CHRISTMAS IN uKRAINE

Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve (Holy Eve) is marked by traditional family

gatherings in the evening in Ukraine – the so-
called Sviata Vecheria (‘Holy Dinner’). The festivities
start with the appearance of the first star, though all
preparations traditionally start from the very dawn.
The morning of January 7 starts with people greeting

each other with the phrase “Christ is Born!” and the
response “Glorify Him!” This day people go to the church
for Christmas prayer and then come together within the
family circle to visit relatives. Unlike Christmas Eve,
Christmas guests are no longer restricted to fasting food.
At night, after Christmas Eve dinner, it was common to watch Christ’s crib and
then hurry to Midnight Mass. The first day of Christmas is celebrated
peacefully at home. Having returned from church, everyone sits by the table
and has a full breakfast.
it is believed that Jesus was born at midnight. Many churches today hold Christmas Eve
services or Midnight Masses
1. Christmas starts calmly at home. However, big street

celebrations soon follow. Teams of carolers start roaming their
hometowns on January 7. Boys and girls prepare special
Christmas songs. In Ukraine, we have– koliadky (comes from
the word ‘calendar’ which starts with the birth of Christ) for
Christmas and shchedrivky (comes from the Ukrainian word for
generosity) . Carolers are often dressed as characters present
during Christ’s birth in Bethlehem (the three Kings, Angels,
Shepherds, Herod), but also as the ritual goat, and such
characters as the Gypsy and Jew, which had a special place in
the life of Ukraine’s village agricultural society, as well as Death
that comes to take Herod.Carolers sing Christmas carols, and
sprinkle grains. Grain scattering means getting rid of the old and
welcoming the birth of something new . Girls and boys go from
house to house, entertaining their neighbours and the whole
community in exchange for sweet gifts and coins. It is believed,
the more carolers come to the home, the more fortune and
wealth will be brought to the family during the following year. The
custom of caroling is joyful and merry.
2. The main house decoration for Christmas is the Didukh (a

sheaf of wheat stalks) It is believed that the spirits of the household's
ancestors reside in Didukh during the Christmas holidays. While it is at
a place of honor inside the house, the souls of all ancestors will unite
and bless the family.
Christmas Eve dinner is made up of 12 dishes and everyone is

required to taste each one in order for the coming year to be full
and wealthy. It is necessary to leave a small portion of each dish
so that the spirits of dead relatives can come to celebrate
Christmas Eve during the night.
3. All Christmas preparations traditionally start from the very

dawn on January 6. Christmas Eve (Holy Eve) is marked by
traditional family gatherings in the evening. In Ukraine it is
called Sviata Vecheria (‘Holy Dinner’). The festivities start with
the appearance of the first star.
Churches hold Christmas Eve services or Midnight Masses. It is
believed that Jesus was born at midnight .So,at night, after
Christmas Eve dinner, people hurry to Midnight Mass.
The first day of Christmas ,is celebrated peacefully at home . The
morning of January 7 starts with people greeting each other with
the phrase “Christ is Born!” and the response “Glorify Him!” This
day people go to the church for Christmas prayer and then come
together within the family circle to visit relatives.
4. Open you eyes and look up at the sky and find the brightest star, because finding a
shooting star is not that easy. Close your eyes again and make your wish. Whether it is
true or just a myth, maybe tonight you would look up at the sky and say, Star light, star
bright, the first star as see tonight, I wish I may or simply enjoy the beauty of the
twinkling stars above, if you are lucky. the story in the Gospel of Matthew goes, a
bright star rose after the birth of Jesus Christ that the wise men then followed
to find him.
There are many ways to make a wish. You can toss pennies into a fountain, wish on the
Northern Star, or think of something you really want when blowing out the candles on
your birthday cake. Wishing on a shooting star is one of the classic ways to try to make
your dreams come true.
When you see the first star, do you make a wish for the
year to come?
I think I was star gazing tonight and saw three shooting stars. The first two were really quick and
normal but the last one was AMAZING! It started off fast then slowed down some before it disappeared. It
was the most perfect shooting star I’ve ever seen. I must admit, I made a wish
Well I believe everyone could use a chance to wish upon a shooting star, or the first star you
see tonight.
I strongly advise people to wish on stars if they really want their dreams to come true. You really
have nothing to lose.”
According to Smith, most people who wish on stars follow these basic rules: “They make their wish
silently on the first star they see at night,” he said. “And they don’t tell anyone what their wish was.
They keep it to themselves.”
(Visited 214 times, 1 visits today)

Water is an important symbol of the holiday. These days it is customary to consecrate it. Water
consecrated during Epiphany is called Jordanian and is believed to have healing properties
throughout the year. Many Ukrainians follow the tradition of swimming in icy water.

On Epiphany, children and young people sing carols for the last time – they go from house to house
and sing songs with well-wishes. make a wish for the year to come?
When we see the first star on THE Christmas Eve we don’t a wish
for the new year.
Sviaty Vechir, or Holy Evening, is the Ukrainian Christmas Eve
that takes place on January 6. The Christmas Eve dinner is not
served until the first star appears in the sky, signifying the
journey of three kings. A new star was seen in the sky, along with
other stars, one fine night and this star was so radiant that its
bright rays spread light as bright as day on the hills of Bethlehem
A dimond shines no brighter than that lovely Christmas star
It shines in all its brilliance. It’s seen from near or far
A symbol of the Christ child as He lay upon the hay
It tells to all the waiting world, a King was born that day.
. Christmas Star signifies peace and high hopes. It gives you the
ray of hope that the Son of God will help you confront and
conquer every difficult situation you come across. It shows that
every good thing comes from within and that there is a silver
lining in every dark cloud.

CHRISTMAS IN uKRAINE

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CHRISTMAS IN uKRAINE

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

CHRISTMAS IN uKRAINE

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve (Holy Eve) is marked by traditional family

The morning of January 7 starts with people greeting

1. Christmas starts calmly at home. However, big street

2. The main house decoration for Christmas is the Didukh (a

Christmas Eve dinner is made up of 12 dishes and everyone is

3. All Christmas preparations traditionally start from the very

(Visited 214 times, 1 visits today)

A dimond shines no brighter than that lovely Christmas star

It shines in all its brilliance. It’s seen from near or far

A symbol of the Christ child as He lay upon the hay

You might also like