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Ukrainian Holidays

There are many holidays celebrated in Ukraine. They can be divided in three groups: all-national, political and religious ones. Some of them have an ancient origin and others appeared in Ukrainian calendars quite recently. All official holidays are marked with red in Russian calendars and are days-off (excepting for our Services!) Here is the list of main Ukrainian holidays and some comments.

January 1. New Year.

This is everybody's favourite holiday. Decorating the Christmas tree, going to New Year's parties, getting presents, we love all this and impatiently wait for New Year's eve to come. This is a nice chance to give your lady a present and prove her that she is really very important to you.

January 6. Orthodox Christmas Eve.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Ukrainian church uses the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used in Europe and North America. Ukrainians therefore celebrate Christmas Day on January 7, rather than December 25.

A great deal of old Ukrainian customs that go back to centuries ago are connected with Christmas. They are fortune telling, singing Christmas carols, cooking traditional Ukrainian Christmas dishes, going to church.

January 13. Orthodox New Year.

Melanka (St Melania's Day) - the Orthodox New Year's Eve. Pranks are played and a young man dressed in women's clothing leads carollers. It is carnival time. This is celebrated on January 13, according to the Julian calendar. While Christmas is a religious event, Melanka is a merry-making celebration.

February 14. St. Valentine's Day.

The Day of lovers, when we give presents, candies and flowers to our sweethearts.

March 8. International Women's Day.

This day is hugely popular among women in Ukraine as they receive flowers, gifts and chocolate from the men they know. They should not do any housework on this day. It is recommended to send flowers and some gifts to all your Ukrainian ladies. It will be highly appreciated as it is considered to be a sign of your attention (or lack of attention).

April 11. Easter Day.

Easter comes according to the lunar calendar. It could fall on any Sunday in April or May and is full of lovely traditions. In 2011 Easter is celebrated in April 11th. Eggs are boiled and then painted brightly in different colours. Very special sweet Easter bread is baked, full of raisins. Often people will take food like the eggs and bread to the church to be blessed by a priest on Easter night. This is the day to stop and think about Jesus Christ's death for our salvation, about what we have to do to improve ourselves and the life around us.

May 1-2. Day of International Solidarity of Workers.

Originally the Day of International Solidarity of Workers, it became just a holiday of spring though communists make their traditional demonstrations on that day

May 9. Victory Day.

There is hardly a Russian family which would not suffer from Nazis in the Great Patriotic war 1941-1945. There is always a military parade involving all the people who took part in World War II. All the old uniforms are worn with the original medals. Their family and friends give these old soldiers flowers and congratulations.

June 28. Constitution Day.

This day in 1996 effective Ukrainian Constitution was adopted.

August 24. Independence Day.

In 1991 independence was proclaimed and Ukraine became a Sovereign state. A very important holiday.

November 7-8. Great October Socialist Revolution.

We commemorate the anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution that happened in 1917. History isn't something to be rewritten. Millions of people died in an attempt to realize their own ideas. They are all dead now, and History itself will decide who was right and who was wrong. We aren't to judge anybody, we are just to pray for the peace of their souls.

YOUR LADY'S BIRTHDAY!

And sure this day is the biggest holiday for your Lady. Do not forget to surprise your girl with a wonderful present.


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