Why Christians Shouldn't Celebrate New Year: True Or Myth

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Why Christians shouldn't be celebrated on New Years

On the eve of New Year's holidays, the question invariably arises, can the Orthodox celebrate the New Year? After all, this is the time of the Nativity Fast.

History of the issue

To understand why this question arises at all, it is necessary to turn to history. On January 26, 1918, Russia switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian, but the Orthodox Church remained faithful to the Julian calendar, as a result of which the concepts of "old style" and "new style" appeared.

Logically, the New Year comes after Christmas, and so it happens, according to the Gregorian calendar in Catholic countries, and in Russia, according to the Julian calendar, too. Therefore, we have the Old New Year, which follows Christmas, and its celebration falls on Christmastide. This is a time of fun and holidays, so the question of whether the Orthodox can celebrate the Old New Year is not worth it.

We should not forget about the period of militant atheism, when they fought against religion and religious holidays in all forms, including the Christmas tree. It would hardly have been possible to completely ban the tree, the significance and history of this tradition among the people was too great, so later it was simply timed to coincide with another holiday - the New Year.

After the revolution, they fought not only with Orthodox holidays, but also with their attributes

The opinion that it is impossible to celebrate the New Year on the night of January 1 according to the new style has both supporters and opponents. Among the arguments against the celebration is not only the fact of fasting lasting on these calendar days. The irrepressibility of modern New Year's fun is often noted, up to the loss of human appearance.

That is, historically, whether it is possible to celebrate the New Year is an acute social issue, in solving which it is important to understand not only the history of Russia, but also the psychology of people. And also your own measure of responsibility for the decision.

How to celebrate the New Year for Orthodox

Since the New Year is nevertheless celebrated in our country according to the Gregorian calendar (according to the new style), people who go to church have doubts about the appropriateness of celebrating this holiday. After all, this is the time of fasting, and the last five days are of strict fasting. How can you have fun at this time?

You can find different opinions. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of priests urge to treat the New Year celebration with tolerance.

For fully church-going families, everything is simple - they are preparing for Christmas. And it is this that is the main holiday with all the attributes - a decorated Christmas tree, gifts, a festive table, etc.

But often in families, someone is a believer, and someone is not, or the family has just set foot on the path of churching, and contradictions may arise. In this case, the main thing is not what you will celebrate the New Year, but how.

• You may well decorate the tree, present some of the gifts to the children (leave the rest for Christmas).
• Prepare lean dishes on the table, which, by the way, can be very tasty and varied.
• You can create a mixed table that will include light meals for non-fasting family members and guests.
• Drinking a glass of champagne or a little wine is not prohibited, the main thing is not to get drunk.
• Think over the holiday program so that everyone is interested, but so that the fun does not turn into something indecent.

Lenten meals can be varied and delicious too.

In many churches, services are held on New Year's Eve, so believers can attend the service and thus spend the old year.

And on the first of January, for several years now, the all-Russian action "Murom Path" has been held in honor of the memory of the Russian saint Ilya of Muromets. The program usually includes prayer service, jogging, sporting activities and tea drinking.

The all-Russian Orthodox action "Murom Path" is held on January 1

Orthodox Christians can celebrate the New Year. It is only necessary to observe moderation.