How to tell kids about Christmas
An interesting story about the New Year for children, interesting stories and New Year's poems.
New Year is coming
January is upon us.
The lights on the tree are bright,
And under the tree - gifts!
Having received gifts from St. Nicholas, Sasha and Alyonka began to wait for gifts from Santa Claus. After all, the New Year is coming soon!
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Who first came up with the idea of celebrating the New Year? Nobody knows for sure! After all, this day is celebrated by all peoples since ancient times. True, for every nation the New Year comes at its own time. In addition, there are many different traditions and customs.
For a long time, the ancient Slavs celebrated the New Year on March 1. They gave us the tradition of lighting lights on Christmas trees. Lighting a fire promised a good harvest. With the adoption of Christianity, the New Year began to be celebrated on September 1.
More than 300 years ago, in 1700, Tsar Peter I ordered the New Year to be celebrated on January 1st. At the same time, a tradition appeared to decorate Christmas trees, arrange fireworks and New Year's costumed carnivals.
Do you want to know more about how the New Year is celebrated in other countries? When the clock begins to strike midnight, the British open the back doors of the house. The old year is slowly coming out of them. With the last blow, the front doors are opened and the New Year is celebrated.
In Hungary, in the first second of the new year, children's pipes, horns and whistles begin to whistle. Thus, they drive away evil spirits from the house and call for joy.
In Germany, as soon as the clock starts to strike midnight, people of all ages climb onto chairs, tables and armchairs. And with the last blow, together with joyful greetings, they “jump” into the New Year. Just imagine what a noisy holiday they have! .jpg)
In Italy, it is customary to throw out broken dishes, old clothes and even furniture from apartments at the last minute of the old year. Firecrackers, confetti, sparklers fly behind them. They say: if you throw away the old, you will buy a new one, even better. And all the children are waiting for the sorceress Befana, who arrives at night on a broomstick and enters the house through the chimney. The fairy fills children's shoes with gifts, specially hung by the fireplace.
Spaniards eat grapes on New Year's Eve. But not just eat, but also count. Berries should be exactly 12 - one for each of the twelve coming months.
In Scandinavia, in the first seconds of the new year, it is customary to grunt under the table to drive away illness and failure from the family.
In modern China, the New Year is a lantern festival. Only they celebrate it not on January 1, but change the date every time. On New Year's Eve, many small lanterns are lit in the streets and squares. The Chinese believe that sparks from them drive away evil spirits.
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Japanese children celebrate the New Year in new clothes. It is believed that it will bring good luck and health. On New Year's Eve, children put a picture of their dream under the pillow. The wish must come true.
New Year in India can be celebrated eight times! On one of these days - Gudi Padva - you need to eat the leaves of the neem-nim tree. It is very bitter and unpleasant in taste. But the Indians believe that this foliage protects a person from diseases and troubles.
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In Bulgaria, they traditionally celebrate the New Year at home. Before the start of the holiday, the youngest member of the family stands near the Christmas tree and sings carols to the guests. Grateful relatives give him gifts.
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In our country, the famous grandfather is Santa Claus. He is wearing a long red coat with white fur. Santa Claus has a long white beard and holds a staff in his hands. He comes to visit not only with gifts, but also with his assistant, granddaughter Snegurochka.
In the USA, Canada, Great Britain and Western Europe, Father Frost is called Santa Claus. He is dressed in a red jacket, decorated with white fur, and red trousers. On the head is a red cap.
There are two Santa Clauses in Sweden: the hook-nosed grandfather Yultomten and the dwarf Yulnissaar. Both on New Year's Eve leave gifts on the windowsills.
In Finland, New Year's grandfather is called Joulupukki. He has a tall cone-shaped hat and a red outfit. He is surrounded by gnomes in pointed hats and capes with white fur.
And the Estonian Santa Claus is called Yiuluvana. He looks like his friend Joulupukki.
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There are also two Santa Clauses in France. One is called Per-Noel, which means "Father Christmas". He is kind and brings gifts to the children in a basket. The second is called Shaland. This bearded man wears a fur hat and a warm travel cloak. Hidden in his basket are rods for naughty and lazy children.
