Anastasia Pirosmanashvili – New Year in Georgia

On New Year in Georgia, the government decorates the city with lights and puts a Christmas tree in the middle of the city for all the people to enjoy. From 20 December to 14 January there are concerts held for the public on Orbelianis square. In Georgia, Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January.

Some of the Georgian Traditions

Friends and families gather together and spend the evening of 31 December together. Women and girls prepare Georgian traditional dishes. The main dish for the Christmas table is  ,,გოზინაყი’ and the main drink is Georgian wine. The most important thing for them is that they gather together with their loved ones, spend time together and remember the past. On January 2th it is ბედობა so everyone tries to spend their day happily, successfully and joyfully, because people believe that as you spend this day, you will spend the rest of the year. This is a centuries-old tradition.

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For New Year everyone buys a Christmas tree or “ჩიჩილაკი” which is the Georgian traditional Christmas tree made of wood. Under the Christmas tree people put a place for each other. Kids believe that their presents are bought by Santa Claus. When it is past midnight, they open their presents. One of the family members enters their neighbor’s house with sweets in his hand and that person is called “მეკვლე’’. Some people believe that if their “მეკვლე’’ is a lucky and good person they are going to have a good year. On Christmas Day, many people will go on an ‘Allio’ which is a parade through the streets. They are dressed in special clothes and costumes to celebrate Christmas. Some people carry Georgian flags and some people like to sing while they are walking in the parade. Children like taking part in the Allio as they are often given sweets!

Author: Anastasia Pirosmanashvili