Ukrainians have a lot of celebrations that symbolize the joy of living, heartfulness, and beauty. Whatever the holiday is, Ukrainian women play a significant role in the celebration. Ukrainian ladies cook traditional Ukrainian food, put on Ukrainian conventional clothing, sing, dance, and bring a joyful mood.
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UKRAINIAN HOLIDAYS AND TRADITIONS.
| Date in 2019 | List of national holidays in Ukraine |
|---|---|
| December 25 | Catholic Christmas |
What are the major holidays in Ukraine?
Ukrainian Holidays. The Ukrainians are just fond of celebrating holidays. They strictly observe the traditions of Orthodox and Soviet holidays and readily accept Western holidays like St. Valentine Day, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day and so on. A great number of holidays can be divided into several groups - public, religious and just holidays.
What are some Ukrainian traditions?
Some Ukrainian traditions insist upon three loafs: one to honour nature, another to honour the dead and a third to honour those on earth. Ringing of the Church Bell Often, while the family was still having the Easter breakfast, the sound of the joyous ringing of the church bell would be heard.
How to say Christmas in Ukrainian?
We hope this will help you to understand Ukrainian better. Here is the translation and the Ukrainian word for Merry Christmas: щасливого Різдва.
How do Ukrainians celebrate Christmas?
Celebrating Christmas in Ukraine
- Holy Evening. Sviaty Vechir , or Holy Evening, is the Ukrainian Christmas Eve that takes place on January 6. ...
- Wheat and Caroling. An interesting aspect of Christmas in Ukraine is the bringing of a wheat sheaf into the house as a reminder of the ancestors and the long tradition ...
- Ukraine's Santa Claus. ...
How does Ukraine celebrate?
People in Ukraine sing traditional Christmas songs (shchedryk), go to church and celebrate in family circle. But, unlike in many other countries, Ukrainians do not exchange presents on these days. There are some nationwide holidays that play very important role for Ukrainian formation.
What traditions do Ukrainians have?
Ukrainians actually have two Christmases. One on December, 25, which is Catholic Christmas, and another one is on January, 7, which is Orthodox Christmas. There are many traditions associated with Christmas, but the most important rituals that Ukrainians follow regularly are Christmas dinner and Christmas caroling.
What are two special traditions that people celebrate in Ukraine?
Christmas (Rizdvo) Christian holidays have always occupied a special place in Ukraine. ... Old (Orthodox) New Year (Staryi Novyi Rik) ... Baptism of Jesus Christ (Khreshchennia) ... Easter (Paskha) ... Kupala Night (Sviato Kupala)
How do Ukrainian celebrate Christmas?
Mid-December is when the Christmas atmosphere begins to fill Ukrainian cities, with all Christmas markets and festivals, decorations and magic lights. Christmas Eve (Holy Eve) is marked by traditional family gatherings in the evening in Ukraine – the so-called Sviata Vecheria ('Holy Dinner').
What is considered rude in Ukraine?
Refusing a dish is considered very rude. You will often be urged to take second helpings. Toasting is part of the culture and generally occurs whenever three or more people share a meal. Ukrainians are suspicious of people who do not drink.
Do Ukrainians give gifts at Christmas?
The Christmas celebrations end on 19 January, the date of Epiphany, or Yordan in Ukrainian, by the Julian calendar. Gift-giving, family and other social gatherings, symbolic decoration, feasting etc. As of 2017, 25 December, Christmas Day by the Gregorian calendar, became an official government holiday in Ukraine.
What do Ukrainians put on their Christmas tree?
Spider WebsSpider Webs Can Bring Good Fortune for the New Year This is why you will see Ukrainians decorate their Christmas tree with a spider web. It's believed that the webs will bring good fortune and luck for the upcoming year.
How do Ukrainians celebrate Easter?
What Do People Do? Easter is known as Velykden (The Great Day) and is a day off work in Ukraine. Special Easter services are held in churches and many families celebrate the day with a special Easter meal. Easter meals often include the Paskha (a type of Easter bread) and an egg painted in red.
How does Ukraine say Merry Christmas?
Veseloho RizdvaIn Ukrainian Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Веселого Різдва' Veseloho Rizdva (Merry Christmas) or 'Христос Рождається' Khrystos Rozhdayetsia (Christ is Born). Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages. The main Christmas meal, called 'Sviata Vecheria' (or Holy Supper) is eaten on Christmas Eve (6th January).
Do Ukrainians use Christmas trees?
