Ukrainian customs

Ukrainian customs connected to the birth of a child are filled with the rites and using of amulets. And also with many omens traditional in our country. The pregnant women are not recommended to meet the sick persons, look at the snakes or have their hair cut, sew or cut, buy something for a future child. The less people know about the future pregnancy – the better. Men and some women are not allowed to visit a newborn baby during the first 40 days. The Ukrainian rite of baptism is a very important one. It is a big sin to refuse the title of a godparent. A traditional Ukrainian crosswise haircut is performed at the first anniversary of birth. The Ukrainian omens are brought together with the Orthodox ones in these ritual actions.

Traditions in Ukraine are connected with the Old-Ukrainian heathen attributes. The youth, mischievous, poetic and very old holiday of Ivana Cupala (the night to July, 7), like in many Slavic nations, was connected with the Day of solstice some time ago. Nowadays you can see the girls to sing and dance in a ring and put the wreaths made of the flowers into the water and the guys jump over the fire and look for the blossoming fern. There is one more old Ukrainian tradition connected with the turn of the sun – January 7 (now – Christmas). Long time ago people used to tell fortunes in that winter time. Nowadays the Christmas Ukrainian customs include fortune-telling and addressing to the natural forces. Just before the Old New Year (January 13) children and teenagers still go round carol-singing. If you can sing or wish to celebrate someone you can earn a little of Ukrainian hrivnas or sweets. These children going round looks like American Halloween. One more Ukrainian tradition is to sanctify the water at Epiphany and believe in its wonderful and healing features at the night prior to the holiday. We clean our apartments on the Great Thursday (prior to Easter). We color the eggs and bake Easter cakes. We pray for the dead at the Commemoration Day. We see the winter off and meet the spring on Maslenitsa. We sanctify the fields and decorate our homes with the flowers on Trinity Sunday.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14