In Russia, since the introduction of Christianity, the chronology began either from March or from the day of Holy Easter. In 1492 the Grand Duke John III approved the decision of the Moscow Cathedral to be considered for the beginning of the year on September 1. In addition, it is important to say that up to 1700, Russia was counting the years "from the creation of the world." But this went on for a relatively short time. Russia began to establish ties with Europe and such a "time difference" was very disturbing. In 7207 (from the creation of the world, of course), Peter I in one fell swoop solved all the calendar inconveniences. Referring to the European peoples, he issued an edict to celebrate the New Year from the day of the Nativity of the God-Man and on January 1 instead of September 1. Celebrate the New Year on September 1 was simply prohibited.
On December 15, 1699, under the drumbeat, the tsarist deacon announced to the people the will of the tsar: that as a sign of a good beginning and the beginning of a new century after thanksgiving to God and prayer service in the church, it was ordered "along the big roadways, and nobles in front of the gate to make some decoration from the ancients and branches of pine, spruce and juniper. And people are meager (that is, poor) though I put on a tree or a branch over the gate. And that that has ripened to 1-st number 1700 this year; but to stand that ornament of Invari (ie January) on the 7th day of the same year. On the first day, as a sign of cheerfulness, congratulate each other on the New Year, and do it when the fiery fun begins on Red Square and the shooting will be. " The decree recommended, if possible, everyone in their yards from small cannons or small rifles "to shoot three times and release several missiles." From the 1st to the 7th of January, "at night lights are lit from firewood, or from brushwood, or from straw." December 31 at 12 o'clock in the morning Peter 0 went to Red Square with a torch in his hands and launched the first rocket into the sky.
It must be said that the new New Year customs took root among the Slavs quite quickly, because earlier in the day there was another festival of Christmas. And many of the old rituals-gay carnivals, rant-gardening rituals, sleigh rides, midnight fortune-telling and round dances around the tree-fit well into the ritual of the New Year. From now on, this holiday was fixed in the Russian calendar.