In Italy, the old fairy Befana comes to the children. She flies into the house through the chimney. Fairy brings gifts to good children, and naughty children get only ashes.
In Romania, the "snow grandfather" is called Mosh Krechun. He is very similar to our Santa Claus. In Uzbekistan, his name is Korbobo. He is dressed in a striped robe and a red skullcap. Corbobo rides a donkey loaded with sacks of New Year's gifts.
New Year- a holiday celebrated by many nations in accordance with the accepted calendar, coming at the time of transition from the last day of the year to the first day of the next year. The custom of celebrating the New Year already existed in ancient Mesopotamia, presumably in the third millennium BC. The beginning of the year on January 1 was established by the Roman ruler Julius Caesar in 46 BC. In ancient Rome, this day was dedicated Janus - the god of choice, doors and all beginnings. The month of January got its name in honor of the god Janus, who was depicted with two faces: one looked forward and the other looked back.
Statue of Janus in the Vatican
Most countries celebrate the New Year on January 1, the first day of the Gregorian calendar year. New Year celebrations, taking into account standard time, always begin in the Pacific Ocean on the islands Kiribati. The last to see off the old year are the inhabitants of the islands midway in the Pacific Ocean. Some countries, such as China, celebrate the New Year according to the lunar calendar.
As already mentioned, not all nations have a New Year's holiday on January 1st. So jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah(chapter of the year) is celebrated 163 days after Passover(not earlier than September 5 and not later than October 5). On this day, a ten-day period of spiritual self-deepening and repentance begins. The next 10 days until Judgment Day ( Yom Kippur) are called "days of teshuva" ("return" - meaning return to God). They are also called "days of remorse" or "days of trembling." It is believed that on Rosh Hashanah the fate of a person is decided for the year ahead. On the Judgment Day following the holiday, Jews greet each other with a wish: “ May you be written and subscribed for a good year in the Book of Life!". Believers dress in bright clothes. During the festive meal, it is customary to dip challah or an apple in honey.
Festive table served with traditional dishes on Rosh Hashanah
The traditional Chinese New Year coincides with the winter new moon at the end of the full lunar cycle, which took place after the winter solstice (that is, on the second new moon after December 21). In the Gregorian calendar, this corresponds to one of the days between January 21st and February 21st. Chinese New Year, which after 1911 in literal translation is called “Spring Festival” has long been the main and longest holiday in China and other countries of East Asia. In the north of the country on New Year's Eve ( Tet) a peach blossom branch is planted in the house, or the house is decorated with tangerine trees hung with orange fruits, symbolizing prosperity. During this period, peach and apricot trees, tangerines and almonds bloom. The streets are decorated with young flowering branches and simply bouquets of flowers. In the south of the country, on Tet, they prefer to decorate their house with a blossoming apricot branch, and the apricot flowers should have five petals. In addition, the southerners put watermelons on the altar, the red sweet pulp of which symbolizes good luck in the coming year.
In the evening, on New Year's Eve, mass dragon dances take place, in which all people, regardless of wealth, take part. The most magnificent processions and spectacular events are held at night. At dusk, fires are lit in parks, gardens or on the streets. Several families gather around each fire.
Until the 15th century in Rus', the new year began not from January, as it is now, but from March 1 (as in republican Ancient Rome) (in some varieties of the calendar, around this date, possibly on the next full moon), or from September 1, as in Byzantium , according to the Julian calendar. Since the 15th century, September 1 has become the predominant date for the New Year. Information about the celebration of the New Year appears from the end of the 15th century. The Paris Dictionary of the Muscovites (XVI century) retained the Russian name for the New Year's holiday: First day of the year . Since 1700, by decree of Peter I, the New Year in Russia is celebrated, as in other European countries, on January 1 (according to the Julian calendar). Since 1897, January 1 has become a non-working day in Russia. Since 1919, the New Year holiday in Russia began to be celebrated in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. From 1930 to 1947, January 1 in the USSR was an ordinary working day, and since 1947 it has again become a holiday and a day off.
