December 19 used to be one of the most important dates for Orthodox believers. After the transition to the new church calendar, the list of religious commemorations changed, but the day remains full of events, professional holidays, and folk traditions.
According to the new Orthodox calendar, on this day the martyr Boniface and the venerable Ilya of Kiev-Pechersk, the hermit, are honored. The latter is popularly considered the patron saint of warriors. Therefore, relatives of the defenders of Ukraine traditionally pray to the saint with a request for intercession, preservation of life and restoration of health after injuries.
At the same time, many believers remember which church holiday was celebrated on December 19 according to the old style. It was on this day that they celebrated the Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the patron saint of children and the needy. According to tradition, children were given gifts in the name of the saint, and adults were engaged in charity.
Internationally, December 19, at the initiative of the UN, is celebrated as the International Day of Helping the Poor. Its goal is to draw public attention to the problems of the poor and encourage people to do charitable deeds. On this day, it is customary to help those in need with money, things or volunteer support. Also, the world celebrates Evergreen Day, Emo Subculture Day, Oatmeal Day and Funny Sweater Day.
In Ukraine, December 19 is an important professional date — the Day of the Bar, or Lawyer's Day. This is a holiday for people who protect the rights of citizens in courts, check the legality of transactions, and provide legal advice. Their role in ensuring law and order and justice in society is difficult to overestimate.
Also, famous Ukrainian cultural figures were born on this day: poet Mykola Filyansky, translator Mykola Lukash, writer and human rights activist Mykola Rudenko, and writer Maria Matios.
In folk tradition, December 19 was associated with weather signs, primarily with the wind. If it blew from the north, frosts and a snowy winter were expected, from the south, a quick warming. A strong squall was considered a harbinger of a good harvest in the summer, and the noisy behavior of tits foreshadowed bad weather. A clear sky promised a frosty January.
According to beliefs, the day was considered favorable for needlework, creative activities, fishing and even planting seedlings. However, there were also prohibitions. It was not recommended to be lazy, jealous, have evil thoughts, quarrel or curse. It was also not advised to do heavy physical work, clean or repair. According to signs, it was not worth borrowing money on December 19, so as not to spend the next year in debt.
