UKRAINIAN TRADITIONS Презентація

UKRAINIAN TRADITIONSPrepared by Lyudmila Otrosh,village of Podil, Sribne district,Chernihiv region,Ukraine

The Slavic people divided the year according to the nature and the work of corn-growers. A year consisted of two cycles: spring-summer and autumn-winter. The spring -summer cycle began on March 21 /the vernal equinox/ when the life-giving power of the Spirit of the Sun OR /in the Slavic - Yarylo/ awoke. After the feast of God Yarylo or Goddess Yara corn-growers went to the field to sow.

Our ancestors spent summer working in the field and observing the rites of the corn-growers. Whitsun [witsn] was called in Ukrainian the Green Week

Then the Petro Fast was observed. After the fast there were the fan days of Kupala on July 7

The first day of harvest was Makovii on August 14. On Makovii day shortcakes / shulikas/ topped with honey and poppy seeds were cooked

On August 19 Ukrainians mark the holiday of ripe fruits -Spas /Saviour Day/. On this day a sheath Rai, a wreath and fruits were consecrated. The drinking songs were sung to Rai, the Spirit of Harvest and all who took part in harvesting

After the Spas feast autumn holidays began. The parents presented their children with the fruits of their labour. Women-reapers used to go to the field to pick up the last rye stems and made wreaths and sang songs. They chose a girl, put a wreath on her head and wished her to be led to the altar as soon as possible.

On August 28 is the Holiday of the First Prechysta / in Christianity -Assumption/ was marked. It was the time of finishing the field works. It was the time of young people's gatherings and matchmaking.

On September 21, the Second Prechysta / in Christianity - Nativity of Our Lady/. It was the holiday of the mothers. On first Friday one shouldn't do anything or eat meat. After the Prechysta women scutched the hemp for yarn

On September 27, on Vozdvyzhennia / Movement, in Christianity -Exaltation of the Cross/ the Earth moves to winter. The birds fly to the warm parts. Before the 16th century, in Ukraine the New Year was celebrated at this time on September 1 /14/

The autumn-winter cycle began on October 23 /the autumnal equinox/. The harvest was gathered and the nature stood still. The Ukrainians used to greet coming of the season with carol /they became Christmas carols later/:" The sheaves will be like drizzles, The stooks will be like stars, The stacks will be like the Moons..." In this carol there are three images: the Sun in the image of a drizzle, the Moon and the stars.

On Pokrova /Shroud/ the agricultural year is over, nobody sows the winter crops. With the holiday many signs are connected. "If on Pokrova the wind blows from the east - winter will be cold". "If on Pokrova the wind blows from the south, winter will be warm".

Christmas is the most beloved festival among Ukrainians when the family gathers for a holy supper of 12 symbolic dishes. Food is one of the aspects of culture that endures the longest.

The beginning of the holy supper is signaled by the first star. Christmas Eve is really a family celebration. Traditionally, the father brings in the "snip", a handpicked wheat sheaf that represents the spirits of ancestors.

Wheat, flour and bread are important to Ukrainians: they came from the land and Ukrainians are close to the land. Preparations start a week before Christmas, pounding and cleaning the choicest wheat to make "Kutia". It is a dish of honey, poppy seeds and wheat kernels boiled in pure rainwater.

Christmas Eve supper begins with the lighting of the beeswax candle. After a carol and the Lord's prayer, the kutia is passed and everyone takes a spoonful. But nobody eats yet. The head of the family raises his spoonful and greets the family with "Khrystos Rozhdaietsia". The family answers: "Slavym yoho!" That's the signal to start the meal.

The meal is traditionally meatless and milk-free and features fish. The most well known dishes are "holubtsi" and varenyky or pyrohy. Broad beans, dried wild mushrooms, sauerkraut and beets figure in the side dishes. For dessert, compote of dried fruit and honey cake complete the menu.

Carols usually end the evening and signal the start of a joyous season of visiting.

Easter is the chief Christian feast, which celebrates the resurrection of Christ, on the first Sunday after the first full Moon that coincides with, or comes after, the spring equinox on March 21. Ukrainians are famous for colouring Easter eggs.

Thank you for attention