When we congratulate each other “Happy New Year!”, the addition “Happy New Happiness!” appears from nowhere. And many of us do not even guess to what extent this expression has a typical Soviet origin.
It became widely known, when New Year was popularised as a holiday and Christmas faded into the background. In pre-revolutionary Russia, the New Year was celebrated rarely, but Christmas and Easter were instead. However, in Soviet times, holidays of a religious nature were tacitly banned. And as a usual stereotyped attachment to any congratulation on any occasion, people sent wishes of happiness, health, good luck, etc.
Thus, the phrase “Happy New Year, Happy New Happiness!” likely successfully combined both congratulations and wishes. It was so fortunate, that there was no longer any sense to add or resume something, because the phrase had a bold, content character.
At the same time, the expression “Happy New Happiness!” means nothing. The concept of “new happiness” implies the presence of some kind of “old happiness”. Happiness which needs to be updated…
For all of us, COVID-led year of 2021 was a year of social restrictions, prohibitions, limits, concerns, fears. The year of 2022 seems to become COVID themed again, and maybe even harder. I personally do not expect any happiness in this trend. Although, as the song says, “people meet, people fall in love, and get married”. Life goes on no matter what, and hope, as always, is the last to die.
Happy New Year, dear readers!
Victor Loupan
