they hide a small doll, symbolizing Jesus Christ. According to church books, it was on the Twelfth Night that the Magi appeared in Bethlehem with gifts to the Baby. It is believed that the person who finds the doll will be happy all year. In preparation for the New Year, we decorate a fluffy Christmas tree, attach Christmas wreaths to the doors, bake log-style cakes, confidently believing that we are observing Christian customs. In fact, all the attributes are borrowed from the pagan Yule. Perhaps the most famous attribute of Twelfth Night is the Yule tree, which we know as the Christmas or New Year tree. In ancient times, the Yule tree was considered a tree of wishes. A cut down Christmas tree or pine tree was brought into the house, or simply transplanted into the yard, decorated with bright toys. The festive decoration of the Yule tree continues to this day. Glass balls symbolize people's desires, and angel figures replaced fairies, who, according to ancient legends, liked to rest on branches. The custom of putting gifts under the Christmas tree has also reached us through the centuries. The Celts and Germans believed that in this way they would please the elves, and also make a kind of sacrifice to their deceased ancestors with their offering.

The New Year begins to be celebrated much earlier than the night from December 31 to January 1. Fireworks and firecrackers with streamers and confetti explode at matinees in kindergartens, school holidays and during corporate events. It is believed that traces of fun in the form of sparkles and other tinsel that remain on snow-covered paths lead to the New Year. In honor of the long-standing tradition, a fun Trail Day with confetti and glitter has been created. According to one version, the custom owes its appearance to the carnivals of Ancient Rome. Participants in the festive processions showered each other with small candies (from Italian - confetto), threw candied almonds and other sweets from the balconies of houses. Later they were replaced with multi-colored pieces of paper and plaster balls. According to another version, France is considered the birthplace of confetti. The tradition of showering participants in festive processions appeared at the end of the 18th century. Confetti was invented by the owner of the Casino de Paris. In 1884, Monsieur Louis proposed showering the guests of one of the weddings with small circles cut out of colored paper, which he did from the balcony of his house. Later it became a favorite entertainment for participants in balls and masquerades. Showering newlyweds with rice, grain, peas, sweets, rose petals and money is a tradition that exists in the culture of many peoples of the world, including the Eastern Slavs. Thus, those present at the wedding wish the newlyweds well-being and the birth of healthy children. The guests of the celebration repeat: “Hop is for fun, life is for living!” Millet and rye have long been considered symbols of fertility. “Rain” from them promised the newlyweds the appearance of offspring in the near future. Today, confetti in the shape of hearts, doves and rings are very popular at weddings. They, along with rose petals, are showered on the newlyweds. Grain and money are thrown at your feet. Firecrackers have long been an indispensable attribute of New Year's celebrations, as well as Christmas trees, glass balls, tinsel and flickering lights. Sparklers, fireworks and other pyrotechnics also participated in creating the festive mood. In the Soviet Union, streamers and confetti were an integral part of the New Year. Firecrackers exploded both during home feasts and at Blue Lights. TV presenters, singers, ballet dancers and astronauts participating in music and entertainment programs drank champagne, chatted casually and danced, strewn with sparkles and streamers of firecrackers. The attributes of the New Year holidays create high spirits and bring joy and fun into the home. Both children and adults love to explode firecrackers with streamers and other surprises. Paying tribute to a long-standing tradition is Trails Day, covered in confetti and glitter.

