One Day of a Year

Yesterday was frosty day, -15 C some time with the sun and no wind, It was my special day. Because once you realize that one year more has flown. They say that you feel as old as your soul feels old. Well, yesterday was my birthday and I can particularly not worry: my soul is still young. 
After wonderful breakfast it was time for gifts. One gift was a new orchid and lily, they're beautiful, aren't they?

The another one was a book or to more accurately say it's a pocket guide 'The Pocket Flower Expert' by D.G. Hessayon, an English writer (translation into Russian).
Here it is:

Although we all use Internet very much, sometimes we need a pocket book for plant identification in a nursery, Botanic gardens or in a market. I love its detailed paintings, photos and information about methods of flower growing, of diseases, care, potting and planting shown in this guide.

Before afternoon I had prepared cups for tea and coffee, blackcurrant jam, chocolate cookies, milk, teapot, etc. for birthday party and went with my friend to see the new exhibition in Hermitage museum. At the evening I took a seat at the table in the dining room, and had a great time eating a piece of 'sancho' cake, drank a glass of Chateau clinking: 'на здоровье!', enjoying my family and friends around me.

What do you think about pocket guide? You do still read books or use the internet only? Thank you!

Old New Year

               Today is the Old new  year! What is this, you may ask. I'll tell you the history of two calendars. 

The most widely used calendar around the world is the Gregorian Calendar that was first introduced in 1582. Until that time many countries used the Julian Calendar. Russia had adopted the Gregorian Calendar in 1918, while some other countries continued to use the Julian Calendar until 1923.

Why was Julian Calendar replaced? Because it introduced an error of 1 day every 128 years so currently the Julian Calendar is 13 days behind the Gregorian Calendar. 
Even so the Julian Calendar is still used by the majority of Orthodox churches for ecclesiastical dates. Thus they celebrate Christmas on December, 25 on the Julian Calendar, which corresponds to January, 7 on the Gregorian Calendar.
Orthodox New year corresponds to January,14 on the Gregorian Calendar.
As in most countries which use the Gregorian calendar, New year's day in Russia is a public holiday. The Old New Year on January 14th is an informal traditional holiday, celebrated as the start of new year on the Julian Calendar, it is still informally observed. 

The tradition of celebrating the coming of the New Year twice is widely enjoyed: January 1 (New New Year) and January 14 (Old New Year).
As it's a weekday, at the evening my family and I have the Old New Year's dinner and blackcurrant cake. 

Happy Old New year, my dear friends!

More information here: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Julian_Calendar