4. Звичаї та обряди українського народу (Customs and rites of Ukrainian people)

Ukrainian national traditions, customs, and oral folk literature reflect Old Ukrainian pre-Christian and Christian cultures. The rituals derive from the folk calendar and religious celebrations. The rituals include folk dances, carols, fortune-telling, and blessing with water.

Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 19. St. Nicholas is the most popular saint in the Ukrainian church after St. Vladimir. Saint Nicholas is considered the special guardian of scholars, bankers, jurists, travellers, perfumers, sailors, unmarried girls, and brides. But most of all, he is the very special saint of children. The custom of leaving gifts under the pillow is very popular in Ukraine. Many omens and forecasts are connected with this day. A characteristic omen was the identity of the first guest to visit someone’s home. A female guest was a bad omen; a male guest would bring happiness and prosperity to the family.

Malanka or Shchedryi Vechir is celebrated on January 13th. On this day carols called Shchedrivky are sung by groups of unmarried girls. The most famous carol is “Shchedryk” by Leontovich. Girls also tell fortunes. And young men “take Malanka”, who is a fellow wearing women’s clothes. They go from house to house, scattering the grain on the floor and reciting verses of good wishes. For that they are rewarded with coins, sweets or pies. While Christmas is a religious event, Malanka is a secular, merry-making celebration.

Vodokhrescha or the Feast of Jordan is celebrated on January 19th. This holiday symbolizes the baptism of Christ in the river Jordan. Ukrainians gather in the front of the church where a cross of ice is placed. A tub is filled with water and is placed in front of the ice cross. During special services the water is blessed and brought home by the faithful and is taken in before breakfast is eaten. The remains are kept during the year to keep the home safe from fire, lightening, and sickness. The evening meal is very much a repeat of the Holy Supper.

Holy Trinity is the brightest celebration that happens in June on the 50th day after Easter. It’s one of the oldest Christian celebrations. In the time of the Old Testament it marked the date of receiving the Law of God by Moses on the Mount Sinai. Later, in the Christian times it began to celebrate coming of the Holy Spirit to apostles. In Ukraine it marks flourishing of nature. This co-existence of old pagan and late Christian approaches is seen in the decoration of houses, yards, and alters in churches with green branches, flowers, and herbs.

The Ivan Kupalo Feast is celebrated on the 7th of July. It’s a very romantic and magic holiday. In the evening on the 6th of July unmarried girls wear wreaths made of flowers and strong-smelling herbs and gather near the river. They make a dummy of Kupalo and a dummy of Marena of straw or tree branches and decorate them with flowers, wreaths, ribbons, and beads. Then they walk round them and sing songs. After that boys attack Kupalo, tear off the flowers and wreaths, and throw it into the water. Then they light a fire and everybody jumps over it in a belief that the fire has curative and purifying properties. Later girls escape from boys to tell fortunes by their wreaths. They light candles, put them onto their wreaths, and let them go by water. If the wreath floats smoothly and the candle burns brightly, the girl will get married. If the wreath floats around the same place, she will stay alone for a year. If the wreath drowns, she will never get married. There is also a folk-belief that anyone who finds the flower of blooming fern gets the hidden treasures and acquires miracle-working powers and knowledge, and even can understand the language of trees and animals.