Soviet postage stamp
New Year's Eve is a very important holiday in many countries. And it is accompanied by a variety of variety events, a feast, folk festivals. According to tradition, a Christmas tree is set up in the house. In many countries, it is placed at Christmas and is called the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree is dressed up and decorated with various toys.
Of course, the New Year's holiday cannot do without a fairy-tale (folklore) character. In the Christian world, it is recognized as such Santa Claus(eng. Santa Claus) - a Christmas grandfather who gives gifts to children on Christmas. And, although he is directly related only to the Christmas holidays, his presence on New Year's Eve has also become a tradition. The name Santa Claus is a corruption of the Dutch name Saint Nicholas whose memorial day is December 6th.
Santa Claus
In Russia, the fairy-tale character of East Slavic folklore is Father Frost. In Slavic mythology - the personification of winter frosts, a blacksmith who binds water. The collective image of Santa Claus is based on the hagiography of St. Nicholas, as well as descriptions of ancient Slavic deities Pozvizda, Zimnik And Korochuna. On New Year's Eve, Santa Claus gives gifts to children, which he brings in a bag behind his back. Often depicted in a blue, silver or red fur coat, embroidered with patterns, in a hat, with a long white beard and a staff in his hand, in felt boots. He rides a troika of horses, skis or walks.
In different countries, it is celebrated in accordance with local, national traditions, but the main symbols remain almost everywhere - a decorated Christmas tree, garland lights, clock strikes, champagne, gifts and, of course, a cheerful mood and hope for something new and good in the coming year.
People have been celebrating this bright and colorful holiday since ancient times, but few people know the history of its origin.
New Year is the most ancient holiday, and in different countries it was celebrated and continues to be celebrated at different times. The earliest documentary evidence dates back to the third millennium BC, but historians believe that the holiday is even older.
The custom of celebrating the New Year first appeared in ancient Mesopotamia. In Babylon, it was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, when nature began to awaken from its winter sleep. It was installed in honor of the supreme god Marduk, the patron of the city.
This tradition was connected with the fact that all agricultural work began at the end of March, after the water arrived in the Tigris and Euphrates. This event was celebrated for 12 days with processions, carnivals and masquerades. During the holiday it was forbidden to work and administer courts.
This festive tradition was eventually adopted by the Greeks and Egyptians, then it passed to the Romans and so on.
© REUTERS / Omar Sanadiki
The New Year in Ancient Greece came on the day of the summer solstice - June 22, it was dedicated to the god of winemaking Dionysus. The Greeks began their reckoning from the famous Olympic Games.
Ancient Egypt celebrated for centuries the flooding of the Nile River (between July and September), which marked the beginning of the new planting season and was a vital event. It was a sacred time for Egypt, because a drought would endanger the very existence of this agricultural state.
During the celebration of the New Year, the Egyptians had a custom to fill special vessels with "holy water" from the overflowing Nile, the water of which at that time was considered miraculous.
Even then it was customary to arrange nightly celebrations with dances and music, to give gifts to each other. The Egyptians believed that the waters of the Nile washed away everything old.
The Jewish New Year - Rosh Hashanah (head of the year) is celebrated 163 days after Pesach (not earlier than September 5 and not later than October 5). On this day, a ten-day period of spiritual self-deepening and repentance begins. It is believed that on Rosh Hashanah the fate of a person is decided for the year ahead.
The ancient Persian holiday Navruz, which meant the beginning of spring and the sowing period, was celebrated on the spring equinox on March 20 or 21. This Navruz differs from the Muslim New Year, since the Muslim calendar is based on the lunar annual cycle.
The celebration of Navruz is associated with the emergence of the solar chronology calendar, which appeared among the peoples of Central Asia and Iran seven thousand years ago, long before the rise of Islam.
The word "Navruz" is translated from Persian as "new day". This is the first day of the month "Farvadin" according to the Iranian calendar.
A few weeks before this date, wheat or barley seeds were placed in a dish to germinate. By the New Year, the seeds sprouted, which symbolized the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year of life.
The Chinese or Oriental New Year is a grandiose event that lasts a whole month in the old days. The New Year's date is calculated according to lunar calendar and usually falls between January 17 and February 19. In 2017, the people of China will celebrate the advent of the 4715 New Year - the Fire Rooster on January 28th.
