Novy God (Russian: Новый Год) is the Russian phrase for "New Year", and also designates the Russian New Year's Eve and New Years' Day celebration.
The Holiday Novy God is celebrated in Russia since 1937. Until then, the communist government banned celebrate religious holidays like Christmas. You could say that this is a secular holiday that people of all religions can celebrate it if they want.
In Novy God, the Russians use symbols similar to those of Christians on Christmas like a Christmas tree (Yolka) and Santa Claus (Grandfather Frost), but there are differences:
Yolka (Christmas tree)
The roots of the custom of placing a Christmas tree planted in pagan custom of placing a tree, symbolizing life, at the height of winter. Ancient mosaic discovered in Tunisia, it seems Dionysus, Greek god of wine, holding a fir tree branch as a symbol of life. Christianity appropriated the evergreen tree, a symbol of eternity of Christ.
Grandfather Frost (Santa Claus)
In Christianity, Santa Claus is a fictional character that comes in red dress from Lapland, Finland, with reindeer-drawn sleigh to distribute presents to all children. Grandfather's role is educational because the gifts he brings the good kids.
Russian version of Santa Claus is Ded Moroz (Grandfather frost in Russian translation). Ded Moroz's roots traced back to pagan beliefs. Also distributes gifts to children, but comes home not a sleigh, but on the troika (three horse-drawn carriage), The differences are evident in the clothes. Ded Moroz wears a long fur coat, fur hat round and tall boots and holding a magic wand. Determined that the coat color of Ded Moroz will not be red to differentiate it from Santa Claus west. Stalin, for example, ordered that "Grandfather Frost" wear only blue coat. However, the Russians are not careful about this, and often can be seen Ded Moroz in red but it does not come from desire to get close to Christianity.
Ded Moroz comes together with his granddaughter promenade "Snegurochka". According to one legend, Snegurochka is the daughter of spring and frost has atrract to humans. She does not know love, because her heart is frozen . Her mother feels sorry for her and gives her the ability to love, but then her heart heats up and melts. According to another legend, a lonely elderly couple made a snow girl and animated her.
Customs of the holiday are:
A costume party for children
Gifts giving
Placing Yolka (spruce, pine or spruce)
Holiday meal and hospitality
Drinking champagne
