Yearly parties & holidays 2010

There is a list of parties & holidays in Ukraine, which we annually arrange at the territory of our ethno museum

January, 6 – 20 – Christmas holidays

The main idea of parties helds on next traditional holidays and rites: the Eve, Ortodox Christmas, the Malanka’s Day, New Year Day (by Julian calendar) and Baptism. Events consists of: singing carols, eating of kutya, action “Jingle bells”, Christmas extravaganza “Siju, viyu, posivayu!”, fortune-telling on Malanka’s Day (January 13).

February, 8 – 14 – The Pancake week, The holiday of Maslyana

In entertaining program: action “Winter, get out!”, burning “Winter’s scarecrow”, tasting pancakes and other events. Find out more about the Pancake week.

March, 14 – St. Yavdokha’s Day (Pagan’s New Year)

Since 1348 to 1699 in Ukraine New Year was celebrated on March, 1 by Julian calendar. Then our ancestors became to celebrate this day as a first day of spring. With this holiday were associated a lot of traits and predictions about the future harvest and weather.

March, 22 – Sorochyny, Ortodox Day of 40 Saints

The holiday of larks and arrival of spring. To speed its arrival, the hostess had baked 40 cookies before sunrise in the shape of birds and distributed it to children. Then they went into the field and called the birds. Also on this day people tread corydalis or any other herb. It was some kind of evidence of desire to live and be active.

March, 22 – 28 – Clear week and Willow Sunday (eng. Palm Sunday)

Clear week is a penultimate week before Easter. Willow Sunday falls on the last Sunday before this greate holiday. The roots of this holiday goes deep in pas. On this day people gently beat each other by the willow branch. The meaning of this rite is waking up creative energy and desire of health.

April, 5 – Ortodox Easter

In ancient pre-christian times this day called “Velykden’”, that means “the great day”. It was a holiday of awakening and blossoming of nature. With the coming of Christianity in 988 people became to celebrate the Easter. This is the most important annual religious feast in the Christianity Liturgical year. Also on this holiday people gave an Easter eggs to each other and taste the paska (Ukrainian Easter bread).

June, 19 – Trinity, Green Sunday, Mermaid’s week

Trinity – one of the most important holidays of the Orthodox calendar, which is celebrated for 50 days after Easter. In the Christian tradition symbolizes the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. Trinity is imposed on the pagan celebration of the late spring and early summer. People aimed to appease the souls of their dead relatives, who, with beliefs, lived in the woods and fields, because want they contributed to a good harvest. At our yard we arrange action, consists of moving round dance, setting of “vikha” and decorating houses by sweet flags (Acorus calamus) and mint (Mentha).

July, 7 – Ivan Kupala Day

The summer solstice holiday, rich on rituals associated with fire, water, herbs, purification of body and soul and the worship of nature. Celebrating Midsummer consists in driving the round dances, dancing through the fire, fortune-telling on wreathes. Look for news, there are will be a special evening program at our museum.

August, 19 – Great Savior’s Day

One of the largest grain-grower and annual Christian festivals, Lammas. By this time the harvest ends, so this festival in the nation known as “reaping”. In this day also hallow the apples, and the girls weave wreaths with the addition of ears.

September, 14 – Semen Stovpnyk’s Day

Begin the season of parties, called “vechornytsi”, which will last until Maslyana.

December, 12 to January, 5 – Andrew’s Parties

The main theme of this events are the holidays of St. Andrew, St. Sheba, St. Barbara, St. Nicholas, St. Anna (Kolyada) and rites that originally made at these holidays.

Entertainment Feature:

• biting of kaleta with drawing-up on rabble
• for girls – fortune-telling on wattle fencing
• for children and all comers – making of varenyky and their subsequent consumption

Follow the course of events during the year, look for cognitive news and you will surely find out more.