Just like for most countries, the first of January is an official holiday in Mongolia, giving opportunities for most people to celebrate between families and friends. Mongolians celebrate the New Year in a similar way to  Russians – they too have their own version of Grandfather Frost, as the Russian ‘Dyed Moroz’ is known. The traditional Buddhist New Year, which this year will take place later in January, will be more of a traditional event, when people wear their best winter tunics (deels) and meet together to share Mongolian food.

Mongolian first names are usually combinations of two words, such as ‘eternal’, ‘true’, ‘peaceful’ with a manly noun, like ‘warrior’ for boys, or ‘flowers’ or ‘rivers’ for girls. Often Mongolians are named after the day of the week on which they were born. However, there are 193 people whose parents have actually named them ‘Shinejil’ (New Year)! In Mongolian the word for ‘new’ is ‘shine’ (pronounced ‘sheen’) and ‘year’ is ‘jil’ (pronounced jeel). According to statistics, three people born in 2010 have been named Shinejil, in 2012, 2013 and 2018 each have one as well as two in 2014.