There are a lot of eyewitness observations about the ability of a person to influence the surrounding reality with his thoughts. Group meditations create a powerful energy message that multiplies the intentions of one individual. The most famous example of this phenomenon was the work of special groups deployed to the Middle East in 1982-1985 during the Lebanese-Israeli war. Transcendental meditations of people who are able to experience peace within themselves and radiate a state of harmony have reduced the number of murders, terrorist attacks and road accidents several times. The synergy effect increases the degree of impact on the surrounding reality, which changes the person himself and the life around him. The researchers noted that once volunteers in war-torn areas of the Middle East stopped focusing on experiencing peace and quiet, everything returned to normal. Every year, enthusiasts and simply caring people propose to repeat the experience of 40 years ago - to try to influence the psycho-emotional background of people living in hot spots in different parts of the Earth. Therefore, December 31 is celebrated as the Day of Meditation for Peace on the Planet. To successfully conduct spiritual practice, a number of conditions must be met. Scientists have calculated that to have a positive impact on reality, you need a small number of people capable of starting a healthier world. For a city with 1 million inhabitants, 100 volunteers are enough, for a region with 6 billion - 800 people, i.e. their number should be equal to the square root of 1% of the population. The necessary effect is achieved not from wishes and prayers asking for peace, but from focusing on the internal experience of harmony and peace by the participants in meditation. World Peace Meditation Day encourages people to try their hand at this difficult but noble task. The practice of transcendental meditation, based on the results of scientific research, is called the “Maharishi effect.” Experts conducted more than 40 studies of this phenomenon from 1974 to 1990. The effectiveness of group meditation, the author of which belongs to the Hindu Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, after whom it received its name, has been confirmed in practice. In regions where a small percentage of people regularly put their psyche into a state of experiencing peace, crime rates, road accidents and other incidents decrease. Meditation contributes to the internal development of a person, stabilization of his nervous system, expansion of consciousness, and recovery from chronic diseases. “Acquire a peaceful spirit, and thousands will be saved around you,” Seraphim of Sarov instructed his students. A spiritually perfect person, or one who is approaching the ideal, should share his experience with other people, try to make them happy and fill their life with harmony. To this end, the Day of Meditation on Peace on the Planet is held annually on December 31st.

December 31 (December 18, old style) is celebrated as Modest Day according to the folk calendar. Its appearance is associated with the church day of honoring the memory of St. Modestus, patriarch of the Jerusalem church in the 7th century. The future patriarch grew up in a righteous family in Sebaste of Cappadocia. From his youth, wanting to serve the Lord, he became the abbot of a Palestinian monastery. After the Persian attack on Palestine and the capture of Zechariah, the patriarch of the Jerusalem Temple, Modestus had the fate of replacing him. For about 14 years he served for the benefit of the temple, taking care of the monks and parishioners. When Zechariah was released from captivity, he returned back to the Jerusalem Temple. Modest piously gave up his position, but after the patriarch departed to the Almighty, his position was again headed by Modest. The people believed that on Modest day, after dark, an evil spirit crawls out, bringing harm to everyone. This is where the belief came from that a container of milk should be covered with a lid to prevent evil spirits from entering, and sharp objects should be hidden from the table to prevent evil forces from injuring household members. On Modestov's Day, children and youth organized caroling, thereby saying goodbye to the old year and inviting the new one. The children ran around the neighboring houses, wishing well to the owners, and in return received sweets. Children's wishes were valued most of all, as they believed that angels spoke through the mouths of children. The people revered the saint as the patron of livestock. Therefore, on his day, peasants prayed for the safety of farm animals. People gathered for a common feast, setting the table with meat dishes. In the evening they often told fortunes to find out their fate. It was important to have time to pay off debts in the past year. Based on the weather on Modestov's day, they judged what June would be like. And in order to know the rainiest month, they cast fortunes on salt in 12 matchboxes. They were labeled with the names of the months, left overnight, and checked in the morning: whichever box gets wet the most, that month will pass with showers. They also wondered about the future harvest - if the field is covered with snow, then it will give a good harvest.