© Sputnik / Alexander Imedashvili
During the festive procession that passes through the streets of China on New Year's Eve, people light many lanterns. This is done in order to light your way into the New Year. Unlike Europeans who celebrate the New Year with a Christmas tree, the Chinese prefer tangerines and oranges.
For the first time, the calendar, in which the year began on January 1, was introduced by the Roman emperor Julius Caesar in 46 BC. Before that, in ancient Rome, the New Year was also celebrated in early March.
The new calendar, which then began to be used by all countries that were part of the Roman Empire, naturally began to be called the Julian. The account according to the new calendar began on January 1, 45 BC. That day was the first new moon after the winter solstice.
However, throughout the world, the New Year was celebrated for many centuries either at the beginning of spring or at the end of autumn - in accordance with agricultural cycles.
The first month of the year, January, is named after the two-faced Roman god Janus. On this day, the Romans made sacrifices to the two-faced god Janus, after whom the first month of the year was named, which was considered the patron of undertakings, and timed important events to this day, considering it especially auspicious.
In ancient Rome, there was also a tradition of giving New Year's gifts. It is believed that the first gifts were laurel branches, which foreshadowed happiness and good luck in the coming year.
Among the Slavs, the pagan New Year was associated with the deity Kolyada and was celebrated on the Day of the winter solstice. The main symbolism was the fire of a fire, depicting and invoking the light of the sun, which, after the longest night of the year, had to rise higher and higher.
In addition, he was associated with fertility. According to the Slavic calendar, the year 7525 is now coming - the year of the Crouching Fox.
But in 1699, Tsar Peter I, by his decree, moved the beginning of the year to January 1 and ordered that this holiday be celebrated with a Christmas tree and fireworks.
New Year is a truly international holiday, but different countries celebrate it in their own way. The Italians throw old irons and chairs out of the windows with all the southern passion, the inhabitants of Panama try to make as much noise as possible, for which they turn on the sirens of their cars, whistle and shout.
In Ecuador, special importance is attached to underwear, which brings love and money, in Bulgaria they turn off the lights, because the first minutes of the New Year are the time for New Year's kisses.
© REUTERS / Ints Kalnins
In Japan, instead of 12, 108 bells sound, and a rake is considered the best New Year's accessory - to rake in happiness.
A very interesting New Year tradition exists in Myanmar. On this day, everyone you meet pours cold water on the other. This is due to the fact that the New Year in Myanmar falls on the hottest time of the year. In the local language this day is called "water festival".
In Brazil, it is customary to ward off evil spirits on New Year's Eve. For this, everyone dressed in white clothes. Some jump into the ocean waves on the beach and throw flowers into the sea.
© AFP / Michal Cizek
In Denmark, to wish love and prosperity to yourself or your friends, it is customary to break dishes under their windows.
At midnight, Chileans eat a spoonful of lentils and put money in their shoes. It is believed that this will bring prosperity and wealth throughout the year. The more daring can spend New Year's Eve at the cemetery with deceased loved ones.
In the tradition of the countries of the post-Soviet space, there was the following tradition - write down your desire on a piece of paper, burn it and pour the ashes into a glass of champagne, mix and drink. All this procedure had to be done in the time interval until the clock strikes twelve.
© AFP / VINCENZO PINTO
In Spain, there is a tradition - to quickly eat 12 grapes at midnight, and each grape will be eaten with each new strike of the clock. Each of the grapes should bring good luck in each month of the coming year. Residents of the country gather in the squares of Barcelona and Madrid in order to have time to eat grapes. The tradition of eating grapes has been around for over a hundred years.
In Scotland, before the New Year, members of the whole family sit down near a lit fireplace, and with the first strike of the clock, the head of the family must open the front door, and silently. Such a ritual is designed to spend the old year and let the New Year into your home. The Scots believe that whether luck or bad luck enters the house depends on who is the first to cross their threshold in the new year.
© AFP / Niklas HALLE"N
On New Year's Eve, the inhabitants of Greece, like the inhabitants of many other countries, go to visit each other with gifts. However, there is a peculiarity - in addition to gifts, they carry a stone to the owners, and the more the better. In Greece, they believe that the heavier the stone, the heavier will be the purse of the recipients in the coming year.