This year Christmas tree in Kiev is announced to be the most beautiful in Europe. Now it is hard to imagine that Christmas tree has not been always so popular among Ukrainians for Christmas and New Year.
What are the 12 dishes of Ukrainian Christmas?
Here are 12 traditional Ukrainian dishes for Sviat Vechir (there are many other Ukrainian meals you can cook for Christmas Eve) you can prepare this Christmas.Kutia. ... Borsch. ... Mushroom gravy. ... Varenyky. ... Holubtsi. ... Herring. ... Marinated mushrooms. ... Ukrainian Christmas Bread Recipe.More items...
What holidays are widely celebrated in Ukraine?
Saint Valentine's Day, Maslenitsa, the holiday of winter seeing off, International Women's Day, Easter with beautifully colored eggs, Victory Day, Holy Trinity, Constitution Day and many other holidays are celebrated every year.
What is the most celebrated holiday in Ukraine?
St. Nicholas Day, which is celebrated on the 19th of December, is the most anticipated holiday for Ukrainian children. It’s no wonder, as St. Nikolas is considered to be the patron saint of kids. This holiday has deep roots in Ukrainian culture and has been celebrated since the 11 th century and the times of Kievan Rus.
Why is the Ukrainian festival important?
An important place is occupied by festivals and celebrations that embody the soul of the people, national characteristics and traditions of Ukrainians. They diversify and enliven everyday life, providing the opportunity to relax, to get inspiration and to show the elegance of Ukrainian traditions.
What is the Ukrainian holiday of midsummer?
In many Ukrainian villages, the holiday still has its sacred value. You can feel the festive atmosphere of Ivana Kupala and even participate in the traditional celebrations in the Kievan Rus Park. Ivana Kupala.
What is the traditional Christmas meal in Ukraine?
Christmas Holy Night is celebrated on the 6 th of January. Both adults and children are looking forward to Christmas celebration. It brings a lot of joy, fun, sweets, calm, peace and hope for a better future. Traditional Orthodox Christmas dish is kutia. It stands in the middle of the table among 11 courses dishes. Everyone knows that it is necessary to prepare 12 dishes for Holly Supper. Only in Ukraine, this holiday can be felt as it was a long time ago, in the days of distant Slavic ancestors. If you want to see some local celebrations, you should visit Mamaeva Sloboda, where this holiday is celebrated in the traditional way. Christmas in Ukraine is an unforgettable experience that will stay with you in any place and at any time.
What is the Ukrainian Christmas?
Catholic Christmas. The history of Ukraine comes from far ancient times. There are lots of celebrations in Ukraine that symbolize beauty, heartfulness and joy of living. Saint Valentine’s Day, Maslenitsa, the holiday of winter seeing off, International Women’s Day, Easter with beautifully colored eggs, Victory Day, Holy Trinity, ...
What is the Ukrainian day of knowledge?
For millions of pupils, students, their parents, and for teachers it’s a real holiday — Day of Knowledge. This day marks the official start of the academic year in all educational institutions of the country.
Where is Christmas celebrated in Ukraine?
If you want to see some local celebrations, you should visit Mamaeva Sloboda, where this holiday is celebrated in the traditional way. Christmas in Ukraine is an unforgettable experience that will stay with you in any place and at any time. Christmas.
What is the culture of Ukraine?
Ukraine has a rich and diverse cultural background, the roots of which come from ancient times. Many Ukrainian holidays and traditions date back centuries but are not less prevalent in the modern age. Many Ukrainian traditions are rooted in the Christian religion or appeared as a result of historical events.
What is the day of knowledge in Ukraine?
A new school year starts on September 1 in Ukraine. The Day of Knowledge is traditionally celebrated with lots of flowers and candies that kids bring to their school teachers. September 1 is an important day for millions of pupils and students who begin a new academic year in educational establishments.
What is the Ukrainian holiday of March 8?
The beginning of spring is always associated with this holiday. On March 8, celebrated is the major day of the year when men congratulate their wives, moms, grannies, daughters, colleagues at work, etc. On March 8, Ukrainian women look especially charming. They dress up beautifully, put on a stunning make-up, and get ready for the celebration with their families and friends.
When is the old new year?
Most post-soviet countries celebrate this holiday. The Old New Year takes place on January 14. It appeared as a result of the transition from one system of chronology to another.
Is Easter celebrated in Ukraine?
Easter is one of the most important spring holidays in Ukraine. Similar to other countries, Easter in Ukraine doesn’t have a certain day of celebration, but it always takes place on Sunday. The holiday is associated with many fascinating traditions. Ukrainian ladies cook traditional Ukrainian food.
