Guests of the country often have a unique opportunity to plunge into the world of Ukrainian culture, taking part in the celebrations of Christmas, Maslyana, Easter or Ivan Kupala, admire the mysterious wedding ceremony, listen to carols and haivkas, try delicious ritual food, such as kutia, paska, and even join the fun process of coloring Easter eggs.

Christmas

During the Christmas holidays in Ukraine, the tradition of caroling is popular, when children go from house to house, sing Christmas songs and wish the owners peace and prosperity, “sowing” the floor with grains of wheat or barley, which brings prosperity and happiness to the house. In gratitude, the owners give the children sweets and coins that bring good luck for the whole year. On Christmas Eve (Holy Evening) on the eve of Christmas, the tradition of serving 12 Lenten dishes is strictly observed - according to the number of apostles. On the table, traditionally, kutya, uzvar, freshly baked bread dumplings, in which housewives hide coins. Whoever finds a coin will be lucky in the new year. A special place of honor in the house is occupied by Didukh, carefully preserved from the time of haymaking, into which stems of various cereal crops are inserted, such as oats, rye, wheat, as well as soft fragrant hay. Christmas songs are sung around the table, they remember all the good things that happened in the past year, and wish each other health and happiness.

Maslenitsa

The week preceding Great Lent coincided with the pagan holiday of seeing off winter and welcoming spring, so the celebration of Maslenitsa has always been a special fun, because ahead of 7 weeks of severe restrictions on food, thoughts and deeds. Pancakes, an indispensable attribute of Shrovetide, had a ritual meaning: round, ruddy, hot - they are a symbol of the sun, which flares up brighter, lengthening the days. In Ukraine, along with pancakes, dumplings with cottage cheese are especially popular. On Sunday, there are mass festivities and fun. In addition, on this day it is customary to ask for forgiveness from all relatives and neighbors in order to be cleansed of all bad thoughts.

Easter

Easter is the main Orthodox holiday. On this day, the souls of believers are overflowing with bright joy, this is also facilitated by nature, which has cast off the shackles of winter sleep and, in harmony with the universal joy, meet the resurrection of Christ. On the night of Easter, it is not customary to sleep, in the evening everyone goes to church for the all-night service. In beautiful baskets they carry a variety of dishes for consecration, and when they return, they begin to break their fast. Whatever the culinary variety on the table, you need to start the festive dinner with Pasca's Easter bread. On this day, every Orthodox Christian greets others with the words “Christ is Risen!” and receives in response the confirmation of these words “Truly Risen!”.

Ivan Kupala

The ancient Slavic holiday of Ivan Kupala in honor of the sun is celebrated on the day of the summer solstice. It is filled with rites related to water, fire and herbs. On this day, daredevils jump over the fire, and at midnight they look for a fern flower in order to gain the ability to see the future and gain untold wealth. The guardians of the family clan and the hearth weave wreaths. Girls and women in the early morning go to the forest or to the field, speak grass there for the health of their loved ones and relatives, jump with grass through the fire and then weave a wreath of this grass for their husband and themselves. Unmarried girls float their wreaths on the water: whichever bank he hits, the girl will go there and marry.

wedding traditions

The family is of great importance for Ukrainians, which is why wedding traditions, wedding and christening ceremonies are observed with great care. Wedding ceremonies begin with the ceremony of wooing: the groom sends elders, respected elderly people who ask for the hand of the bride. In case of consent, the girl takes out an embroidered towel, and a "garbuz" - in case of refusal. A few days before the wedding, traditional ceremonial bread was baked - loaf. On the day of the wedding, the young man goes for the young woman, where a ransom is demanded from him in the yard. After the church wedding ceremony, according to tradition, they go to the young man’s house to celebrate, and after the festive dinner, the young woman unwinds her braid and ties a scarf, as a sign that she is already a married woman. Celebrations, games and songs often continue the next day.