According to another Greek tradition, the eldest member of the family must break a pomegranate fruit in the courtyard of his house. If pomegranate seeds scattered around the yard, then his family will have a happy life in the coming year.
There is a very unusual New Year tradition in Panama. Here it is customary to burn effigies of politicians, athletes and other famous people. However, the inhabitants of Panama do not wish evil to anyone, just all these stuffed animals symbolize all the troubles of the outgoing year.
© Sputnik / Levan Avlabreli
Moreover, every family should burn the scarecrow. Apparently another Panamanian tradition is connected with this. At midnight, on the streets of Panamanian cities, the bells of all fire towers begin to ring. In addition, car horns are honking, everyone is screaming. Such noise is meant to threaten the coming year.
The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.
Our Slavic ancestors counted the years by seasons. The year began on the first day of spring - March 1, when nature came to life and it was necessary to think about the future harvest. In the X century, Ancient Rus' adopted Christianity, the Byzantine chronology and the Julian calendar. The year was divided into 12 months and given them names associated with natural phenomena. March 1 was considered the beginning of the new chronology.
In 1348, a Council was held in Moscow, at which they adopted a provision to start the year from September, and not from March. And since 1700, by decree of Peter I, the New Year in Russia is celebrated, as in other European countries, on January 1 (according to the Julian calendar). But only starting from 1919, the New Year holiday in Russia began to be celebrated in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. From 1930 to 1947, January 1 was an ordinary working day in the USSR. And since 1947, January 1 has become a holiday and a day off. Since 2005, New Year holidays have been established in Russia from January 1 to January 5 (previously - only the 1st and 2nd) and these days are declared non-working, and taking into account the days off and Christmas - an official holiday - the weekend lasts 10 days.
If you are asked what is your favorite holiday after your birthday, you will probably answer: New Year. This is a holiday when you are not forced to go to bed early, but are seated at the table with adults. This is a holiday when you are looking forward to the end of the chiming clock to throw yourself under the tree and see what surprise Santa Claus has prepared for you. New Year is a vacation with mom and dad, it's sweets and tangerines, it's winter fun. New Year is the most favorite holiday in our country. He is loved by both adults and children. New Year is a holiday with fluffy white snow outside the window, the smell of fir branches, the sparkle of colorful toys and tinsel, obligatory fireworks, gifts, as well as elegant Santa Claus and the beautiful Snow Maiden. We have been waiting for it for a long time, and when the chimes strike at midnight on December 31, we rejoice in the coming year, hoping for better times, and sad, seeing off the outgoing year.
The first day of the year is one of the main holidays for many nations. In European countries, the new year begins on January 1st. In countries where the lunar or lunisolar calendar is adopted, the New Year falls on different dates of the solar year.
Now let's see how this merry holiday is celebrated in other countries.
England. In addition to the Christmas tree, the house is decorated with mistletoe sprigs. The English Santa Claus is called Santa Claus.
Italy. On New Year's Eve, it is customary to get rid of old things, old furniture and other rubbish. New Year is a symbol of renewal.
France. French Santa Claus - Pere Noel - leaves gifts not under the tree, like ours, but in shoes hanging and standing by the fireplace. On New Year's Eve baked in a bean pie. And the one who gets it receives the title of "bean king", and on a festive night everyone obeys his orders.
Sweden. On New Year's Eve, the children choose the queen of light, Lucia. She is dressed in a white dress and a crown with lit candles. Lucia brings gifts to the children and treats to the pets.
Bulgaria. When people gather at the festive table, the lights are turned off in all houses for three minutes. These minutes are called "minutes of New Year's kisses", the secret of which is kept by darkness.
Cuba. Before the onset of the new year, the inhabitants of the country fill all the jugs, buckets, basins and bowls that are in the house with water. At midnight, water is poured out of the windows. So for the outgoing year they wish a path as bright as water. While the clock strikes 12 times, it is necessary to eat 12 grapes, and then goodness, harmony, prosperity and peace will accompany a person all year.
