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nnThisnspecial day is celebrated in many European nations on December 6 andnoften features gift giving—including St. Nick leaving toys andnsweets in children’s shoes. However, in the Ukraine and some othernnations, this holiday is often celebrated today, December 19!
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nnWhynthis later date? It is because people in the Ukrainian Church (andnGreek and Russian Orthodox Christians, also) typically use the Julianncalendar for holidays, and the Julian calendar is 13 days behind thenGregorian calendar. Christmas isn’t celebrated on the Julian calendarnuntil January 7, and New Year’s Eve is on January 13. n
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nnHowever,nthe world is shrinking. Many people move to or visit other countries,npeople share information globally, and to some extent our customs arenevolving as we exchange ideas. It is harder, these days, to try to donbusiness if many others are closed for the day because of anholiday—and it’s also hard to close for a holiday on a day whennmost of the world is still doing business. These things put pressurenon Ukrainians to conform to the rest of the world. Most Ukrainiannfamilies now exchange gifts on Christmas Eve or morning rather thannon St. Nicholas Day, and some families celebrate Christmas twice—onnDecember 25 and January 7!
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nnSaintnNicholas lived in the 4th century in Myra, Asia Minor,nwhich is now part of Turkey. Nicholas entered a monastery as youthnand eventually became a bishop. He was mistreated and imprisoned bynsome powerful people, but then he was freed by Emperor Constantine.nHe was generous with others, and there are some stories about himnleaving gifts secretly, in the middle of the night. Hmm…does thatnsound familiar?
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| Try making Ukrainian Saint Nicholas Cookies. Here is a recipe (you’ll have to scroll down). |
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nTonfind out more about St. Nicholas Day, checknout this earlier post.
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nTonfind out more about Ukraine, checknout this, that, and this other earlier post.
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nTonfind out more about the Julian and Gregorian calendars, checknout this and that earlier post. n
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nAlsonon this date…
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nIt’snstill time for Las Posadas!
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nAnniversary of Samuel Clemens’s first patent
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