ODESA, JANUARY 16th, 2013, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE ― A fest dedicated to New Year celebration in Slavic and Chinese traditions will take place in Odesa Zoo, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

At 12 a.m. of January 19, 2013, a fest dedicated to New Year celebration in different folk traditions will take place in Odesa Zoo.

The New Year celebration is different for different cultures, not only when it comes to the date of the holiday, but concerning the traditions, too. I.e., in India, this fest is celebrated over four times a year, due to coexistence of different religions and traditions, and the Muslims aren’t disallowed to celebrate the New Year, but it’s not recommended for them to invite Father Frost and decorate the New Year tree. In the Slavic culture, the one of our ancestors, as well as in many other cultures, the New Year celebration is connected with the annual astronomic events, i.e. solstice. And, in, say, China, it is believed that the New Year is surrounded with evil spirits, therefore they are being scared away with the flames and the protection of the sacred animal.

Traditionally, Odesa is known as a city uniting the culture of different nations.

That is why, on January 19, the employees of Odesa Zoo will hold a fest of New Year celebration that will unite the cultural peculiarities of the Slavic and Chinese traditions.

Zmey Gorynych, a dragon-like creature from the Slavic tales and epic narrative poems, who has three heads, is green, walks on two back paws, has small front paws, and spits fire, will find himself in a wonderful world of the Chinese mythical creatures and is mistaken for the keeper of the year 2012 ― dragon, so he has to play that part. The guests of the celebration will have an opportunity to help the hero pass the Chinese symbols’ tests with honor and transfer the reins of government to the Snake ― the keeper of the year 2013.

The participants of the celebration will have an opportunity to have fun and get to know numerous interesting facts about the New Year celebration, as well as to take part in many contests and quizzes and win prizes.