The railway and waterways are actively used for transporting both civilian and military cargo. The Bureau for the Organization and Control of Transportation for the NKVD, the predecessor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, was created on December 31, 1936 after the issuance of Order No. 528. Yuri Pavlovich Bril became the head of the new unit. The bureau was responsible for the timely supply of large NKVD facilities with materials and equipment: BAM, Kuibyshevstroy and Volgostroy, the Moscow-Minsk highway, second railway tracks in the Far Eastern Territory, a naval base in the Gulf of Finland on Luga Bay, a railway line, going from Ulan-Ude towards Mongolia, hydraulic engineering work on the Amur, the Ukhto-Pechora trust, the Stalin water station, etc. Simultaneously with the order, the “Regulations on the Bureau of Transportation of the NKVD of the USSR and planning of transportation of local NKVD bodies” was developed. In the Union republics, responsibility for the work of the new unit was assigned to the heads of the Communications Departments, formed in July 1939. Supply of construction sites, including the notorious Gulag, was carried out both by railways and using river and sea transport. The date of the Bureau's appearance, December 31, marks the annual Day of the Special Transportation Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The stages of formation and work of the service responsible for ensuring the defense capability of the state are inextricably linked with the history of the country. In 1940, the commissariat appointed Stefan Ivanovich Zikeev as head of the Railway and Water Transportation Department of the NKVD of the USSR. During the Great Patriotic War, the Bureau was tasked with evacuating enterprises and meeting the needs of the front. In this regard, the load on stations and railway sections increased many times, which required a restructuring of the work of the Communications Departments. Under the leadership of S.I. Zikeev Bureau, in strict secrecy, was engaged in transportation in 1941-1944. deported peoples in wagons specially converted for this purpose. In the 1960s, the department was responsible for organizing the transportation of goods for the KGB, Glavkov, which are part of the NKVD-MVD, MOOP, products of refineries to the State Storage, post office A-1806 under the Ministry of Installation and Special Construction Works of the USSR. In the 90s, department employees were engaged in the arrangement of the borders of the Russian Federation after the collapse of the USSR, transporting specialists, equipment and machinery to emergency areas. Today, FKU "GTSSP Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia" ensures the fulfillment of the tasks assigned to it by the Ministry of organizing special transportation in the interests of the Department of Internal Affairs, as well as other federal authorities on the basis of government decisions and interdepartmental agreements. The Special Transportation Center oversees the transportation of equipment and other cargo for the Federal Penitentiary Service, the Russian Guard, the Medical Emergency Service and the FSB, the Central Bank and Gokhran. The work of the GSSP military personnel to ensure the defense capability of the Russian Federation in war and peacetime is responsible and very important. On December 31, colleagues and relatives congratulate PKU employees on the holiday, wishing them professional success and good luck in all their endeavors.

December 31 is the New Year for everyone - a time of champagne, Olivier and traditional congratulations from the president. Azerbaijanis are doubly lucky on this day; they fill their glasses in honor of yet another special holiday. For them, this day is a wonderful occasion to also celebrate the Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis around the world. Even though it only appeared at the end of the 20th century, this holiday is important to them. This holiday literally means that the Azerbaijani nation is united, despite the kilometers and borders that separate them. On December 16, 1991, Heydar Aliyev signed a corresponding decree and already on the eve of the passing year, Azerbaijanis around the world had the opportunity to make a double toast for the first time. For many millions living in other countries, this date reminds us of belonging to an ancient cultural nation. After all, even when living in another country, it is very important to remember the history of your people, to preserve and multiply the cultural values ​​inherent in the nation. It is celebrated, of course, not only by the residents of Azerbaijan, but also by all those who, by the will of fate, live in other countries. There are Azerbaijani diasporas all over the world; about 2 million representatives of this nation live in Russia alone. The largest has 30 million people, they live in Iran. On December 31, it was the eve of 1989, as a result of a spontaneous crossing across the Soviet-Iranian border, hundreds of Azerbaijanis for the first time had the opportunity to spend the outgoing year together with representatives of the nation who lived in Iran. In the same year, in Istanbul, a congress of Azerbaijanis around the world was convened for the first time. These two significant events, which had political and cultural consequences for Azerbaijanis, subsequently served as the motive for the creation of the Day of Solidarity and Unity of the Azerbaijani Diaspora.

