Old New Year

The postcard says:
"Happy New Year!"

Ukraine has two New Years. The tradition to celebrate the New Year twice comes from the beginning of the twentieth century. Before the communists, Ukraine had its own calendar. It was the same as the western calendar, only delayed by two weeks. The new government adopted the western calendar but the Church continued using the Old Ukrainian calendar.

Gradually, everyone has forgotten about the old calendar or has stopped celebrating religious holidays. Today, people celebrate New Year's Eve on December 31 and then some celebrate, or at least remember Old New Year’s on January 14. Formally referred to as Old New Year, Old New Year is not celebrated with quite as much merriment. Young people, of course, have a New Year`s party again! Then, after January 14th Ukrainians remove the decorations and Christmas trees. The holiday has ended.

St. Valentine’s Day

The postcard says:
"Happy Valentine’s Day!"

Ukrainians began celebrating this holiday not long ago, yet this holiday has become one of the most popular and favorite holidays of the year. Saint Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Ukraine as it is in America, with cards, candy, and small gifts. Loving couples give each other presents, go to restaurants or just stay in for romantic dinners at home.

Maslenitsa

Is an Orthodox Christian week-long celebration similar to Mardi Gras. Maslenitsa means "butter week", referring to the Ukrainian feasts that take place during that week consisting of eggs, butter, cheese, and milk - abstaining from meat. The week is also steeped in pagan tradition. Maslenitsa is still seen as the beginning of spring and the end of the long Ukrainian winter, known for its brutality and length. This was a time when the ancestors of the Ukrainians worshiped a sun god, in the hopes that he would stay long and bring bountiful harvests. Bliny (pancakes) was and is baked and eaten as symbol of the sun. The modern Orthodox have resolved this pagan connection by claiming that the sun is a symbol of Christ, or at least his holy spirit (which is also depicted by the golden circle that always occurs behind his head in Ukrainian Orthodox icons). Whatever their meaning, blini are tasty and are baked and eaten in large quantities. In addition, the holiday is also traditionally celebrat.

March, 8th

The postcard says
"Congratulations with
8th of March!"

International Women’s Day has become the most favorite holiday of all Ukrainian women. On this day men give women gifts, usually flowers. Men also are supposed to do all the housework, which is pretty nice; at least once a year women can take a break and relax.

Historically, March 8 has long been internationally associated with women’s rights, beginning with a famous mass protest in New York on March 8, 1857, when women from sewing and shoe factories demonstrated for rights equal to those of men. Men had recently won a 10-hour workday. Women, however, were forgotten in the legislation and were kept to a 16-hour workday. The strike was well-publicized and gained public support and became a day for regular demonstrations in the US and Europe.

In 1910, during a meeting of women for the International Socialist Party, a proposal was made to adopt March 8th as an international socialist holiday marking the struggle for women’s rights. The International Socialist Party adopted the idea, yet left the actual date of celebration to be decided by each country. The day was first celebrated in St. Petersburg in 1913, but it would not become an official state holiday and day off until 1965. Most likely, however, the greatest historical significance of the date for Ukrainians is as the date that Ukrainian women first gained the right to vote: on March 8, 1917 (according to the Julian Calendar), under the newly installed Provisional Government. Ukrainian women had campaigned for more rights as the war effort during WWI had necessitated that they take on a greater role in the workforce and society.

On an interesting note, American women gained the right to vote three years later.

April, 1st

The postcard says:
"Congratulate you with 1st of April!"

Ukrainians like jokes a lot. 1 April is non-official "the Day of Laugh". People tell jokes to each other, newspapers and TV publish funny stories and jokes. The motto of this day: Do not trust anybody on 1 April ("Pervoye aprelya - nikomu ne veryu").

May, 1st

The postcard says: "Happy 1st of May!"

1 May is the Day of Labor. During Soviet time there were huge demonstrations on this day, as everybody was obliged to show his loyalty to the state.

Now this holiday is celebrated with parades, concerts, food, and drink and traditionally kicks off the dacha season.