A Ukrainian Christmas

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It won’t be like before the war. We’ll be praying for our soldiers and volunteering both on 25 December and 7 January.” The publisher is making a donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal on publication of this book Heads of OCU, UGCC agree to set up working group to reform church calendar". www.ukrinform.net. 24 December 2022 . Retrieved 24 December 2022. www.libussr.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 29 December 2016 . Retrieved 12 June 2021.

A Ukrainian Christmas by Yaroslav Hrytsak, Nadiyka Gerbish

If we want to truly “feel the Christmas spirit of our childhood again”, as some put it, we must become more like the Infant Christ, like a child, not only because children are innocent, but because the minds of children are most open to learning that those of adults, who have already become set in their ways. In February 2023 the UGCC decided to switch to a new style ( Revised Julian calendar) for fixed holidays (і.e., except for Easter) from September 2023. [21] Parishes of the UGCC that are not ready to switch to the new style in 2023 have a transition period until September 1, 2025 to make the change. [3] Traditionally, Christians, our pious ancestors, lived from holiday to holiday, the Calendar, from which in fact the word Kolyadki is said to come from, was not simply a method for counting days. It was an entire way of life, each season representing a cycle of world-changing, or at least significant events, in salvation history. As a result, gatherings to celebrate these feasts were major events that the entire village would be involved in, each holiday genuinely met with solemnity and joy. Christmas was largely erased from the Ukrainian calendar for much of the 20th century due to the Soviet Union's anti-religious policies, but many of its traditions survived and are being revived again. As a result, Shedrivki are essentially New Years Carols, dedicated to that eve between January 13 and 14, which is called Shedry Vechir, meaning “generous, bountiful evening”. This day is connected to the broader Christmas tradition of giving presents to children, as in many Orthodox countries, it is Saint Basil, in fact, rather than Saint Nicholas who gives these gifts. In Carpathian Rus’ and Western Ukraine, where traditions were always mixed, both ideas are observed, and everything is brought together in a single wonderful Svyatki period.

The reality is that even when to celebrate Christmas has become a deeply politicised issue in the midst of the war. Legend of the Christmas Spider". Spider Wisdom. 19 December 2010. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012 . Retrieved 6 December 2014. December 25: the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Latin Church, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, most Protestant churches, the Stauropegion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Kyiv and the Romanian parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate Curious to learn more? Listen to Ukrainian Lessons Podcast Episode #61 about Різдв яна веч еря — Christmas dinner in Ukraine! Credit Voropai, Oleksa 1958, Zvychai Nashoho Narodu [ Customs of Our People], Ukrainske Vydavnytstvo, Munich

A Ukrainian Christmas by IAroslav Hrytsak - Coles Books

Despite not technically being a Christmas carol, but rather a New Years Carol for Saint Basil’s Day, one can still find similar themes here. The swallow, the first bird of spring proclaiming the birth of the new lamb to the joy of the master of the house, and declaring that all will be well in the coming spring, the season of rebirth is quite symbolic. The Nativity of Christ, the sun of righteousness, is of course celebrated on the winter solstice, as dark cold days of winter get warmer and brighter, when the sun allegorically overcomes the night, and in all of this we can certainly see Christian meaning. Parliament changes dates of Christmas, Statehood Day, Day of Defenders". Ukrinform. 14 July 2023 . Retrieved 14 July 2023. The Hospodar is traditionally supposed to be a hospitable host, kind and generous to guests and strangers.a b Barbara Klumb (20 December 1978). "Spider Tale Spins a Web of Holiday Yore". The Milwaukee Journal: 1, 3. [ dead link] The All-Night Christmas Vigil then follows, families then troop to their local parish churches or Protestant chruches to attend as thanksgiving for the Savior's birth in a stable. Christmas brings the indestructibility of hope in times of the greatest hopelessness. As long as we celebrate this holiday, we can neither be defeated nor destroyed. This is the message that Ukraine is trying to convey to the world. And this is what our book is about.’ a b "How New Year was celebrated in the USSR (Photos)". Beyond Russia. 29 December 2019. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019 . Retrieved 12 June 2021.

A Ukrainian Christmas - Daunt Books

In this article, I will present videos of some of the most popular and beloved Kolyadki, one of which enchanted even generations of Americans. Sings of the independence of Ukraine yet ensures you feel the connecting hand of warmth, understanding, and friendship…so profoundly meaningful and powerful, A Ukrainian Christmas ensures that you never lose sight of the true meaning of these festivities and how important they are in the lives of so many people’ – Lovereading This song to Saint Nicholas should require no introduction to those familiar with Carpatho-Russian Orthodox traditions. Popular in English throughout traditional Rusyn settlement in Eastern America and Canada, although this song was originally intended for Saint Nicholas’s day, due to its inclusion in many traditional Christmas plays, we include it here. No Rusyn Christmas play would be complete without this nostalgic song.

These holidays were by no means simply excuses to party or take off work; in fact, preparing for them with fasting during Advent is a labor in itself, as is the labor of making these elaborate Christmas meals. Especially for poor villagers in the distant Carpathian Mountains, or in the shivering steppes, this was all extremely costly in their scarcity for them to then simply share with family and parishioners. But it’s going be simple and more casual. We’re not is in the mood for a big celebration. Usually at work we’d be sharing recipes with my colleagues. Orysia Paszczak Tracz (31 December 2006). "A spider for Christmas?". The Ukrainian Weekly. 74 (53). The wonderful and weird Christmas traditions around the world". Punchline. 11 December 2011 . Retrieved 6 December 2014.

Christmas in Ukraine - Wikipedia Christmas in Ukraine - Wikipedia

Kolyadki (Колядки, singular Kolyadka, колядка) comes from the Slavonic word Колѧда (Kolyada), possibly relating to the Latin kalendae, and likely the source of the Romanian word for Christmas carols– Colindă.

About Yaroslav Hrytsak, Nadiyka Gerbish

Sings of the independence of Ukraine yet ensures you feel the connecting hand of warmth, understanding, and friendship ... So profoundly meaningful and powerful, A Ukrainian Christmas ensures that you never lose sight of the true meaning of these festivities and how important they are in the lives of so many people' - LOVEREADING The risk of Russian strikes has meant the cancellation of Christmas markets in Kyiv’s Sofiivska Square, where at least a tree has been put up. A tree has also been erected in Kyiv’s main railway station after deliberations by the mayor, Vitali Klitschko, and the municipality. Klitschko himself – like many Ukrainians – will be separated from his family, who are abroad, this year.