Japan. Here, on New Year's Eve, the bells ring eight times. Each stroke of the bell corresponds to one of the vices. According to the Japanese, there are six of them: greed, stupidity, anger, frivolity, indecision and envy, but each vice has 18 different shades. This in total is 108 beats of the bell.
There are quite a few traditions of celebrating the New Year in Russia. From the times of Slavic paganism, we got mummers, buffoons and jesters. The era of Peter the Great and subsequent centuries brought into the tradition of the holiday a New Year tree with toys, fireworks and a New Year's table with Russian salad, vinaigrette stuffed with goose or duck, Santa Claus with the Snow Maiden, obligatory champagne with tangerines on the table and the chiming clock on the Kremlin's Spassky Tower.
In your house, most likely, your mother or grandmother will take care of the New Year's table. It would be nice if you also take part in the preparation of the festive table. And to participate in decorating the New Year tree and the room is a great pleasure. When decorating a Christmas tree, they first hang an electric garland with light bulbs (but not home-made - they don’t joke with fire!), Then - toys: first large, then small. Do not hang decorations of the same shape and color next to each other. Lastly, they put a spire on the top of the Christmas tree and scatter a brilliant “rain”.
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Christmas tree
When the first Christmas tree appeared in Rus', it is not known exactly. But, most likely, the first Christmas trees appeared in the middle of the 19th century in the houses of St. Petersburg Germans. Living in a foreign land, they have not forgotten their traditions and habits, ceremonies and rituals.
Following the Germans, in the Russian homes of the St. Petersburg nobility, they also began to put Christmas trees for children. They were decorated with wax candles and lanterns, flowers and ribbons, nuts, apples and sweets. Initially, on New Year's Eve, the tree stood for one day, then these periods were increasingly lengthened: two days, three, until Epiphany or until the end of Christmas time. There was a period in our history when the Christmas tree was even banned. But from December 31, 1935, she again entered the homes of Russians and to this day is a symbol of "joyful and happy childhood in our country."
DIY Christmas decorations
You will need: a needle with threads, scissors, an awl, glue (it is better to take PVA - when it dries, it becomes transparent), sequins, colored paper, wrapping paper, paints and brushes, felt-tip pens, cotton balls, threads, paper clips, multi-colored woolen threads.
A garland "Falling Snow" can be made from cotton wool. To do this, short strings are tied to a long thin thread at short intervals. Cotton balls are strung on each short thread. Below, so that the balls do not slip, the thread is smeared with glue. Such a garland can be hung directly on the window or in the doorway.
Wonderful toys are made from eggshells. In a washed raw egg, with a thick needle or awl, carefully make holes on both sides. Blow the contents of the egg into a bowl. We wash the shell with running water and dry it. Now it can be used to make toys. The egg can be painted with paint or felt-tip pens, you can glue various details cut out of paper to it: paws, ears, tails and hats, turning it into a funny little animal or little man: a hare, a chicken, a fish, a nested doll, a gnome, a penguin. To make it more convenient to paint the eggshell with paints, stick a piece of plasticine on the saucer and carefully place the eggshell on it. To prevent the paint from getting dirty, at the end of the work, sprinkle the toy with sparkles and spray it with hairspray.
If the Christmas tree is small, do not overload it with bulky toys. The size of ornaments from the lower branches to the upper ones gradually decreases. Do not hang too many decorations on the Christmas tree - it looks tasteless.
In the old days, various edible decorations were hung on the Christmas tree. Why not revive this custom? Try to decorate the Christmas tree with edible toys - tangerines, apples, candies in bright wrappers, walnuts wrapped in gold foil, chocolate medals and other chocolate figurines.
Now let's try to decorate the branches of the Christmas tree and cones with snow. To do this, we rub the polystyrene on a grater, grease the branches of spruce, pine and cones on them with transparent glue and sprinkle with grains of polystyrene. We arrange the branches in vases throughout the room. This created the atmosphere of a fabulous winter forest.
New Year- the holiday is special also because, in addition to Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden, in addition to funny Christmas toys, fragrant tangerines and cherished gifts for children, this holiday means the onset of the long-awaited winter holidays. You just need to think in advance how to spend these short winter days with maximum pleasure and benefit.