Hogmanay is New Year's Day in Scotland. This ancient pagan holiday, according to scientists, appeared during the time of the Gaels. The tradition of celebrating Hogmanay has remained since those distant times when people worshiped fire. Hogmanay is similar in date and content to our New Year. It also starts after midnight and ends late at night or in the morning. The main symbol of Hagmanay is fire, so this is the time for lighting fires and dancing in the street. It should be noted that New Year in Scotland is more significant than Christmas and it is celebrated so magnificently that many thousands of tourists, like lemmings, flock to the country on the eve of this holiday. The holiday is so popular that the farewell to the old year begins on December 29, and the entire celebration lasts 4 days. Everyone who was involved in the history of Scotland at different periods of time will appear before you these days. Carnival processions will march through the streets of Edinburgh with burning torches: Roman legionnaires, Celtic Fenians, Vikings with Valkyries, accompanying a life-size longship blazing with multi-colored lights. Any spectator can join this procession by purchasing a torch. This is a real festival of fire, because only fire can disperse the dark winter night, drive out evil spirits and warm chilled souls. On the eve of the coming year, the processions will reach the central square, where an auto-da-fé of a huge straw bull will be held. By the direction of the smoke they will guess whether a good or bad year is coming. If the smoke stretches from east to west, then the coming year will be successful. At this time, popular musical performers give concerts on the square, and at exactly twelve o'clock a magnificent festive fireworks display begins, which is broadcast throughout the country. Each region and city has its own customs. For example, in Lerwick a Viking longship is burned at sea, and in Stonehaven a procession of young boys spins fireballs. The most famous Scottish dance is the Kelly. The dance is simple and very exciting. The dancers gather around the fire, put their hands on each other’s shoulders and dance around the fire. Then the round dance breaks up into separate circling couples. An old Scottish drinking song is always sung in all families and squares. We know it from S. Marshak’s translation of Robert Burns’ poems. In fact, as literary scholars have established, Burns simply wrote down an old ballad, adding a couple of verses to it. To be fair, he never hid it. There is another arrangement of this old ballad by Watson. But, perhaps due to the melodiousness of the translation, Burns is dearer and more familiar to us. Custom dictates that two visits be made on Hogmanay: one before the New Year and one after. The first time guests come and present the host with a barley drink - whiskey, and the second time they bring with them a gold coin (for prosperity), a piece of bread (for abundance on the table) and a coal, symbolizing warmth, which is carefully kept in the family until the next New Year. In exchange for coal, coins and bread, the guest is given shortbread cookies. Tradition is silent whether the host and guests taste the whiskey they bring, but we think that in cold weather it would be appropriate. After the start of the New Year and the festive fireworks, you need to wait for guests or pay visits yourself. It is considered a good omen if a black-haired man steps on the threshold first. It's much worse if it's blond. This may have something to do with the hair color of the Anglo-Saxon invaders. And it’s really bad when the first guest is a woman. The year will be extremely unsuccessful. Another ancient sign is associated with the footprint - fortune telling on ashes. Before the onset of Hogmanay, it was imperative to cleanse the house. To do this, they burned caustic juniper branches and raked out the ashes from the fireplace. They used it to guess. If a coal from the ash rolls out to the threshold, then in the coming year one should expect loss and misfortune. The footprint directed towards the threshold, seen by the fortuneteller in a pile of ashes, had the same meaning. But a trace aimed at the fireplace promised all sorts of prosperity and profit. It could be an addition to the family, a daughter’s wedding, or other pleasant events. Hogmanay is usually celebrated outside, although in December in Scotland it is quite windy and cold. However, those who celebrate Hogmanay at home by candlelight open the back door at the start of the clock strike to let out the old year, and after the twelfth strike they open the front door to let in the new one. This custom has the simple name “New Year's Entrance.” The owner does all this in silence. In ancient times, after this, the owner took a large cup called El and made a toast. After that, he drank from the cup and passed the cup on so that every family member could try this wonderful drink. Now this custom has sunk into oblivion. This is how the Scots celebrate the New Year in a fun and unusual way.

