The main symbols of the New Year in different countries of the world
The next year 2020 has its own symbols, which may differ for different peoples and cultures. In addition, it will be a leap year, which means it will be marked by bright events. The universal symbols of the New Year are a Christmas tree, tangerines, Santa Claus with the Snow Maiden and champagne.
Symbols of the New Year in different countries
Symbols of the New Year in different countries of the world are mainly represented in the form of fairy-tale characters, such as Grandfather Frost, who is the main figure of the New Year for Russian-speaking peoples.
There are similar persons in other parts of the world:
- French Per Noel. He walks with his assistant Shaland, dressed in a traveling raincoat, punishes bad disobedient children with a whip, gives good children.
- Karelian Pekkaine is a young man, unlike his Russian grandfather.
- American Santa Claus. Rumor has it that this well-known character was invented by the Coca Cola company.
- The German Weinachtsman has a beard and rides a donkey.
- Czechoslovak Mikulas and Hedgehogs. The first of them looks like Russian Santa Claus, but instead of the granddaughter of the Snow Maiden, he is accompanied by a boy and an imp. Mikulas takes the presents out of his backpack.
- Italian Babbo Natape and Befana the fairy give out coals for bad children and gifts for well-mannered obedient children on the holiday.
- An English father Christmas gives the children gifts, which they have written about in advance on pieces of paper and burned.
- Finnish Joulupukki means "Christmas goat".
- Buryat Sagan Ubugun. This good-natured old man with a white beard with a rosary around his neck, walks with his mother in winter or Tugeni Anakin
- Udmurt Tol Babai and his granddaughter Lymy Nyl. These fabulous characters come from the village of Titovo, Sharkansky district.
- Tatar Kysh Babai is perceived by the Tatars more as a deity.
- The Japanese Segatsu San or god Hoteyosho is in charge of the New Year and has eyes on the back of his head.
- Swedish Yul Tomtem looks like a gnome or brownie, delivers gifts with the help of a goat.
Christmas tree and other Christmas plants
New Year or Christmas tree only in the nineteenth century became widespread in Russia, as an obligatory attribute of the New Year. Initially, back in modern times, this symbol arose in Germany. According to other sources, the symbol came to us from Egypt. Now it is everywhere put on New Year's Eve in apartments, houses, on the streets, generously decorating with toys, garlands, flashlights.
A New Year's or Christmas tree was an object of worship and personified well-being, and the process of hanging homemade toys was supposed to attract good spirits.
Historians associate the symbol of the New Year in the form of a fir tree and its appearance with the reign of Peter the Great. He issued a decree in 1700, in which he ordered the inhabitants of the state to decorate a Christmas tree for the New Year's festivities.
Poinsettia
Poinsettia - This is a tropical Mexican New Year flower with red petals, less known than a Christmas tree, an attribute of the winter holidays. In addition, the red, large, uniquely beautiful leaves of this eye-pleasing flower resemble Christmas stars. It also grows in the central part of America.
The connection with Christmas and New Year's Eve can be traced through the beautiful plant legend. A poor girl, who in the sixteenth century had nothing to buy a gift for a relative for a holiday, came up with the idea of replacing it with a poinsettia.The poor and unhappy girl from the above story picked up this "beauty" along the road, since the climate allowed the plant to grow.
Other Christmas plants
Symbols of the New Year can be seen in dwellings and other premises, the owners of which are preparing to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays.
These symbols include the following plants:
- Palm (as an alternative to the Christmas tree).
- Holly is great for decorating a door or other vertical surface. This adds fiery red berries to symbolize the longest night of the year. Popular in the UK.
- Greek symbol of pomegranate. Its fruits are used to decorate the home, the largest fruit is traditionally smashed against the wall. Then they look: if the fruits are widely scattered around the house, yard or apartment, the family will be rich.
- Australian metrosideros is a bright red, eye-catching plant.
- Brazilian Schlumbergera.
- Citrus kumquat common in tropical countries.
- American scenic mistletoe. If it is located above the head of a girl and a guy who accidentally stopped under it, they traditionally have to kiss
- Coffee branches are a Central American New Year decoration.
Another symbol of the New Year 2020
Plants symbols when celebrating New Year's celebrations may differ from country to country, family, from continent to warm or cold climate. In addition to plants, every year according to the Eastern calendar is determined by the patronage of a particular animal.
In 2020 (since February), the symbol is a mouse (in some versions - a rat). It symbolizes good luck and wealth, as well as frugality in spending money.
Since the year will not be an ordinary mouse, but a metal one, in decorating a spruce, a house, an apartment and when buying New Year's attributes, observe a light theme. You can decorate yourself and your home with silver and metal toys. In extreme cases, at least things with a shiny gray surface. Sparkling gift wrapping paper for surprises is best.
Dress smartly, brightly, but not too flashy. After all, a silvery metallic color does not mean a shine that overshadows the eyes, which is more to the liking of a magpie, a raven, and not a noble mouse.
As for horoscopic predictions, for the new year of the mouse, they promise everyone more profit than loss. This favorable forecast is characteristic to one degree or another for every person, no matter what sign of the zodiac he is.
And I always wondered why so many poinsettia flowers are sold in our shops before the New Year. That's what it turned out to be!