Novy God (Russian New Year)
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Novy God, celebrated on January 14 according to the Julian calendar, marks the Russian Orthodox New Year and is also known as the Old New Year. This observance arose from the 13-day difference between the Julian calendar, still used by the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Gregorian calendar adopted by Russia in 1918. Following the Bolshevik Revolution, the Soviet government switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar on February 1, 1918, effectively skipping 13 days. However, the Russian Orthodox Church continued to follow the Julian calendar for religious observances. As a result, many Russian and Eastern European families celebrate two New Years: the secular Novy God on January 1 (Gregorian) and the religious Old New Year on January 14 (Julian). The celebration, particularly cherished among Russian diaspora communities worldwide, combines traditional elements of Russian winter festivities with religious significance, featuring special meals, family gatherings, and customs that have been preserved across generations.
History
January 14 corresponds to January 1 in the Julian calendar, which was the original New Year's date in pre-revolutionary Russia. Prior to the calendar reform of Peter the Great in 1700, the Russian New Year was celebrated on September 1, following the Byzantine tradition. Peter the Great decreed that the New Year would henceforth be observed on January 1 and introduced Western European customs such as decorating trees. The October Revolution of 1917 brought further change: the Bolshevik government adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1918, advancing the date by 13 days. The Russian Orthodox Church, however, refused to abandon the Julian calendar, creating the phenomenon of two New Year celebrations. During the Soviet era, religious celebrations were suppressed, but the Old New Year persisted as a family-oriented occasion. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the tradition experienced a revival, particularly among Russian communities abroad who use it to maintain cultural connections.
How It's Celebrated
Novy God celebrations typically involve intimate family gatherings with a festive meal featuring traditional Russian dishes such as Olivier salad, herring under a fur coat, pelmeni, and champagne. Many families decorate a New Year tree, known as a yolka, and exchange gifts. The evening is often accompanied by classic Soviet New Year films such as 'The Irony of Fate' and by televised concerts. In some households, children perform songs or recite poems for relatives. The holiday is less commercial than the January 1 celebration and focuses more on family traditions and cultural continuity, particularly among Russian diaspora communities who use the occasion to pass down customs to younger generations.