And without which it is impossible to imagine traditional winter fun - of course, without snow, ice and frost! True, in recent years the weather has become painfully capricious, but still on New Year's days you can still find skating rinks, snowdrifts, and ice slides.
Thanks to the active propaganda of television, figure skating has become popular again. Every year there are more and more skating rinks. You just need to learn how to skate and not be afraid of bruises and bumps - the inevitable companions of mastering this sport.
Even just skating is already a great pleasure. And it does not matter at all how well you can do it, when the New Year tree sparkles with lights in the center of the ice rink, and the spotlights and perky music create an atmosphere of a festive mood. But if you get tired of just cutting circle after circle, then you can arrange fun competitions.
Game "Steam Train"
You will need skittles or plastic bottles filled with water or just snow - so that they are not blown away by the wind. They need to be placed on the ice in one line at a certain distance from each other. The smaller the distance, the more difficult the task. So, we get up in height - the smallest is in front, the next is bigger ... - the last, of course, is dad. We put our hands on the shoulders of the person in front, and - go ahead! It is necessary to snake around the pins without knocking them down.
Game "Relay"
You need to split into two teams, equal in number of participants and approximately equal in strength. Not only age is taken into account, but also the ability to skate. The start line can be marked with skate covers. At 20-30 meters from the start line for each of the teams we put two skittles (plastic bottles). On the “start” command, the players reach the pin, go around it and return, passing the baton to the next player. The team that completes the task faster wins. The more players, the more fun and interesting the relay will be.
Perhaps the most popular winter games are snowball fights, sledding, snowman making, snow fort storming. All this, despite its ancient history, is unlikely to bother both your friends and parents.
And you can also go with the whole family to the nearest forest park on skis for a “winter fairy tale”. This is best done after a heavy snowfall. Here, on the branches of a pine tree, a “snow leopard” has spread, but some kind of “weevil” peeps out of a snowdrift, and here you just need to draw eyes with a ski stick - and you get a huge “snow toad”. Take your camera for this walk!
Of course, this is not all winter fun and games - you yourself can come up with a hundred more! Just be sure to remember the right clothes. Sweating in the cold, you can catch a cold. If this happens, go home. Do not forget about spare gloves. As for the rest, what could be better than an active winter outdoor family holiday filled with wonderful vivid impressions and a sea of positive emotions?!
Have fun, honest people, winter is coming!
Almost all countries of the world like to celebrate the wonderful night of transition from the last day of December to January 1st. This is a magical period. The night is loved by both children and adults.
One of the first (around the III millennium BC) decided to celebrate the onset of the New Year in the most ancient civilization - Mesopotamia. The great Julius Caesar did this a little later. In the forties of our era, he decided to start the New Year on January 1. On this day, the inhabitants of the Roman Empire started major important deeds (this was a good omen) and made sacrifices to the great Janus. Gifts and praise of officials were also timed to coincide with this holiday. They were presented with fruits in gilding, copper coins and other expensive things. Patricians received special gifts. This custom for a long time "settled" in Rome.
The ancient Romans dedicated this day to the god Janus. These are doors, entrances and all beginnings. And the first month is named after him.
It starts its course in the Pacific Ocean, and ends in the same in the Pacific Ocean - on Midway Island. But there are countries that celebrate this night on different days and even months. For example, in China, it is related to the lunar cycles.
What is the history of the New Year in Israel? Traditions are honored from antiquity. In this country, the holiday of Rosh Hashanah (means "head of the year") is celebrated during the month from the fifth of September to the fifth of October. Usually after Passover, 163 days later. From this day on, the time of self-deepening and spiritual repentance begins for the Jews. It lasts ten days. The next ten days are called the "days of teshuva" (or repentance and trembling). And they end with the so-called Yom Kippur. The Israelis believe that these days a person's fate is guessed a year ahead. Therefore, they meet each other with parting words: "May you be signed and written down in the Book of Life for a good year!" At the festive table, an apple or challah is dipped in honey (a symbol of happiness and prosperity).