In Catholic countries, there is a strange custom of dressing up in carnival costumes and calling themselves Sylvester Claus on December 31 of each year. This is due to the celebration of St. Sylvester's Day on the last day of December. The saint was born and lived in Rome at the turn of the 2nd-3rd centuries AD. It was a difficult time for followers of the Christian faith, to which Sylvester's family belonged. Having matured and accepted the priesthood, the future saint buries the bodies of executed Christians, contrary to the decrees of Emperor Constantine, who was distinguished by his intolerance of the teachings of Christ. Enduring persecution and repression, Sylvester retreats into rocky gorges, but very soon he had the chance to explain to the ruler of the Roman Empire the essence of the true faith. According to legend, for his unrighteous deeds, Constantine was struck down with leprosy. Tormented by horror and fear, the emperor gathers the most famous healers and pagan priests. As a recipe for healing, the emperor is advised to fill the font of a pagan temple with the blood of murdered babies and perform ablution. The crying of the mothers prevented Constantine from committing blasphemy, and the holy helpers Peter and Paul, who appeared to him in a dream, explained what needed to be done to heal from the terrible illness. On the advice of the apostles, the ruler finds the persecuted Bishop Sylvester on Mount Sarepta and receives baptism from him. After repentance, prayers and conversion to Christianity, Constantine is miraculously healed. The newly converted emperor stops all persecution of Christians, returns their privileges and begins active construction of cathedrals and churches. Soon the teachings of Christ become the official religion in the Western and Eastern empires of Rome, and Sylvester is declared the pope of the Roman clergy and the head of all other clergy until the end of time. According to another legend, Pope Sylvester performed another miraculous feat, pushing back the date of the end of the world when he defeated the monstrous Leviathan. The arrival of the sea serpent was supposed to foreshadow the apocalypse, but thanks to the act of Sylvester, the monster did not break free. The saint introduced himself on December 31, and this date became the day of his commemoration by the church. And in the modern world, Bishop Sylvester Day is the beginning of merry New Year holidays and celebrations.

Day of customs workers of the Kyrgyz Republic

Feast of the Nineteenth Day of the Month of Sharaf among the Bahá'ís

Christianity preaches traditional human values, one of which is family, love and respect between spouses for each other, caring for and raising children. The model of a family for believers is the Holy Family, in which the Savior appeared more than 2 thousand years ago. The Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus Christ in her arms and her husband Joseph the Betrothed are the central characters of many icons, paintings and sculptural compositions. The Sagrada Família temple in Barcelona, ​​a church in Kaliningrad, cathedrals and churches in other cities were built in their honor. The Catholic Feast of the Holy Family is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Joseph and Jesus, which is celebrated every year on the last Sunday of December following the Nativity of Christ (if the celebration of Christmas falls on a Sunday, the Holy Family is honored on December 30). Services are held during Feast of the Holy Family. The main theme of the masses is the family and its role in the life of every person. The priests remind parishioners of the importance of father and mother in raising children, their care and love for each child. Mary and Joseph are an example of sacrifice, tolerance, mutual understanding and wisdom for believers. On their way, the father and mother of Christ had to face many difficulties, but they survived them and emerged from all life’s ups and downs with dignity. Despite not being related by blood, Joseph still took charge of Jesus and loved him with all his heart. Mary was not afraid of society’s condemnation and agreed to become the mother of God’s Son through the immaculate conception. Therefore, at Catholic masses held in honor of the Feast of the Holy Family, parishioners are told not only about the importance of family, but also about humility, sacrificing one’s own interests for the sake of loved ones and the entire human race. In a strict sense, the Holy Family is, in the classical sense, Mary, Joseph and Jesus. But on frescoes and icons you can often find righteous Anna, the mother of the Mother of God, their relative Elizabeth with her son John the Baptist and her husband, the priest Zacharias. Together they represent an example of serving moral values, of how to behave so that all family members gain full human dignity and have the opportunity to achieve holiness. By tradition, Catholics celebrate the liturgical holiday, which was introduced in 1921 by Pope Benedict, in a narrow family circle. Believers read the Holy Scriptures and make common prayers. On this day, they ask God for agreement and mutual understanding between representatives of different worships. Full of virtues, the Holy Family radiates love and is a symbol of harmony and peace. The relationship between Mary, Joseph and Jesus is a model for Christians to follow. Therefore, the elevated mood and reverent attitude towards the Holy Family is shared with Catholics by Orthodox believers and representatives of Protestant denominations.

Orthodox holidays on December 31:

Memorial Day of Saint Modest, Archbishop of Jerusalem

Memorial Day of the Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye