The essence of the holiday
The church year closes with the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 28. The next day, the Orthodox observe the Nut of the Savior, a feast with a history and customs explained earlier. On September 14, the New Year is celebrated as a fresh start or the beginning of the new season since the Creation of the world. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary follows on September 21 in the liturgical calendar.
In the Orthodox calendar, the New Year marks the first day of the church year. The liturgical books refer to the holiday with the long form the beginning of the indictment of the new summer. Icons sometimes call the New Year the Reduction. A priest from the Church of the Great Martyr Anastasia in Chkalovsk noted that the New Year holds significance for believers.
“In the New Year, believers reflect on the Annunciation and the events surrounding the Nativity of the Mother of God, the Entry into the Temple, and the Nativity of Christ. These moments guide how people live and remind them of the life of Jesus and those connected with him,” the priest said.
view of the holiday
The Roman Empire set a start date for the indictment period on September 1 in the year 462. In 537, Emperor Justinian established September 1 as the official start of the year. Over time, the terms indictment, year, summer, and New indictment came to be understood as the new year or new summer.
By the 6th century, the celebration expanded beyond the traditional Vespers, Matins, and Liturgy. Hymns, proverbs, and gospel readings joined the observances, creating customs that endure today.
The Eastern Christian Church began marking September 1 as both a church and state holiday in 1492, and this day became a time to ask the Lord for blessings for the new year.
New Year’s Eve in Russia
The New Year entered church life after the Baptism of Rus in the late 10th century. For many years the civil New Year in Russia was observed on March 1, while the church year began on September 1. In 1492, the civil holiday date was fixed as September 1.
Jesuit Antonio Possevino described how Moscow celebrated the New Year in 1582: “The day was marked by general joy and various entertainments. A platform stood in the square where the Metropolitan and the Grand Duke spoke, signaling the end of the year. The metropolitan blessed the waters, sprinkled the prince and the people, and crossed the ruler and his descendants while prayers asked for long and blessed lives. The crowd cheered, celebrating with shouts of good wishes.”
Since 1700, Peter the Great decreed that the civil calendar would begin on January 1, with years counted from the Nativity of Christ. After this change, rulers ceased to participate in the New Year prayers, leaving the holiday to be observed as a church celebration.
How to celebrate the New Year
According to priest Trebukhin, contemporary New Year observances center on prayers and a festive meal. He explained that prayers mark the beginning of the new year on both the indictment day and the civil New Year. Believers thank God for the past year and seek blessing for the year ahead, asking for divine help and protection from temptations.
There are no strict dietary restrictions on the day. If the holiday coincides with a fasting period, the faithful observe the fast. The festive meal remains a central part of the celebration, without other special rites on this occasion.