Festivals and celebrationsEuropeChristianHindu
Old New Year
In its own language: Старый Новый год (Russian), Стара Нова година (Macedonian), Српска Нова година (Serbian), Hen Galan (Welsh)
An informal holiday marking the start of the Julian calendar year, celebrated on 14 January in the Gregorian calendar.
The Old New Year is a traditional observance for communities that follow the Julian calendar. It falls on 14 January in the modern Gregorian system. People celebrate with family meals, music, and specific local customs across Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
When is Old New Year kept?
Old New Year is kept on 14 January in the Gregorian calendar.
The Old New Year marks the beginning of the year according to the Julian calendar. While most of the world celebrates on 1 January, this tradition keeps the older date alive. Communities in Eastern Europe and the Middle East observe it with distinct local customs, food, and gatherings.
What it is
This holiday serves as the first day of the Julian year. In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, it consistently lands on 14 January in the Gregorian calendar. The name often includes 'Orthodox' because many Eastern European governments historically used the Julian system before switching. However, the liturgical year for the Eastern Orthodox Church actually begins in September. The term is also used in the Middle East by Alawites and Christians, who call it Ra's as-Sanah or Ras el-Seni.
How it is kept
Celebrations vary significantly by region. In North Macedonia, people gather outside for bonfires and eat pita containing a coin for luck. Russia observes it as a nostalgic family holiday with large meals and singing, following the main New Year festivities. In Serbia, it is known as the Serbian New Year, featuring concerts and fireworks from the Church of Saint Sava. Wales marks it as Hen Galan with children singing for sweets, while Scotland preserves it through events like the Burning of the Clavie in Burghead.
Food and drink
Shared meals are central to the observance. Macedonians bake homemade pita with a hidden coin inside; finding it promises good fortune for the coming year. Russian families enjoy elaborate dinners that blend secular New Year traditions with Orthodox Christmas customs. In Wales, households traditionally give food to visiting children, though sweets and money are common today. These foods anchor the community spirit and provide comfort during the winter season.
Global reach
The tradition extends beyond its core regions. Serbs in Bosnia, Montenegro, and Croatia keep the custom alive. Diaspora communities in Australia, Canada, and the United States celebrate it, particularly those connected to the Macedonian Orthodox Church. Other areas include Palestine, Jordan, Armenia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Switzerland. Berber communities in North Africa also mark a similar date based on their own calendar calculations.
How Old New Year is kept
Communities gather for evening celebrations that differ by location. Macedonians light bonfires and share pita with coins. Russians hold family dinners with singing and drinking. Serbs attend church services and public concerts. Welsh children sing door-to-door for treats. Scots perform rituals like burning tar barrels. These acts reinforce community bonds and honor ancestral calendar systems.
When and where
It occurs annually on 14 January in the Gregorian calendar. This date results from the difference between the Julian and Gregorian systems established in the sixteenth century. The specific day shifts slightly over long historical periods but remains fixed in the modern era.
It is strongest in Russia, North Macedonia, and Serbia. It is also observed in Wales, Scotland, and parts of the Middle East. Diaspora communities in North America and Australia maintain these practices. Smaller observances exist in Central Asia and North Africa.
What Old New Year means
The holiday represents continuity with the past. It allows communities to honor their historical calendar systems. The shared meals and gifts symbolize prosperity and good luck. Finding the coin in the bread is believed to bring fortune. The dual celebration of two New Years reflects a blend of secular joy and religious tradition.
Questions people ask about Old New Year
When is Old New Year kept?
Old New Year is kept on 14 January in the Gregorian calendar.
What is the Old New Year?
It is an informal holiday marking the start of the Julian calendar year. It falls on 14 January in the Gregorian calendar. Many Eastern European and Middle Eastern communities celebrate it alongside the standard New Year.
Where is it kept?
It is celebrated in Russia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Wales, and Scotland. It is also observed in the Middle East, parts of Central Asia, and among diaspora communities in North America and Australia.
See also
MummingA medieval European custom of masked house-to-house visits, performances and seasonal revelry.
April Fools' DayAn annual day of lighthearted pranks, hoaxes and teasing kept on the first of AprilPunkie NightA Somerset Halloween custom where children carry mangelwurzel lanterns and sing for candles.
MaslenitsaA seven-day Eastern Slavic festival of pancakes and bonfires marking the end of winter before Lent.Good reading and sources
- Hen Galan: Welsh village celebrates New Year on 13 JanuaryBBC, Article
- Gwaun Valley children mark old New YearBBC, Article
- Hen Galan: Welsh village celebrates New Year on 13 JanuaryBBC, Article
- Gwaun Valley children mark old New YearBBC, Article
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Old New Year", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryParampara rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.
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