Winter has come. And with it arrival we have a series of bright holidays and special dates of the Christian calendar, fun social events and fantastic mystery-plays which return us to ancient, pre-Christian traditions and beliefs of Ukrainians. Let`s explore them together! DECEMBER 31 - JANUARY 1. NEW YEAR New Year is celebrated in Ukraine since pre-Christian times. Firstly, slavs celebrated New Year on the 1st of March and with the growing influence of the Greek-Byzantian church the New Year in Ukrainian lands was postponed by the decree of the Nicaea Council to the beginning of the civil and church year, September the 1st . However, after the transition to the new chronology (Peter the Ist decree of 1699) a certain confusion appeared in the dates. Creative Ukrainians used this situation. Traditional folk holidays were started to celebrate according to "old style" and the official New Year became a party time. Beloved Christmas tree, champagne, tangerines and dancing came to us from the West. Ukrainian traditions prescribe to celebrate the New Year in a family circle and set the table with 12 dishes (by the number of months in a year). Meat, sausages, cabbage, gorilka and fragrant liqueurs. The table for the New Year should be very rich as well as wishes to everybody in the main night of the yearJ CHRISTMAS The most family holiday – Christmas Ukrainians celebrate on January the 6 (Christmas Eve) and 7th (Christmas day). According to ancient traditions it is not allowed to eat until the first star appears in the sky - the symbol of the birth of Jesus Christ. On Christmas Eve the whole family gathers together at the table which is generously covered with 12 meatless dishes symbolizing the number of apostles. The main course is called “kutya” – the buckwheat porridge, nuts, honey
Winter has come. And with it arrival we have a series of bright holidays and special dates of the Christian calendar, fun social events and fantastic mystery-plays which return us to ancient, pre-Christian traditions and beliefs of Ukrainians. Let`s explore them together! DECEMBER 31 – JANUARY 1. NEW YEAR New Year is celebrated in Ukraine