- Traditional holiday
- European holiday
- New Year's table
- Festive program for tourists
- What can be seen in winter in Abkhazia
Abkhazia is famous throughout the world for its hospitality, so many tourists come here not only to relax, but also to celebrate the New Year. Separately, it should be noted that the holiday is celebrated in the country twice in accordance with local customs and European style. Arriving in the country during the celebration, you can feel the atmosphere of the unique culture that the Abkhaz have preserved to this day.
Traditional holiday
On the night of January 13-14, it is customary to celebrate the New Year according to the old calendar. The celebration of the celebration reflected the centuries-old rituals and rituals of the Abkhaz people. So, each family prepared in advance a special place called "Azhyra", which means "smithy" in translation. The owner of the house cleared the ground from branches and leveled the ground in the shape of a circle, in the center of which was buried an earthen jug filled with red wine. The drink was an important element in the ritual of the sacrifice during New Year's Eve.
After everything was ready, the senior man in the house brought a ram or a goat to "Azhyra" on the eve of the holiday and offered up a prayer to the Almighty with a request to protect his family next year. At the same time, all relatives had to remain silent, having removed their hats. Then the animal was sacrificed and the main New Year's dish was prepared from its meat.
Currently, this interesting custom has been preserved in some villages and auls, however, city dwellers rarely observe such a ritual. A small number of rituals that are popular among modern Abkhazians remained from the celebration in the old style.
European holiday
As for the celebration of the New Year according to the new calendar, Pitsunda, Sukhum, Gagra and Novy Afon become the center of mass events on the night of December 31 to January 1. Preparation begins a week before the holiday and includes decorating the streets with illumination, installing a Christmas tree, purchasing gifts for loved ones, as well as organizing entertainment shows for tourists.
Abkhazians are anxious about decorating their home, believing that the house must be cozy and clean. To this end, housewives throw away old and unnecessary furniture that is symbolized with the past. White snowflakes carved by children appear on the windows. The living room has a special place for the forest beauty, which became popular in the country only in the second half of the 20th century. Wreaths made of laurel branches, which is a sacred plant in Abkhazia, are hung on the doors of the rooms.
On January 1, people go out into the street, congratulate each other with strong hugs and wish a prosperous life, health, and happiness in the coming year.
New Year's table
Abkhazian cuisine is distinguished by its originality, exquisite taste and the use of various spices in the preparation process. The recipe is passed down from generation to generation, which allows visitors to appreciate the New Year's menu at its true worth. On the table of every Abkhaz family, there must be:
- hominy (cornmeal porridge with nuts, smoked meats and vegetables);
- chureks (small sweet cakes with honey);
- achashv (pie stuffed with cheese);
- lamb or beef kebab;
- chicken stewed in nut sauce;
- amguachapa (boiled liver with herbs);
- lzhtsaa dzny (smoked meat);
- akudchapa (fried beans with vegetables);
- abaklazanchapa (eggplant stuffed with meat).
As alcoholic drinks, the inhabitants of Abkhazia prefer to use homemade wines or chacha, which is a strong vodka infused with honey. New Year's toasts are a separate part of the festive ritual with a long history. The first toast at the table is considered the most important, as it is said by the head of the family.
Top 10 dishes of Abkhaz cuisine
Festive program for tourists
The flow of visitors to the country is increasing every year due to the fact that the tourist infrastructure is actively developing, and the cost of vouchers is very democratic. Before the New Year holidays, many travel agencies offer their clients to visit the best resort areas of Abkhazia.
In any major city in the country, you will find for yourself the best option for meeting the winter celebration. The entertainment program usually consists of:
- New Year's performance for children and adults with the participation of the best creative teams;
- evenings in a restaurant with tasting of national cuisine;
- colorful fireworks on New Year's Eve;
- holding exciting competitions with the presentation of gifts;
- a festive concert;
- mass festivities in squares and streets.
For the children's audience, matinees are provided, at which the Abkhaz Father Frost (Atsaa Babadu) dresses in a traditional costume and gives gifts to every child who comes to the holiday. The Snow Maiden is played by a beautiful young girl dressed in a blue fur coat with white fur.
What can be seen in winter in Abkhazia
The territory of the country is not very large, so you can move from one city to another in a rented car or use the services of professional guides. It is worth starting your New Year's journey with Sukhumi, where an amazing botanical garden and a monkey nursery are located. The capital also has perfectly preserved architectural monuments in the form of cathedrals, churches and ancient estates.
Fans of picturesque landscapes are advised to go on an excursion to Gagra to see the famous cascade of waterfalls, the cave of St. Evpatiy, the Zhoekvarskoe gorge and climb the observation deck of Mount Mamzishkha.
Do not forget to get to Pitsunda, near which the famous Ritsa Lake is spread, enchanting with its pristine beauty. Be sure to visit the temple, built in the 6th century according to all the canons of medieval architecture.
At the end of your trip, it is worth stopping by the souvenir shops that sell handicrafts made of leather, silver, stone and clay on New Year's holidays.
As a result, we note that New Year's Abkhazia will leave behind a maximum of positive impressions, and you will return to this amazing country more than once to celebrate the holiday in a cozy and friendly atmosphere.
However, the quality of rest often depends on the successful choice of the hotel. It is better to take care of this in advance and choose the best accommodation option in terms of comfort, proximity to the beaches and price.