What is the Ukrainian word for Easter?
The word for ‘Easter’ in Ukrainian is Velykden’, which translates to ‘Great Day’, and it is one of the biggest holidays in the country. Easter in Ukraine originates from the same holiday celebrated in other Christian communities, but it mostly adheres to the Orthodox faith and calendar. Thus, it is celebrated the week after Catholic Easter (in 2018 ...
What does the pysanka egg symbolize?
Krashenka is an egg that has been dyed with red food colouring. It symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed for the sins of the people.
What is the table at Easter?
Easter’s festive table is of great importance, as the holiday follows the Great Lent and weeks of prescribing to certain postulates. On Easter day, people prepare traditional delights for the family. The table is always full of fish, meat and dairy dishes in particular, and it is usually decorated with spring flowers like daffodils or tulips. Also, Easter isn’t Easter without traditional Easter cakes ( kulich or paska) and Easter eggs ( pysanka and krashenka ).
Do Ukrainians celebrate Easter?
Local traditions. Ukrainians love traditions, therefore, each family has its own way of celebrating Easter. However, there are also common practices. For instance, it is customary not to sleep the night before Easter, as Orthodox people go to the cathedral for service and bring a variety of dishes with them.
What is the Ukrainian holiday of a picnic?
Having a picnic at a grave. Commemoration week in Ukraine follows Easter and ends on the 9th day after this holiday. This period is called Radonitsa or Hrobki. The tradition has pre-Christian roots and is closely related to the cult of ancestors.
What is the Ukrainian culture?
Ukraine is a highly traditional country, where the observance of certain customs and practices plays a central role in its culture. Younger generations gladly adopt and follow these rituals, making them even more vivid and up-to-date. Here are the 11 things most Ukrainians do and the reasons behind them.
What is a vyshyvanka?
Although vyshyvanka (an embroidered shirt) is a part of traditional Ukrainian attire, it is a trendy piece for everyday life as well. Many Ukrainian brands have created their own interpretations of its shape, colour and length, thus, making it a popular item all over the world.
What is the Ukrainian custom of pancakes?
The pancake was considered a symbol of the sun (yellow, round and hot), therefore, it meant seeing off the winter and greeting the spring. Celebrated in the last week before the Great Lent, Maslenitsa is a cheerful event. People serve freshly baked pancakes every day, go to visit each other, sled, ski and simply enjoy life.
What does the color red mean in Ukrainian?
For example, the red colour symbolizes the good and the joy of living. Yellow is for warmth and crops, while green means hope. Superstitious Ukrainians have been observing this tradition for many centuries and gladly continue to put heart and soul into this activity, even nowadays. Easter egg | © Vladimir Kud / Flickr.
What is the tradition of carolling?
During the Christmas holidays, the tradition of carolling is also followed. Children go from house to house, sing Christmas songs and wish the hosts all the best. The most important part is “seeding” the floor with grains of wheat or barley, which brings prosperity and happiness to the house.
What is Christmas in Ukraine?
Christmas in Ukraine is a family holiday when all the relatives gather together. They set a festive table with 12 traditional dishes (like the apostles), sing Christmas songs, remember all the good things that happened in the past year, and wish each other health and happiness.
How many days off do Ukrainians take?
Many Ukrainians take 3 or 4 vacation days between Labor Day and Victory Day in order to get 10 or 11 days off in a row, counting weekends. This is a favorite time for nature-oriented vacations because the weather is often nice, trees and flowers are in bloom, and it is not yet hot.
What is the most important holiday of the year?
Probably the most important holiday of the year. The main celebration is actually the evening of December 31. People gather together with friends and family in a festive atmosphere with lots of eating and drinking. People reminisce about the past year and give toasts for the new one. At larger parties there may be contests and games.
Why are holidays important?
They offer a change of pace, a time to rest from work, a way to recognize the changing of the seasons, a chance to connect with family and friends, and an excuse to get together to eat and drink.
Do religious people celebrate Christmas?
Religious people go to Christmas services on both days, prepare a range of traditional dishes, and celebrate with their families. For others (the majority) it's just another holiday with eating and drinking.
Is Halloween a holiday in Ukraine?
Halloween is becoming a popular youth holiday in cities across Ukraine. People enjoy dressing up in grotesque costumes and getting together in public places, or holding private parties where you're supposed to come wearing a costume. Trick-or-treating is not practiced.
What is the most important part of Easter in Ukraine?
