On December 24, Ukraine celebrates Christmas Eve, a special day on the eve of Christmas, and also honors the memory of the holy martyr Eugenia of Rome. There are 7 days left until the New Year.
According to the church calendar, December 24 is the day of memory of the holy martyr Eugenia of Rome. The saint lived in the 4th century and came from the family of a noble Roman senator. Despite her high birth, she chose an ascetic lifestyle, dedicating herself to serving God. During the period of persecution of Christians, Eugenia suffered a martyr's death for her faith. Her feat became a symbol of spiritual courage, loyalty to convictions, and self-sacrifice.
On Christmas Eve, believers observe strict spiritual and domestic restrictions. It is not recommended to talk loudly and make noise during dinner. Christmas Eve is considered a family day, so you should not invite guests. It is forbidden to quarrel, curse, and sort out relationships - the day should be spent in peace, silence, and prayer.
Our ancestors have long carefully observed nature on this day. It was believed that a starry sky portends a bountiful harvest, a thaw - a poor year, a clear sky without clouds - an abundance of mushrooms, and a blizzard - a good honey harvest.
Traditionally, the family sits down at the festive table with the appearance of the first star, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. There should be 12 Lenten dishes on the table - according to the number of apostles. The main one is kutya, and they also prepare uzvar, Lenten borscht, vareniki, fish and mushrooms.
Mykola, Sergiy, Evgeniya, and Klavdiya celebrate their name day on this day.
The talisman of people born on December 24 is considered to be turquoise — a stone of happiness and protection, which has long been used as a talisman, particularly for children.
On December 24, Ukrainian politician and publicist Vyacheslav Chornovil, Olympic fencing champion Hryhoriy Kriss, and Hero of Ukraine, serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksiy Senyuk were born.
This day is marked by a number of important events in the history of Ukraine and the world - from the conclusion of international treaties and opera premieres to the first aerial bombing and the launch of the Ukrainian satellite "Sich-1M".
Ukraine also celebrates the Day of Archivists on December 24. The professional holiday of archivists emphasizes the importance of their work in preserving national memory and historical documents.
In addition, this day is celebrated as Gogol-Mogol Day, a traditional homemade delicacy that is considered nutritious and good for health.
