What is the taste of the New Year? Spicy, warm, a little magical. At the pre-New Year meeting in the library, culinary traditions, literary quotes, and cultural images will come together to tell how in Russia they prepared for the most important holiday, what was put on the table, and why it is still important. How did people celebrate the New Year in Russian villages and cities? What did each dish symbolize? Why did housewives start preparing for the holiday long before it arrived? These and many other questions will be the topic of a special lecture at the Sverdlovsk Regional Library named after V. G. Belinsky. At the meeting, the pages of Russian prose will come to life - after all, the best writers could not ignore the main holiday of the year. Their descriptions of festive dinners, feasts, and aromas will tell about an entire cultural tradition. Participants will hear what treats were mandatory, how preferences changed among different classes, which dishes were considered cherished, and how love, prosperity, and hope for the future were expressed through food. A special emphasis will be placed on the meanings and symbolism of New Year treats. Why was it important to serve certain dishes? What superstitions were observed? What recipes were passed down in families from generation to generation? The lecture will not only be a tasty journey into the past but also an opportunity to reflect on how our gastronomic history influences the present. This event will be interesting for everyone who loves history, literature, and Russian cuisine. It will be especially suitable for those who want to be inspired for holiday preparations, learn more about the traditions of their country, and look at their favorite dishes from a new perspective. There will be room for both nostalgia and discovery.