One of the most important parts of Easter in Ukraine is paska, Easter bread or Easter cake, depending on your point of view. It consists of an airy dough that rises and is sweet, which is then decorated. The dough usually takes quite a long time to make. During baking, according to tradition, the dough must not be disturbed, which is why there should be silence around the oven. The bread is taken out of the oven at the end of the baking time with a prayer and later often elaborately decorated.
How long does Easter last in Ukraine?
Since the Easter celebrations last more than a week, there are several ways to celebrate the holiday. From more religious holidays to the days when almost all Ukrainians are on their feet, there is a whole range.
What are the Easter eggs in Ukraine?
Pysanky and Krashanky – the Ukrainian Easter eggs. The other important Easter tradition you know also from the West, but in Ukraine Easter eggs belong to the national culture. They are also symbols of Christian tradition and culture of the country.
What are the foods in Easter baskets?
In addition to the obilgatory paska and pysanky, Easter baskets almost always contain sausages, ham and other meats, but butter, lard, cheese and small napkins with poppy seeds, millet, salt, pepper and horseradish are also blessed. Before the blessing, a candle is lit in the basket. The baskets are usually covered with a cloth on which is written the most important Easter saying “Xrystos voskres”. After the blessing, the baskets are taken home and then the families eat whatever they contain on Sunday.
Where is Easter celebrated in the Carpathians?
Of course, Easter celebrations in the Carpathians are particularly traditional. Especially in the region around Ivano-Frankivsk around the so-called “Black Mountains” is celebrated a lot and intensively. Tourists are always welcome at the local Hutsuls, but you have to ask locally about the exact celebrations. A visit to the Pysanky Museum in Kolomiya should definitely be on your itinerary.
How long do Ukrainians fast for Easter?
While in some countries attempts are made to culturally introduce a meat-free day during the week, in Ukraine the fast is 40 days without animal products, i.e. completely vegan. Meat, eggs and dairy products are taboo during this time – another reason why Ukrainians find Easter eggs particularly tasty afterwards. The fasting period ends on Easter Sunday. Easter Saturday is the last day of fasting before Easter. Even though the fast actually lasts 40 days , only very few Ukrainians take part in it.
What do people do on Easter Sunday?
On Easter Sunday, many believers go to the churches. The churches are bursting for morning worship. Once again, people bring their Easter baskets and have them blessed. But some also spend the whole night in the church and only go home to sleep afterwards. On the morning of Easter Sunday, usually after the service, there is an extensive feast with the food that was previously blessed in the Easter basket. After all, Lent has just ended and animal products may be consumed again.
What is the Ukrainian Christmas?
Ukrainian Christmas festivities begin on Christmas Eve (January 6.) and end on the Feast of the Epiphany. The Christmas Eve Supper or Sviata Vecheria (Holy Supper) brings the family together to partake in special foods and begin the holiday with many customs and traditions, which reach back to antiquity. The rituals of the Christmas Eve are dedicated to God, to the welfare of the family, and to the remembrance of the ancestors.
What are the themes of Ukrainian Christmas songs?
Many, of course, deal with the birth of Christ and that occasion’s joyful celebrations, and many of them have apocryphal elements . Another group of carols contain purely pagan mythological elements .
What is Malanka in Ukraine?
January13. Malanka is a Ukrainian folk holiday celebrated on January 13th, which is New Year’s Eve in accordance with the Julian calendar.
What is the most important food of the entire Christmas Eve Supper?
Kutia is the most important food of the entire Christmas Eve Supper, and is also called God’s Food. A jug of uzvar (stewed fruits, which should contain twelve different fruits) and is called God’s Drink, is also served.
Why are there stalks of grain in Ukraine?
In Ukraine, this is a very important Christmas tradition, because the stalks of grain symbolize all the ancestors of the family, and it is believed that their spirits reside in it during the holidays.
When was the Ukrainian Christmas puppet theater founded?
Vertep, the Ukrainian Christmas puppet theater had its beginnings in the XVII century. According to scholars, the theater was probably founded by students of the Kyivan Academy, who also wrote the plays performed there.
Where did the Ukrainian Christmas song originate?
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 is probably derived from the Latin “calendae” meaning the first day of the month and which are sung on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day;
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Tuesday was my birthday. As is customary in Ukrainian tradition, the birthday person plans the party, invites the guests, makes the food, etc. So I did that for my group of co-workers in the English office, and we had a good time.
Birthday traditions
Tuesday was my birthday. As is customary in Ukrainian tradition, the birthday person plans the party, invites the guests, makes the food, etc. So I did that for my group of co-workers in the English office, and we had a good time.