Public Ukrainian Holidays
Here we would like to tell you something about the most popular holidays we celebrate here in Ukraine:
Ukrainian holidays in January
1.1 New Year's Day
This is one of the favourite holidays in Ukraine. The tradition is similar to the Christmas Eve combined with The New Year celebrated in Western countries.
The main folklore characters in this celebration are Father Frost (Did Moroz) and his granddaughter The Snow Girl (Sniguron'ka). Also on this occasion the young people like to predict the future.
7.1.-14.1. Orthodox Christmas time
During this holiday people meet family and friends and generally have a good time together. In some smaller towns there is a the tradition to put up folk or carnival type dresses and sing songs to the people passing by.
When the people hear these songs (kolyadky & schedrivky) they are supposed to give all kind of treats to the singers. In these songs lie a hope that all wishes mentioned will come true eventually
14.1. Old Calendar New Year
Orthodox Christmas time ends with a holiday within the family.
25.1. Student's day
This day is also called Tatyana's day. People celebrate the phase of their life when they still are or have been students in a school. This is also a very old tradition.
Ukrainian holidays in February
14.2. St. Valentine's Day
St Valentine's day is adapted from the western tradition, but nowadays it is a well-liked day to remember friends and lovers.
23.2. Men's Day (used to be The Soviet Army Day)
The male gender has its own special day. On this day - from a boy to a grown man - the male will be the center of attention. The women will show their affection to men with warm words and presents.
Ukrainian holidays in March
8.3. International Women's Day
This is also the first spring holiday here. Since 1965 it has been an official day off for women and men also. This is the same kind of day as Men's day except the roles of the giver and the taker have been reversed.
Ukrainian holidays in April
1.4. April fool's day (The day of laughter)
A day for making jokes and tricks on friends and family. The main place for this kind of action takes place yearly in the city of Odessa.
Easter time
This is an important holiday season in Ukraine. It is filled with religious rituals, making certain seasonal dishes and other kind of activities (for example painting the eggs).
Ukrainian holidays in May
1.-2.5. Labor (May) Day
More so a holiday to celebrate the glory of spring and the optimistic expectations for the coming summer than what it used to be - the day to celebrate the workers around the world.
9.5. Victory Day
A day for happiness and also sadness. This day is a remembrance day to people who lost their lives during the Second World War. And to remember the people who made it sure that life could go on nevertheless all the pain and the suffering they had to endure. On this Memorial Day it is a tradition to go to a certain place near their town to remember the mentioned people.
Ukrainian holidays in June
1.6. International Child Protection Day
A day dedicated to children and the joys of childhood. A joyous day with a lot of music, theatre plays and shows.
6.6. Ivan Kupala Day
The day for celebrating the summer in its strongest peak. Many kind of traditional ceremonies are held at this day. This is the time to celebrate the pure and optimistic side of life. These traditional ceremonies include wishes for a better future. Important elements of these ceremonies deal with fire and water.
Holy Trinity Day (50 days after the Easter)
On this important day (Svyata Troyitsya - "Green Sunday") people remember the passed away family members and friends. People visit the cemeteries and leave food and traditionally some drinks by the burial plots. It is thought to be a good sign if the food and drink disappear before the next visit to the cemetery will take place.
28.6. Constitution Day
On this great day Ukraine celebrates its Constitution of Independency made in 1990 - with fireworks and music concerts all across the land.
Ukrainian holidays in August
1.8. Navy Day (The first Sunday in August)
A feel-good celebration day. A lot of parades, music concerts and again - fireworks! This holiday is more important in the seaport town Sevastopol, which situates in the Crimea.
24.8. The Day for Independence
The whole country celebrates the Declaration of Sovereignty of Ukraine that was sealed in 1990. This is the most important of the state holidays in Ukraine. And again the way to celebrate is fireworks and some high-grade music events.
Ukrainian holidays in September
1.9. The Day Of Knowledge
The day for the students to begin their studies after the summer holidays.
Ukrainian holidays in October
5.10. Teacher's Day
A day for paying attention to the hard work the teachers are doing around the country.
Ukrainian holidays in December
19.12. St.Nicolas Day
This day is very similar to the Christmas Eve celebrated for example in the Western Europe. A day for the children. The parents and the relatives give presents to the children. This is supposed to be done in secrecy from the children. This day is the start of the Ukrainian Christmas time holidays.
25.12. Christmas Eve
Very traditional celebration day that is known in Ukraine too, but more so in the western part of Ukraine.
This is how we spend our holidays. The holidays are days off from work – time for all the daily routines to be forgotten. On holidays people meet their family, relatives and friends. They enjoy each others company talking, singing, eating and drinking.
