New Year and Charity: Traditions and Innovations in the Socio-Cultural Dimension Introduction: the holiday as a time of solidarity The New Year, as a universal chronological landmark, not only brings to collective consciousness the themes of renewal and joy but also the idea of moral purification, reflection, and expansion of the boundaries of "one's own" community. During this period, charity transforms from a private act into a mass social ritual, intertwining archaic roots, religious prescriptions, and modern media strategies. The study of this phenomenon allows us to understand how festive culture constructs and sustains models of prosocial behavior. I. Historical-Cultural Traditions: From Alms to Systematic Assistance The tradition of paying attention to the destitute during winter holidays has deep, often pre-Christian roots. In Roman Saturnalia and Slavic Kolyadki, through rituals of disguise and caroling, social boundaries were temporarily erased, and the distribution of food and small coins to the poor was considered an action ensuring prosperity for the giver in the coming year. With the establishment of Christianity, this practice received theological justification. The Advent fast and the Christmas celebration, preceding the New Year in many cultures, emphasized the values of mercy and assistance to one's neighbor. By the end of the 19th century in the Russian Empire, charitable "poor Christmas trees," distribution of "Christmas baskets," and festive meals had become a noticeable public phenomenon, often organized by merchant guilds and noble assemblies. An interesting fact: in 1897, in Moscow, on the initiative of the Poor Relief Board, 135 such public Christmas trees were organized, gathering up to 50 thousand children from the lower classes, which contributed to the democratization of the holiday itself. The Soviet era, having abolished Christmas, transferred part of the charitable practices to the New Year in the format of state social assistan ... Read more