How do people celebrate New Year in China? History and traditions are fraught with a lot of unknown. The features of the celebration have deep roots. In the People's Republic of China, it is customary to celebrate the New Year at the end of the full cycle of the moon, the first after the winter solstice. Consequently, a countdown is being conducted from December 22, and after the second new moon, a festive night begins. The inhabitants of this country call the change of year the "Spring Festival". It has been considered the most important celebration since time immemorial.
By New Year's Eve in the northern part of China, they like to decorate the house with flowering peach branches or fruits. Apricot and almond trees bloom on the streets. In the south of the country, to attract good luck in the new year, the altar is decorated with watermelons. On the eve of the holiday, mass magnificent processions take place on the streets of cities and towns - dragon dances. This action is especially spectacular at night.
What is in Russia? For a long time (until the 15th century) New Year's festivities began on the night of the first of March. And since the 15th century, Russians have been celebrating September 1. Around the same time, the first mentions of the emerging traditions of the celebration appear.
John Vasilyevich III (Grand Duke) in 1492 made a firm decision and decided to start the church and civil year in September, the first day, that is, on the day of collecting dues, tribute and duties.
To give it solemnity, the tsar personally appeared in the Kremlin. Then simple people or noble boyars had the opportunity to seek mercy, truth and justice from him. The Byzantine celebration of the church new year became a prototype of the celebration of the new church year in Rus'.
Dictionaries of the 16th century interpreted the name of this celebration of those years as follows: "The first day of the year." Since 1700, by decree of the great Emperor Peter I, the New Year is celebrated in Russia, as in European countries, that is, according to And when is it? Of course, January 1st.
What is the New Year in the XX century? Continuous metamorphoses: from January 1, 1897, this day is declared a day off. In the period 1930-1947. he becomes just a worker again. And in 1948 they again made it a day off and a holiday!
What is New Year? Traditions and peculiarities of meeting New Year's holidays in many houses of the world are important, sometimes fateful. In addition to numerous festivities and feasts, coniferous trees are dressed up, houses and city streets are decorated. Everything glows, shimmers and shines. And almost every nation has its own New Year's grandfather. In the Christian world, grandfather is called Santa Claus. This name comes from the name of St. Nicholas, thanks to a distorted Dutch transcription. He gives gifts to children for Christmas. Santa Claus is more like a Christmas grandfather. Although it is also welcomed on New Year's Eve.
What does this holiday mean to us? What is New Year? A holiday that brings loved ones together. And of course, our dear Santa Claus comes to us! This fairy-tale character appeared from distant Slavic myths. It personifies winter frosts and blacksmiths who bind water. The image of Frost, of course, is a collective one. The main motif of Grandfather is St. Nicholas, diluted with the magic of the deities of the ancient Slavs: Zimnik, Pozvizd and Korochun. Our own grandfather comes in felt boots, a blue, less often red coat embroidered with silver, with a magic staff. And always with a bag of gifts on his shoulder. He usually moves on three horses.
In modern Russia there is a special - the old New Year. It appeared after the abolition of the Julian time reckoning. And it is celebrated at night from January 13 to 14.
Before New Year's Eve, according to an ancient Cuban tradition, all kinds of basins, jugs, bowls, etc. are filled with water in houses. And at midnight, this liquid pours from all windows, as if seeing off the year, wishing him an easy and bright road.
In the Japanese islands, the New Year is accompanied by the ringing of bells. 108 strokes symbolize all shades of human vices.
Use all kinds of fireworks, started in China. The noisy, loud and bright tradition made it possible to drive away numerous evil spirits. Now, without exception, all countries of the world. In the New Year's fun, sparklers, fireworks, Roman candles, crackers large and small, etc. are used.
In recent years, the capitals of some countries have been invited to attend New Year's pyrotechnic shows. The largest shows are held in London, Sydney and various cities in China.
In Sweden, for example, before the New Year they choose the beautiful Lucia. Kids do it. Having chosen the queen of light, they dress her in a white outfit, and put a crown with burning candles on her head. Queen Lucie gives gifts to children and treats to pets.
Now you know what the New Year is, what are the features of this holiday. We hope that the article was useful to you.
