Christmas and New Year comes very soon. You probably wonder what are some Ukrainian/Russian traditions? What holidays are the most long-expected and the most enjoyable in Russia and Ukraine?
I hope some of my ideas may help you to understand your Russian/Ukrainian friend better.
So, let's start from the holidays which are just around the corner. Since religion has been suppressed here in the former USSR for many years, religious holidays and traditions of celebrating Christmas aren't as popular here as they are in the West (alas! A few generations of people were brought up as atheists!). However those things have been kept in national memory for years very deeply as something very warm and bright. During the last years this tradition has been recovering very fast!
Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January.
However the most favorite holiday here in Russia and Ukraine is still a New Year. They say that it's the most magical night in the whole year and if you make a wish at midnight it will definitely come true very soon! Of course we decorate a Christmas tree and do it the same way you do! Each family gets together at the festive table and has a great night meal, probably the best that they have ever had during the year! Grandiose fireworks start all around the cities at midnight and last for a few hours, people visit friends during the New Year Eve and New year night or at least congratulate their relatives and friends by phone.
Every person gives at least a little gift to each of the member of the family... Everybody expects to be given at least a small sign of love. Gifts for children are put under the Christmas tree and in the morning the children are told that "Ded Moroz" (Grandfather Frost), our Russian Santa Claus, visited the home last night and brought bright toys and chocolate, the things that a child has been dreaming to get during the whole year! Usually the party lasts all the night long and people feel very happy in spite of all the difficulties and hardships they are currently going through. It will be just right to say that it is the happiest night for everybody here. People treat each other as if they were best friends even if they have never met each other before, they smile, laugh and treat each other to champagne.
Gifts for the New Year must be bright, sweet, sparkling, funny :)! Delicious fruits and champagne, sweets, toys for children, lovely Christmas Tree are actually the best choice for the New Year gifts! We prepared a special New Year/Christmas offers for you!! Take a look at: http://www.charming-lady.net/newyear If you know for sure what present your lady-love dreams to get, it is also the best time to make her dreams come true! CD player? A double downy bathrobe? A ticket for the "Nutcracker" ballet? A computer? Anything else? We can fulfill any idea which could come to your mind! See some samples of gifts at: http://www.charming-lady.net/samples.shtml. Bouquets of flowers are represented at: http://www.charming-lady.net/flowers.shtml
Christmas is celebrated in a week after the New Year and it is a much quieter and peaceful holiday. In fact, it is mostly a holiday for God-children and their God-parents. According the Ukrainian tradition God-children visit their God-parents on the evening of the 6th of January (the Saint Night) and bring some traditional food for their God-parents (it is not because their God-parents are hungry, but it is just a custom). There are two breads of a special circle form - "kalach", candies, fruits, walnuts, cookies and a special sweet Christmas soup cooked with wheat, poppy-seeds, raisins, walnuts and honey. Children (and adults, too!) adore this Christmas soup - we call it "Kutya". So, God-children enjoy a quiet dinner at their God-parents' home and on finishing it get some gifts from their God-parents...
I believe that a delicious basket would be the most appropriate for this holiday. However your fantasy can give birth to a more interesting idea! You are welcome to share it! Let's discuss it at office@charming-lady.net
Please, don't forget to look at our New additions: http://www.charming-lady.net/latest/ They are really cute :)
My very best wishes to you, your family and all the nice people in the World!!!
Natasha Varetskaya, Ph.D.