Like in any other country, in Ukraine, there are many diverse traditions. Due to the cultural and religious peculiarities, there are some unusual holidays in Ukraine. Its celebrations are very interesting and differ from one region to another. However, there are certain national customs that we would like to share with you. When you travel to Ukraine, make sure that you will be able to visit during one of these holidays – you are guaranteed to experience the true Ukrainian spirit!

UNUSUAL UKRAINIAN HOLIDAYS

Below you will find a short timeline of the unusual Ukrainian holidays that we would like to share with you today:

SAINT NICOLAS’ DAY 

When: December 19

Saint Nicolas’ Day is a winter holiday which is mostly enjoyed by the children. On this day, parents buy gifts and hide them under the pillow while the kid is sleeping. Children wake up to lots of joy and enjoy the candy they have found under their pillows 

Every kid in Ukraine is waiting impatiently for this holiday. Everyone is trying to behave well as the holiday is approaching. We all used to write letters to Sain Nicolas when we were kids asking for him to bring us the most desired gifts.

In the Orthodox Christian tradition, Saint Nicolas is the bearer of gifts. He is also honored by attending the church and liturgy or worship services. There is another wonderful tradition of buying presents for the less privileged kids and families. So, you may stumble upon multiple charity projects if you visit Ukraine during this time of the year.

KOLIADA

When: January 6

Koliada is a traditional time during winter when friends gather and knock on the neighbors’ doors to sing carols to them.
You may learn more about Koliada as well as related Christmas traditions, such as food rituals, in this more detailed article about Christmas.

BAPTISM OF CHRIST (VODOKHRESHCHE)

When: January 19

Among other public holidays in Ukraine celebrated in January, Vodokhreshche honors the Baptism of Jesus. Every year, people go to local rivers and try the healing power of winter waters.

While the most courageous take a dip in the icy water, the rest just fill their bottles with it and carry it home. This holiday is one of the most prominent winter celebrations in Ukraine.

PALM SUNDAY

The unusual holidays in Ukraine also include the Palm Sunday. It precedes the traditional celebration of Orthodox Easter. It is called so because traditionally it is believed that Jesus’ path to Jerusalem was covered with palm branches. However, since Ukraine has no palms, the willow tree branches are used as a replacement.

Ukrainians go to the church and get their willow tree branches blessed. While coming home from the church, relatives hit each other slightly three with the branches saying “it’s not me, it’s the willow tree – Easter is just a week away!”

CLEAN THURSDAY

When: Thuesday before Orthodox Easter

The first traditional part of the Orthodox Easter is the Clean Thursday. This is the Thursday before Easter that begins with Ukrainians in the villages starting генеральне прибирання будинку,  прання речей,  догляд за присадибною ділянкою, якщо вона є.

На гуцульщині (етнічний регіон на заході україни) існує традиція on clean Thursday, the adults also cook pastries – kukutsi (кукуци)  which they give to the kids passing by their houses. Вважається, що це дають за померші душі предків, за здоров’я курей, худоби, по-різному.  The children would go from one home to another honoring the holiday and gathering bread.

“In the village Verkhovyna, where my grandmother lives, it is called “warming up the grandpa” (in Ukrainian – “гріти діда”). In the childhood, we were looking forward to this day. On Wednesday before Easter, we used to go with a packet from  house to house and said: “warming up the grandpa – give bread” (3 times). For this tradition grandmother baked cookies, some people usually just were given sweets.” – says Nadya from the Active Ukraine team

The next tradition connected to the Orthodox Easter is visiting the church overnight from Saturday to Sunday. Ukrainians prepare by coloring boiled eggs, cooking bread (paska), and gathering the most delicious food for the whole year into one basket. They take this basket with them to the church for the priest to sparkle some blessed water on it.

The colored eggs are also called pysanka (Ukrainian: писанка) and many people spend hours or even weeks coloring them before Easter.

Western Ukraine is the place to be during this magical time of the year!

One week after Easter, Ukrainians honor their deceased relatives. On the next Sunday, it is a tradition go to the loved ones’ graves and leave food there. In some regions, it is even acceptable to have “picnics” in the graveyards. The whole week after Easter is referred to as Radunytsia (or the Day of Rejoicing) and this is the week of the remembrance of those who have passed away.

