New year/ ახალი წელი
In Georgia there are traditionally two New Year celebrations: the Gregorian New Year and the Julian New Year called the Old New Year.
Like majority of the world, Georgians celebrate new year on the 1st, however orthodox Georgians also celebrate the Old new year on Jan. 14th. The New year is marked by a tradition of the first footer (MEKVLEOBA). “MEKVLE“ – the first person to enter a home in the coming year is considered significant for the family’s luck in the coming year. Before entering the house Mekvle should say “I come and bring you joy, happiness, health, goodness and well-being.” If the year has gone well, the same person may continue as the Mekvle for the next year. However, if there have been challenges or unfortunate events, such as the passing away of a family member, a new Mekvle must be chosen for the upcoming year.
New Year – Food
Satsivi is a traditional Georgian dish known for its rich and flavorful walnut sauce. It is often served with poultry, especially during special occasions and holidays like Christmas and New Year. The most common meat paired with satsivi is turkey, although chicken can also be used.
Gozinaki is a sweet and nutty Georgian confection made from a mixture of nuts, usually walnuts or hazelnuts, and honey. It is a popular treat during various celebrations, including New Year’s festivities.
Churchkhela is a traditional Georgian sweet that is often referred to as the “Georgian Snickers.” It is a type of candy made by stringing nuts, usually walnuts or hazelnuts, on a string and dipping them into a thickened grape or fruit juice mixture. The resulting candy has a distinctive sausage-like appearance.
Chichilaki/ჩიჩილაკი
Chichilaki is a traditional Georgian Christmas tree made from shaved wood and shaped like a small tree. Most common in Guria and Samegrelo.
People decorate Chichilakis with small fruits and berries. Apples, pomegranates, and madder are attached to the tree as offerings to heaven for a bountiful harvest.
According to legend its association is with the beard of Saint Basil the Great, who is said to visit people during Christmas much like Santa Claus.
It is believed that the chichilakis represent the tree of life, a symbol of hope.
The Chichilakis are then ceremoniously burned on the day before the January 19 to symbolize the passing of the previous year’s troubles.
Christmas/Shoba/შობა
Georgians celebrate Christmas (Shoba) on January 7th. (As the Georgian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar)
Christmas is primarily a religious celebration, and many Georgians attend special church services to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. The midnight liturgy on Christmas Eve is a central part of the celebration, where worshippers come together for prayers, hymns, and the symbolic moment of Christ’s birth. Before Christmas, some Georgians observe a period of fasting, abstaining from certain foods. The fast is typically broken after the midnight liturgy on Christmas Eve. While the emphasis is on the religious aspects of Christmas, gift-giving is also a part of the celebration in many Georgian households.
Alilo/ალილო
On Christmas groups of carolers, known as “Alilo,” roam the streets collecting food, sweets, and gifts accompanied by traditional Georgian Christmas songs.
The presents are gathered in a church where Christmas service is conducted. After the service, the food and the presents are distributed to orphanages, nursing houses, and penitentiaries.
The Alilo tradition is a colorful and joyful part of the Christmas festivities, with participants often dressed in traditional costumes.
There are many versions of Alilo (carol) songs from different regions of Georgia, and each region also has multiple versions.
Here are some of the examples
Megrelian Alilo:
ალილო • სამეგრელო | Alilo • Samegrelo
მეგრული ალილო • Megrelian Alilo | ამღერებული მუზეუმი • A Singing Museum
Svan Alilo: სვანური ალილო
Gurian Alilo: გურული ალილო • Gurian Alilo | ამღერებული მუზეუმი • A Singing Museum
მუსიკა #ნაშუადღევს ანსამბლი „შავნაბადა“ – „გურული ალილო“
Imeretian Alilo:იმერული ალილო
Kakhetian Alilo: Basiani – kakhuri alilo / კახური ალილო
Standard:
“შობის გალობა” ვახტანგ კახიძე / “Christmas Song” – Vakhtang Kakhidze