- Traditional New Year in Israel
- As noted by Rosh Hashanah
- Tu B'Shvat or New Year of Trees
- European New Year
- Public events
Israel is a country dominated by Judaism, so the dates of almost all holidays are strikingly different from secular ones. This also applies to the New Year in Israel. The holiday is celebrated in the country three times, including a European-style celebration on the night of December 31 to January 1.
Traditional New Year in Israel
In accordance with the chronology of the Jews, which does not coincide with the calendar of most countries, the main holiday of Israel is Rosh Hashanah. The phrase is translated from Hebrew as "head of the year", and the holiday itself falls on the autumn new moon. The dates for the Israeli New Year may vary, depending on the lunar cycles.
For the inhabitants of the country, Rosh Hashanah has a symbolic meaning, since it was during this period, according to popular legend, that all the deities gather in the sky and decide the further fate of each person. In order to appease the gods, the Jews on the days of the holiday pray earnestly and ask the heavenly powers to release them from all sins committed during the past year.
As noted by Rosh Hashanah
The celebration is more of a religious nature, so in most families it takes place in a relaxed atmosphere. Israeli housewives prepare national dishes, each of which has a special meaning. The menu without fail includes: challah with honey (pieces of bread in honey syrup); a variety of vegetables and fruits; boiled and baked fish; lamb head.
The New Year's table cannot be called plentiful, but the Israelis deliberately use a certain set of foods. So, slices of bread with honey are a symbol of a sweet life and well-being, carrot circles are associated with money, pomegranate seeds help soften an evil heart, and eating fish brings happiness and health to the house. It should be noted separately that it is strictly forbidden to put bitter or salty dishes on the New Year's table. Otherwise, life next year will be difficult and full of trials.
As for traditions and rituals, it is customary to say greetings to each other on a holiday, as well as wish your neighbor that his name would be written in the great Book of Life. After two days of celebrations, called yom-ha-arichta, the Israelites perform a special rite of tashlik, the purpose of which is to purify from all sins.
Tu B'Shvat or New Year of Trees
The second symbolic holiday dedicated to the revival of a new life is celebrated during the arrival of the month of Shevat (January-February). As a rule, on the 15th of this month, the Israelis begin to celebrate Tu B'Shvat, the day when the maximum rainfall falls and the trees begin to bear fruit with renewed vigor.
In ancient times, the holiday played a significant role in the economic activities of the Israelites and meant a change in the life cycles of trees. Today Tu B'Shvat is not celebrated on the same scale as before. Many traditions have gone into the distant past, but some of them have survived to this day. For example, during a festival, all the Israelites gather together and plant trees, singing their beauty and power. This rite is performed twice in order to make the coming year more fruitful.
The feast on the day of the holiday consists of 7 fruits grown on a large scale in Israel. The list is always fixed and includes: wheat; dates; grenades; olives; figs; grape; barley.
Since ancient times, there is a belief in the country, according to which it is necessary to eat one part of each fruit crop. If the ritual is performed during the Tu B'Shvat period, then the person will have good luck and prosperity in the next year.
European New Year
The New Year, which is customary for most people, is celebrated in the country by representatives of the Russian diaspora, residents of the CIS countries and all Christians living in Israel. At the same time, the Israelis respect the tradition of celebrating the European New Year, therefore, entertainment events are organized in many places not only for local residents, but also for tourists. An integral part of the holiday is the address of the President of the Russian Federation, which is broadcast on New Year's Eve on the main Israeli TV channels.
The atmosphere of the New Year soars in such large cities of the country as Eilat, Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, Netanya, etc. This is expressed in the fact that decorated spruces (araucaria) appear in the central squares, shop windows are illuminated, on the streets you can see New Year's fairs, where you can buy the necessary attributes of the European New Year.
Celebrating the New Year for the people of the post-Soviet space is inextricably linked with Russian national cuisine. Therefore, products appear in supermarkets in Israel, which are an important component of the New Year's menu.
Public events
Considering the importance of the celebration for the Russian people, the management of restaurants and clubs are trying to diversify the New Year's program as much as possible. On New Year's Eve, masquerade balls, dance shows with the participation of the country's best acting teams are held, and excursion tours to the sights of Israel are offered.
Among the Russian population celebrating the New Year, the following events are most popular:
- visiting bars where you can listen to Russian music and taste dishes of national cuisine;
- matinees, at which the children's audience meets their favorite fairy-tale characters, Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden;
- a trip to Ein Bokek, famous for its health resorts and favorable climate in winter;
- excursions to pilgrimage sites (the tomb of the Mother of God, the Mount of Olives, the tomb of King David, the Olive Convent, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, etc.);
- tours to the agricultural communes of Israel (kibbutzim), where everyone has a unique opportunity to get to know more about the peculiarities of the life of the indigenous population.
In general, the New Year according to the European calendar is celebrated in the country on a very large scale, and Christians feel quite comfortable. First of all, this is expressed in the tolerant attitude of the people of Israel towards representatives of other cultures and religions.
