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New Year’s Tradition in Georgia. The tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve is diverse in Georgia. Every part of the country celebrates this celebration in their traditional way. Locals want to have magical New Year, so they start to prepare everything for New Year’s Eve two months earlier. From Atlanta to Helen, cities and towns around the state have put their own spin on the popular New Year’s Eve tradition, creating some unique holiday celebrations that speak to the character of the community. The most important tradition of a New Year in Georgia is Mekvleoba and Mekvle – a Georgian word for the very first person, very first guest entering the family on a New Year’s night. There are numerous traditions of how to greet Mekvle – there are even special poems, songs and behavior of greeting. There are two main New Year traditions that Georgians have been following to the present day. Mekvleoba is a Georgian tradition about the first person who enters the house on New Year’s Day. Mekvle is a Georgian name for the first guest of the day. focus on New Year’s Day and its following Bedoba, the day of luck. What you do on this day, Bedoba, January 2nd, will determine how you will fare for the rest of the year. “Bring as many bulls, cows and piglets to me as here are sparks” - Past and Present Traditions. New Year's Eve is always sparkling with joy, excitement, and fireworks, and Georgia is no exception. Many people rejoice in anticipation of the new year on December 31st , with the Christmas tree aglow, gifts arranged under it, and Santa Claus (Tovlis Babua) paying a secret visit. Old New Year is especially popular in Guria region, the western part of Georgia. Here, this celebration is called Kalanda and is even more important than the traditional New Year marked on January 1st. After a brief absence last year, the Peach Drop is promising a jam-packed lineup to ring in the new year at Underground Atlanta. Traditionally, the event has drawn crowds between 65,000 and Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds: If you want to head further north, the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee will host a “Ring in the New Year” celebration. They will have food trucks and Georgia's Possum Drop is a Tallapoosa tradition gaining attention on a national level, even ranking among the best ways to celebrate the new year. 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. Orthodox New Year (January 14) Orthodox New Year or ‘Old New Year’ falls a week after Orthodox Christmas. It is not an official holiday in Georgia and although it’s celebrated with a smaller fireworks display and family dinners the night before on January 13, it’s nowhere near as popular as December 31. Orthodox Epiphany (January 19) January 1, the official first day of the New Year, is believed to be the most celebrated day around the globe. In celebrating the birth of a new year, we are also celebrating new life and hope, and what better way to do so than with food! The Peach Drop is an annual New Year’s Eve celebration held in Atlanta, Georgia, involving the lowering of a giant peach to commemorate the arrival of the new year. What Is A Popular Food Tradition In Georgia? Peaches are a significant food tradition in Georgia. New Year in Georgia is celebrated with a supra feast, eloquent toasts and fireworks shows. Superstitions such as the first guest bringing luck into one’s home and a January 2 celebration known as Bedoba, or the Day of Luck, also play heavily into Georgian New Year traditions. Find out more about how the New Year is celebrated in Georgia, what events take place in early January and how the Old New Year is celebrated. All about traditions and preparations for the holiday in January. Yes, we are talking about 2 New Years in 1 Year. January 1st is one of them of course, and just after two weeks, when you are still in the mood of New Year and want to celebrate we have Old New Year (January 14th). According to the Julian calendar, the true New Year falls on this date. Georgia, with its unique blend of tradition and winter magic, beckons travelers to embrace the New Year in Georgia in a setting that feels both ancient and refreshingly new. Here are the top 8 cities to celebrate New Year in Georgia: In Zemo (Upper) Ajara, New Year is celebrated in an especially interesting way. They boil corn on New Year to symbolise abundance and a good harvest. The feast itself is full of delicious kharcho, dolma, borano, sinori, and cookies made with honey and walnuts. The Tradition of Bedoba and the Mekvle. January 2nd is a magical day for Georgians All around the world, people celebrate the New Year differently. As the New Year is just around the corner, I will share with you how the Georgians celebrate it and which traditions are connected with it. If you read my articles, you already know that Georgia is a country of wine, famous for its national cuisine and full of interesting stories and traditions. So, let’s explore one more side
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