New Year traditions in Georgia: Decorations, dishes and signs for every home

How to decorate houses and streets in Georgia

In Georgian cities on New Year's Eve, the streets are illuminated not just with illuminations and garlands. Absolutely all decorations have christian messages and symbols. These include palm branches on the doors of houses, glowing figurines of angels and stars of Bethlehem. All this symbolizes the peace and happiness that will accompany next year.

Another amazing Georgian decoration – chichilaki. In addition to installing a standard Christmas tree, another New Year tree is necessarily being built here. To do this , they cut out with their own hands from walnut branches the trunk of the future tree, clean it and remove the chips, collecting it at the ends of the branch. Thus it turns out curly tree, which is necessarily dressed up with sweets, fruits and berries.

On New Year's Eve, treats are always left next to chichilaki, and after the holidays, his they burn and scatter the ashes, thereby getting rid of everything bad and protecting yourself from troubles and adversities for the future.

The cult of mekvle for Georgians

Every Georgian will be happy to tell you who mekvle is. This is a special guest who is the first to enter the house in the new year. If a person's leg is “light”, then he will bring happiness. It is for this reason that Georgians invite lucky acquaintances to visit mekvle, who will definitely bring prosperity.

If you are invited as a mekvle, in no case should you refuse – this will bring trouble on yourself. It is better to arm yourself with sweets, fruits, sweets and other gifts and show up at the appointed time to wish the hosts well and peace.

New Year's Eve in Georgia

On New Year's Eve, fireworks and fireworks do not stop in Georgia, songs sound everywhere, and people dance and rejoice everywhere.

Georgian Santa Claus Tovlis Babua, originally from the mountainous Svaneti, gives souvenirs and sweets to children and adults. He looks like a highlander in a white robe and a Svan papanaki hat, a dagger usually hangs on his belt, like any self-respecting Georgian.

Gifts from Tovlis Babua (or, as he is also called, Tovlis Papa) are stored in khurjini. This is a bag with bells filled with churchkhela, gozinaks, chiri and other sweets. Nobody helps the Georgian Santa Claus to please the residents – he does not have any granddaughters and assistants.

A national song is heard at the table Mravalzhamier, characteristic just for this holiday. Georgian polyphony and the performance of this song is considered mandatory, again, for the glory of peace and prosperity for the entire people of the country. It is sung not only at family feasts, but also in churches, on the streets and official events. This is a peculiar the anthem of the New Year in Georgia.

As for the wine, it, as always, flows like a river. But there is also a New Year's custom here–ganshvavebuli. For this purpose, non-standard glasses and special toasts are used, to which Georgians pay great attention. This is not just a toast, but a whole beautiful legend with its own meaning and message.

Georgian New Year signs

Georgians are very superstitious and therefore try to adhere to all the traditions and customs that have been formed for thousands of years and passed from mouth to mouth, from generation to generation.

Among the highlights are the following:

• lock the door on New Year's Eve – happiness will not be able to get into the house;
• which person will be the first to enter the house – this will be the year;
• to fall asleep on New Year's Eve is to lose your mind;
• every shot after midnight and before dawn kills an evil spirit;
• on New Year's Day, do not borrow anything – you will give your own well-being;
• do not bring bitter products into the house – the year will be bitter;
• go around the house three times with sweets and treats – so the angel will bring happiness and well-being.

In general, different regions of Georgia have their own signs and customs, which can be read in a separate article in the Madloba catalog. If you happened to celebrate the main holiday of the year among Georgians, tell us about it in the comments, share with our readers what New Year's rites you saw with your own eyes.