What you need to know about Christmas in Ukraine…or when it is actually celebrated and why…
Christmas is the biggest and most celebrated holiday for all Christians. It is time for family reunions, happiness and joy. But if you have a Ukrainian or Russian girlfriend you are luckier and not only because these girls are beautiful, educated and loving but also because you have a chance to celebrate Christmas twice! You can ask why is that? This is because Christmas in Ukraine and Russia is celebrated on the 7th of January! The Orthodox Church uses the old Julian calendar which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar.
In the former Soviet Union the Bolsheviks adopted the Gregorian calendar at the end of 1917 which put them in line with the rest of the Western world. However the Orthodox Church who was opposed to the oppressive steps taken by the Bolsheviks to suppress religion, kept the Julian calendar. Historically the Julian calendar is sometimes called Old Style (O.S.) and the Gregorian is called New Style (N.S.). Thus a date would be written January 1/13, 2009, meaning the 1th in new style and 13th in the old style calendar. Don’t be surprised, but at midnight on the 13th of January people in Russia celebrate Old New Year that corresponds to January 1st in the Julian calendar, used in Russia before 1918.
Christmas Greetings
Let’s start with a few basic words and phrases. The table below shows Russian phrases written in Cyrillic, how to pronounce them, and English translations.
|
|
Счастливого рождества! [shchis-LEE-vah-vah razhdee-STVAH] |
Merry Christmas! (lit: Happy Christmas) |
|
|
C рождеством! [srah-zhdee-STVOHM] |
Merry Christmas! (lit: With Christmas) |
|
|
Весёлого рождества! [vee-SYOH-lah-vah rah-zhdee-STVAH] |
Merry Christmas! |
***
Svjat vecher or”Holy supper” is the central tradition of the beautiful Christmas Eve celebrations in Ukrainian homes. Christmas is a joyful day which opens for Ukrainian families with attendance at Church. Ukrainian Churches offer services starting before midnight on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morning. So, Merry Christmas to you and do not forget to buy Christmas gifts to your family members and your beloved.
