Ukrainian winter holidays are full of bright rituals that convey the spirit of the people and their centuries-old culture. An important place among them is occupied by ritual songs - carols, Christmas carols and sow songs, which are performed during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
We will remind you that in September 2023, OCU switched to a new church calendar. Since then, the dates when caroling, giving and sowing have changed. We will tell you when you should wish your neighbors happy holidays in a new style.
When they carol in Ukraine in 2024 according to the new calendar
The traditional date of caroling in Ukraine is Christmas 2024, which is celebrated on December 25 . That is why many beautiful carols celebrate the birth of Jesus. You can carol not only on the holiday itself, but also on Christmas Eve, December 24.
Carols can be sung at any age. In these songs, it is customary to admire the life of the owners, to wish them prosperity and good health. And as a reward, carolers receive a coin or a gift. As a rule, the better performed the song, the more generous the hosts will be.
When they are generous in Ukraine according to a new style
In Ukraine, there is a clearly defined date when to give generously to children - New Year's Eve, December 31 . On this day, believers celebrate the Generous Evening or the holiday of Malanka.
Christmas carols, like carols, praise the economy and contain wishes for prosperity in the new year. Of course, one cannot do without a request to give the benefactors something tasty. In Ukraine, it is customary to perform these songs in festive costumes of Vasyl, Koza and Melanka and other characters. The performance of donations turns into a real theatrical performance.
When they sow in Ukraine in 2024
Ukrainians have been sowing seeds for a long time on the Old New Year or the church holiday of St. Basil, which according to the new style falls on January 1 .
Traditionally, only boys and men sow in Ukraine. Planters are dedicated to the coming of the new year and the wish for abundance in the house. To make the words more convincing, during the song, the threshold of the house owners is sprinkled with grain - for a good summer harvest.
When they go caroling, be generous and sow according to the old calendar
If you still adhere to the old church style, then the dates of the winter entertainment will be as follows:
- caroling - January 6 and 7;
- to be generous - January 13;
- to sow - January 14.
Previously, we published a complete Orthodox calendar for 2025, which named the most important church holidays of the coming year.
