We celebrate the New Year in Georgia with the Georgian Santa Claus - Tovlis Babua or snow grandfather.

Meet New Year in Georgia it is accepted so that luck accompanies the whole next year – fun and noisy.

The main character of the holiday is Tovlis Babua, the snow grandfather. In the eastern part of Georgia, it is called Tovlis Papa. He hails from the village of Ushguli, in Svaneti, so he wears a Svan hat and a white burka. Tovlis Babua carries a bag of sweets decorated with decorative bells – khurjini over his shoulder. Only here he walks alone, he does not have a granddaughter of the Snow Maiden.

They are preparing for the meeting of the Ahali Goal (New Year) in advance. The house should be in perfect order, you need to throw out all unnecessary old things.

One of the Georgian traditional ornaments is chichilaki (beard of St. Basil), a kind of Georgian Christmas tree. For its manufacture, hazel branches are taken. From the bottom up, the branch is divided into thin strips, resulting in lush curls or curls that resemble a beard.

Chichilaki is decorated with sweets and berries, put on the New Year's table, closer to the same sweets. When the New Year festivities come to an end, the chichilaks burn and scatter the ashes to the wind. It is believed that the troubles of the past year fly away with the ashes.

On New Year's Eve, the drinking song "Mravalzhamier" traditionally sounds, the audience congratulates each other, wishes each other health and prosperity, gives gifts.

For a long time in Georgia there has been a tradition of the first New Year's guest or the cult of mekvle. It is generally believed that mekvle gives happiness, prosperity or, conversely, failure to the house. Therefore, the first guest is carefully chosen, it should be a respected, successful person.

Previously, on New Year's Eve, the doors of the dwelling were left open so that happiness could enter the house. And you can't sleep all night, so as not to miss your happiness.

New Year's holidays do not end on January 1. By tradition, on January 2, the Day of Destiny (Bedoba) is celebrated. On this day, it is determined how the coming year will develop.

It is customary to dress in everything only new and beautiful. You need to devote the day to fun among family and friends.

In the Georgian capital, preparations for the New Year's Eve begin with the onset of December. Streets and squares are decorated with garlands. A large Christmas tree is being installed on Rustaveli Avenue.

Old Tbilisi, New Tiflis and Freedom Square look very bright and festive. There are New Year's markets where you can buy original jewelry, souvenirs and gifts.

Tbilisi is waiting for guests for the holidays and he welcomes them cordially. On New Year's Eve, festivities take place in squares and streets of the city. In Georgia, it is customary to celebrate the New Year in a big cheerful company. You will definitely find such a company in the center of the capital. People gather and celebrate the New Year with songs, incendiary dances, fireworks.

Well, if you like a more relaxed, intimate atmosphere, you can celebrate the New Year in one of the restaurants that offer entertainment programs, games and contests for their guests. It won't be boring!

There is a huge selection of entertainment for tourists in Tbilisi. New Year's excursions are held to the most famous places of the capital – the Peace Bridge, the famous sulfur baths, Mtatsminda Mountain and its amusement park, Narikala Fortress, etc.

You can go to Kakheti – admire the Alazani Valley, taste Georgian wines and national dishes, walk around the city of love Sighnaghi.

Mtskheta, the first capital of Georgia, the ancient Svetitskhoveli Temple and the Jvari Monastery are also located not far from Tbilisi.

Many of us in the cold winter tend to go to warmer climes. Do you want to celebrate the New Year surrounded by palm trees and cypresses? Come to Batumi.

The capital of Adjara, like any other major city, begins to prepare for the New Year long before the holiday. There are many festive lights and garlands. It looks unusual against the background of the greenery of trees and the diversity of flowering plants.

New Year's Eve in Batumi is noisy and fun. A gala concert and many other entertainment events are taking place on Europe Square. Delicious national dishes are prepared in cafes and restaurants.

On New Year 's Eve traditional table in Adjara there must be local dishes: achma and baklava. The symbol of abundance here is grain. Therefore, it is scattered in the corners of the house, bowls of grain are placed on the festive table.

The city is located on the seashore, which gives an additional charm to New Year's Eve. Take a walk along the Marine Boulevard. Waves splash, multicolored lights of garlands and fireworks are reflected in the sea surface. Snow-capped mountain peaks are also visible from here.

If you love the sea and noisy companies, Batumi will be an ideal place for you to celebrate the New Year.

There are many interesting museums, monuments, ancient temples that you can visit during the New Year holidays.

If a New Year without snow is not a New Year for you, you are attracted by a quiet cozy atmosphere against the background of amazing nature, choose the Goderdzi ski resort near Batumi (100 km). This is the most snow resort of Georgia. Festively decorated ski trails add to the attractiveness of this place.

Snowy mountains from a fabulous picture will come to life, and you can not only admire them, but also ski on the mountain slopes. And what else do you need on New Year's Eve? Lots of snow, good company and picturesque landscapes. Nature will be the decoration of New Year's Eve.

Goderzi will give you a feeling of home comfort in a pleasant atmosphere, which will accompany the guests of Georgia throughout the new year. This is one of the most amazing places for the main holiday of the year among close friends and family!

A festive event awaits you in the guest houses Georgian feast, plentiful and varied, with wines from local grape varieties: Aladasturi, Chkhaveri, Tsolikauri, etc.

In order for the rest to be diverse and memorable for a long time, you can combine the seaside and a ski resort.

You can spend New Year's Eve on the slopes of the Borjomi Gorge, skiing and sledding. And the New Year's meeting at the top of Kohta Mountain (2200 m), which means "Beautiful", will definitely be unforgettable.

Active recreation is replaced by traditional feasts, where dishes of national cuisine are combined with Georgian wines. It can be in a hospitable family or by the fireplace in a guest house. In any case, the rest will be pleasant.

The convenient location of the resort, proximity to Tbilisi and Borjomi makes Bakuriani very attractive for family holidays during the short New Year holidays.

Children like it here. They are happy to ride ice sleds, skis, tubing. Festive entertainment programs and contests are being prepared for them in hotels. The whole family can take a train ride along the famous Borjomi narrow-gauge railway.

Svaneti is the birthplace of Tovlis Babua. Therefore, tourists willingly come here for the New Year holidays.

The region also has its own New Year traditions. For example, residents of Svaneti in the last days of December stop visiting each other. And on the night of December 31st to January 1st, a basket with the best treats for mekvle is hung on the front door.

Small Mestia village in Zemo Svaneti, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and gorges of amazing beauty, it is considered the tourist center of the region. If you love mountains and snow, Mestia is a wonderful place to celebrate the New Year.

It's not as noisy here as in big cities. Houses and hotels are illuminated with garlands. Against the background of mountains and snow, it looks like a Christmas card. The old Svan towers and houses will add magic.

Surrounded by high mountains, Mestia is beautiful not only on New Year's Eve, but also during the winter holidays. Locals celebrate the celebration at a concert, which is held annually on the central stage of the city. An excellent advantage of a holiday here will be the low cost of entertainment and accommodation, because this wonderful resort is not yet very popular among foreigners.

New Year's holidays are a great time to get acquainted with beautiful Georgia and its customs. Whichever city or resort you choose, you will find welcoming hosts, fun and joy everywhere. A charge of vivacity after such a rest is guaranteed to you!

Book your accommodation in advance, because there are always a lot of guests in Georgia. If you choose a private house or apartment, pay attention to the heating system.

Winter in Georgia there are no severe frosts, but it can be windy and damp. Keep this in mind when packing for the road.

Have a good rest and a Happy New Year!