January 14 is the New Year Day in two cultures entirely different from each other. While it is the Russian Old New Year (as per the Eastern Orthodox Church), the Tamils also celebrate the beginning of the New Year on 14th January.
Old Russian New Year
The Old New Year or the Orthodox New Year is an informal Slavic Orthodox tradition. People in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia celebrate the beginning of the New Year as per the Julian calendar. In the 21st century, the Old New Year falls on January 14. Some of the Russian New Year customs are fortune-telling and carol-singing (as a part of end of the Christmas season).
Tamil New Year Day
Puthandu, the Tamil New Year, is celebrated on January 14 in India, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The Tamils do not follow the Hindu solar calendar, which considers Nirayanam vernal equinox (April 14 of the Common Calendar) as the first day of the New Year. The Tamil New Year celebrations coincide with the harvest festival of Pongal and birth anniversary of Thiru Valluvar (famous Tamil poet).
Tamil New Year Traditions
- Cultural and sporting events (martial arts and catching wild bulls), special prayers
- Homes are decorated with Kolam (use of colors to create pictures on the ground)
- Eating sugarcane
- Wearing new clothes
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