December 20, 1699 issued a decree of Peter I to move the New Year celebrations in Russia with a cross

[Santa]

20 December 1699 issued a decree of Peter I to move the New Year celebrations in Russia from September 1 to January 1


December 20, 1699 the Russian Tsar Peter I signed a decree on Russia's transition to a new chronology and the transfer of the celebration of the beginning of the year from September 1 to January 1.

Peter ordered a decree January 1, 1700 to decorate the house pine , spruce and juniper branches for samples exposed in the arcade as a sign of joy sure to congratulate each other on New Year and century.

On Red Square, was organized fireworks, cannon salutes and musket , and Muscovites were ordered to fire their muskets and lobbing rockets near their homes.

January 6 celebrations ended in a procession to the Jordan . Contrary to ancient custom , the king did not go for the clergy in rich robes , and stood on the bank of the Moskva River in the uniform of the Preobrazhensky and surrounded by Semenov regiment , dressed in green coats and jackets with gold buttons and braid .

Boyars and the serving people were told to dress in European costume - Hungarian coats . Both women were to be well dressed in alien dress.