What to Start on Old New Year's Day, or "Vasilev Evening": Rituals of Initiation and Year Programming The period of Old New Year, centered around Vasilev Evening (January 13), was perceived in folk tradition not just as the continuation of holidays, but as a key chronological "window" — a time when a person's actions have a special power to influence the future. This was a moment of conscious programming of reality for the next year through a system of rituals that had both practical and deeply symbolic significance. "Starting" on this day should not be abstract tasks, but specific practices that laid the matrix of well-being. 1. Domestic and household initiations: "launching" abundance. The basis of many rituals was the principle of "as the beginning, so the continuation." Therefore, it was necessary to start with actions that modeled the desired outcome. Start the financial year and accounting for wealth. Vasilev Evening was the time for final calculations, distribution of debts, and the beginning of a new economic cycle. It was forbidden to enter the new year with debts or deceit — this programmed poverty. It was important to put a large banknote (gold coin) into the wallet or a special place — "for attracting" money throughout the year. This was a prototype of modern financial planning and forming a "financial cushion". Start "work" with grain — a symbol of life. The ritual of "sowing" (scattering) grain around the house, which the boys ("sowers") performed, was not just a greeting. It was a magical action of "sowing" the future harvest and prosperity. The housewife had to cook "Vasilev's porridge" from new grain before dawn. The process of her preparation and the result (a full pot, fluffy porridge) served as a diagnosis and program: good porridge meant a happy year, and it was eaten, "starting" the year with success. Start the meal with ritual dishes. The first dish to try at the festive dinner was "rich kutya." It was eaten at the beginning, "starting" the ye ... Read more