The visitors eat and leave food on the graves. During Soviet times, the tradition to drink above the grave appeared but it is not as common anymore.

GREEN HOLIDAYS AND THE TRINITY DAY

Among other unusual holidays in Ukraine, the Green Holidays are celebrated seven weeks after Easter.

This holiday is believed to be borrowed from the Jewish Pentecost, which is the celebration of the harvest. On the Trinity Sunday, Ukrainians go to the church to get the assorted green branches blessed by the priest. Then they decorate their houses with them. The next day, on Monday, everyone enjoys a public holiday in Ukraine, which is a day off from work

 KUPALA NIGHT

Traditionally celebrated in 6 July, Ivana Kupala night also attracts the male attention as men seek and gather the wreaths made by women. If caught from water by a man, the flowers symbolize a captured female heart.

Ivana Kupala traditions appeared centuries ago in Ukraine. However, wreath weaving is still honored, more so in the village areas.

There are also a few traditions that we would like to share with you which do not have a pre-determined date. However, they are still important as part of the Ukrainian heritage. They may not be vastly celebrated in the large cities anymore due to urbanization. However, they carry the true Ukrainian spirit along with them.

UNIQUE TRADITIONS IN UKRAINE

TRADITIONAL HUTSUL-STYLE BURIAL

While touching upon the traditions related to the dead, it is worth mentioning Hutsuls (Ukrainian: гуцули). They compile one of the ethnic Ukrainian groups who focus much on the old customs. They especially honor traditional burial rituals and celebrate all national holidays with special respect to the dead ones.

As the tradition goes, the Hutsuls keep the dead person for two days after death. During these two days, relatives, friends, and neighbors visit to pay their respects. Only on the third day, the burial is carried out. The body of the deceased person is washed, the lips may be sealed, and the clothes are changed. This process depicts cleanness and muteness that come with death.

It is also believed that some activities around the dead person scare away the evil spirits. Therefore, during the two days when the body is kept, the relatives treat guests with podavanyky(Ukrainian: подаваники). They include a treat made from bread and a candle. This is a gift for a prayer for the soul of the dead which is expected from every guest.

According to the tradition, during the funeral, the duke reads psalms above the coffin. Afterwards, relatives have a drink for the repose of the soul of the dead. Of course, many families and even ethnic regions still keep the tradition alive. Even though most large cities have moved on towards less traditional funeral services, these activities still remain as the heritage of the Ukrainian nation.

DEN’ SELA (THE DAY OF THE VILLAGE)

In the Ukrainian culture, The Day of the Village is a traditional one-day-long event honoring the village. During this day, the participants demonstrate their skills to their fellow neighbors, perform on stage, and show their art.

During the celebration, there is poetry reading dedicated to human labor. In the Ukrainian village, life revolves around working with your own hands in order to make your village better. For example, most village residents grow vegetables and flowers which they sell to sustain themselves as well as their families.

As the celebration unfolds, the participants are invited to dance and try traditional food and drinks. Oftentimes hostesses will cook pampushky (the traditional Ukrainian bread with garlic) and treat guests with national drinks.

On this day, villagers visit each others’ homes and exchange treats. Everyone cooks a lot of cakes in order to exchange them with the neighbors as a symbol of hospitality.

FIRST AND LAST BELL IN SCHOOLS

The first and last day of studies is celebrated in every school. The whole school gathers in the yard and there is traditional poetry reading as well as a small concert. Every first day of school, which is September 1st, the best senior carries a first-grader who rings the traditional bell calling everyone to attend their first class of the year.

At the end of the school year, in May, there is a similar gathering. Everyone says farewell to the school for three months. The graduates dance a traditional waltz and sign their high school hymn together. There is also a parade of seniors on this day – the seniors of all high schools in the city gather and walk together to commemorate the end of their studies.

On this day, the graduates also get their diplomas and the best students are awarded gold and silver medals for their academic achievements. Most schools also organize gala diners afterwards. The graduates, teachers, and parents wear official attire and attend a restaurant where the seniors are toasted by their parents and professors to the bright future ahead.

Do you like unusual Ukrainian holidays and traditions? Are there any similar customs in your home country? Do many people follow them? Feel free to share with us.