On New Year's Eve, Ukrainians decorate their "New Year's Tree", prepare gifts for friends and family, and have big (BIG) parties. And when the clock hits midnight, most parties have just begun. Since we live right in the heart of the city, we got to hear fireworks (like the big football stadium kind - anyone is allowed to buy them off the street here) going off from about 11 p.m. until 2 in the morning.... from every part of the city....
However, sometime before the clock strikes twelve families are traditionally gathered together giving gifts and discussing how the gifts are symbolic to the gifts that the new year will bring. Ukrainians believe that at night on New Year's Eve the old year with all its troubles and worries leaves them forever while the New Year with all its hopes and expectations comes knocking at their door. I really like that.
Also, while Santa Claus is our traditional symbol of gift giving, Snegurochka is the Slavic symbol of everything gifty and wintery. She is the daughter of Spring and Father Frost (who is also called Ded Moroz - the Slavic version of Santa Claus). I like the tale of Snegurochka so can I tell you about her real quick? Ok...
Snegurochka is a snow maiden who yearns for the companionship of mortal humans. She begins to like a shepherd named Lel but is unable to feel love for him since her heart is made of snow. Her mother, Spring, takes pity on her and grants her with the ability to love. But as soon as she has the ability, she falls in love with Lel and her heart warms up and she melts. Wow, now that I typed that out, it sounds even more depressing than when I heard it for the first time. But it's totally deep at the same time... the choice between life with no love or love and and loss of life. Hmmm....
(These are little matryoshka dolls depicting the scenes from Snegoruchka's life. Cute huh?)
Anyway, on the morning of the new year, children will find that Ded Moroz and Snegurochka have come to visit and have left gifts under the tree. Great way to bring in the new year, right?
Then, one week later, after all the partying and gift-giving is done, Christmas comes - a more religious observance and celebration of Christ's birth. Traditionally on Christmas Eve people gather together as families, sing carols, cook the traditional Christmas dish "Kutya", eat together, and then go to church to listen to the Christmas sermon. By this time, the New Year's tree has been taken down and Christmas becomes a less glitzy and glittery celebration and more of a serene and spiritual observance. I really like that too.
So maybe I secretly wish that we celebrated the holidays like Ukrainians. As I've mentioned before I am a huge fan of Christmas. I love everything associated with it. But I think sometimes I get it all mixed up - the gift-giving, the decorating, the stress, the hustle and bustle of it all - tossed in with what should be the most simple and reverent of celebrations dedicated to the birth of the Savior. But I know it can't be that way, so instead I'll learn to prioritize and balance out the Christmas celebrations in the future. A new year's resolution perhaps?
This sounds (and feels) a bit more like an anthropology research paper or something and not so much a blog post. Why do my posts always end up being eternally long? Good grief, I am so wordy! But look at me - doing research and being all brushed up on Ukrainian culture! Not too bad, I suppose. I guess I just wanted to talk about how cool the holidays are here... That's all.
Anyway, Merry Christmas! ;)
Wow, that's quite the story, and history! Very different, but cool at the same time. Hope you guys had a FAB Christmas, but we still want you back here!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is definitely a cool tradition and cool that you get to experience something different!! (Have you had your fill yet?....GOOD! Now COME HOME!!!)
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