Christmas is a wonderful holiday, it’s a feast of Christ’s birth and it’s celebrated on the eve of 7th of January. In the mid-4th century it was established by the Roman Catholic church as a separate feast and was celebrated on 25 December according to the Julian calendar. In the 10th century with the introduction […]
The 6th of June — Ivan Kupala Day is one of the great and enigmatic holidays signifying a celebration in honour of the “God of the Sun” (or “Dazhbog”). It is belived that during this time of summer solstice, the sun is strongest, before turning to the winter. They say that the Sun is a […]
The most honored Easter bread was the paska and the preparation and baking of paska was considered one of the most important tasks of the year. People believed that the future could be predicted, depending on how this holiday bread turned out. Every homemaker wanted her paska to be the best and the biggest, therefore […]
Two weeks following the Catholic Easter Holiday is the main Christian Orthodox Holiday established to honor the Resurrection of Jesus Christ following his crucifixion on the cross and to the coming out of the Jews from Egypt. The date of Easter is usually determined by the Church calendar and calculated according to the so-called “Paskhalias” […]
8th March — International Women’s Day is considered the first Spring Holiday in Ukraine. It is an official day off as both men and women look forward to this holiday. It originated as a day of fighting for women’s rights, when on the 8th of March 1897 women (workers of sewing and shoe factories) gathered […]
December 19 – Feast of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas history in Ukraine goes back to the 10th centuries. He is the familiar winter saint, who brings the first snow by shaking his beard. This is the holiday for young children, for they would receive gifts from St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children. “Angels” often […]
Carols While many of the Ukrainian Christmas Eve customs are of a solemn nature, the custom of caroling is joyful and merry. Ukrainian Christmas songs or carols have their origins in antiquity, as do many other traditions practiced at Christmas time. There are two main groups of Christmas songs in Ukraine: the koliadky, whose name […]
Orthodox Christmas The period from the 7th until the 14th of January is Saint Christmas week. During this week people go from one house to another, singing songs and wishing good wishes to health, prosperity, etc. and just having a good time. Most usually are dressed in folksy or carnival type costumes. Such activity is […]
New Year’s Day 1st January — New Year’s Day is the most favorite of all holidays in Ukraine. As in Western countries on Christmas Eve, Ukrainians give New Year presents; children receive their presents under the New Year Tree on the morning of the 1st January. Traditionally just prior to midnight there’s a Presidential speech […]
The Ukrainians are just fond of celebrating holidays. They strictly observe the traditions of Orthodox and state holidays and readily accept Western holidays like St. Valentine Day, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day and so on. Ukrainians love their numerous holidays and love to “celebrate” those holidays in grandeur fashion. It’s not uncommon for Westerners to be […]