New Year Holidays - АкваМаркет

New Year Holidays


The beginning of January for Ukrainians is a special period rich in various holidays. After the New Year's table, we invite guests for Christmas, then we carry a generous kutya for the holiday of Malanka and Vasily, after which we celebrate Epiphany. It is curious that in Ukraine there is a custom to celebrate the New Year twice - according to the old and new styles. The second New Year's Eve awaits us from 13 to 14 January, but it falls on another holiday - the day of St. Melania, which ended the calendar year among the Ancient Romans.

Malanka and Vasily holiday

January 13 has become an unusual combination of holidays that have different names: Old New Year, Generous evening, Vasilyev's evening, Malanka day. Indeed, on this date, several holidays fall at once, which have survived since pre-Christian times. Some this evening honor the memory of Melania of Rome. The history of the holiday goes back to the end of the 4th - beginning of the 5th century from the birth of Christ. As a Roman from a noble family, she was the first to believe in Jesus Christ. At the age of 18, after the death of her parents, Malanya inherited a huge fortune, but together with her husband she chose the path of serving the Lord. After selling off the property, they took care of widows, the poor and orphans. Malanya paid special attention to convents. That is why today Malanya is the patroness of young girls and the guardian of the hearth.

Basil the Great Day is a Christian holiday, the first day of the New Year. It has long been customary for the ancient sowing ceremony to be performed on Vasilyev's Day, when the peasants went from house to house, sang generosity with wishes of well-being.

In modern traditions, these holidays have united, and so the Generous evening and the holiday of Malanka and Vasil turned out. As you can see, already here you can trace the traditions and figure out when they sow and when they are generous. On the Generous evening, girls are generous, and on the morning of the first day of the New Year, boys are sowing. They visit relatives and godparents, wish them health and well-being.

Other traditions on Malanka:

  • In the villages on this day, a dressed-up goat is taken home, acting out scenes. The rite symbolizes a dying and resurrecting deity, and also attracts prosperity and a rich harvest.
  • A magnificent feast is definitely arranged, a generous kutya and other delicacies are prepared.
  • Unmarried girls on a generous evening guess on fate and on the betrothed.

What should be on the table

The tradition of sowing and giving on the Old New Year has survived to this day. While children in carnival costumes sing songs wishing health and well-being, parents and family members gather around a lush festive table. The main dish of the Generous Evening is kutya. A generous kutya is prepared on Malanka, adding honey, poppy seeds, dried fruits to the grain. According to legend, the more ingredients in the kuta, the richer the family will be in the new year. In addition, dumplings, pies, jellied meat, pancakes, and homemade sausages are prepared on the table.

It is noteworthy that rituals and traditions for the Generous Evening are known far beyond the borders of Ukraine. Thus, the classic Leontovich shedrik was translated into English and gained worldwide popularity. Surely you also know this New Year's folk song:

Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away
Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold,
Ding dong ding dong
that is their song
with joyful ring
all caroling
One seems to hear
words of good cheer
from everywhere
filling the air
Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o’er hill and dale,
telling their tale,
Gaily they ring
while people sing
songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
On on they send,
on without end,
their joyful tone
to every home
Ding dong ding: dong!

to every homeToday, not everyone remembers the ritual meaning of the rites. However, many Ukrainians do not forget about the existence of traditions and do everything to spread them. The holiday of Malanka and Vasily is the beginning of the New Year, which symbolizes new life and the awakening of nature. AquaMarket store wishes you Happy Holidays! We wish you good luck and prosperity, a bright taste for life and confidence in the future. Believe in miracles and create them yourself. Happy New Year!