I heard Christmas in Ukraine is in January. Anybody know which day?
I also heard that if the girl doesn't want to marry you she'll give you a Pumpkin.... wtf???
Hmmm... Father Frost.... a.k.a. Santa Clause?.... or different?
Gifts on New Years?... or is that reserved for Christmas.....
Since I'm going to be there for both holidays, I don't want to screw it up & wind up getting Deported head-first on Christmas morning.......... or shot out of a cannon! :o)
Father Frost is as close to Santa as can be in respect of parents telling kids he's the one bringing them presents.
In Ukraine as well as Russia Christmas is a religious celebration, whereas the New Years Eve is the big family thing: gifts, family dinners, watching TV concerts and shows waaaay into the night, or full-on parties, getting so drunk you can't remember where you left your wallet etc. ;)
On Christmas Eve (6th of Dec) all TV channels are donimated by translations of church lithurgies of all kinds and other religious activities. The 7th of Dec (Christmas Day) is a public holiday, some go on partying, other do the family thing, but either way peopl e try to have as much fun as possible.
Usually, when you give a present or card to someone on New Years you inscribe it with: happy new year and marry christmas bla-blah... thus making it a present for both holidays. If you believe that you absolutely HAVE TO give a separate present on Christmas - it's usually something small and inexpensive.
The Pumpkin thing... Hmmm. I would find it extremely funny if it was still happening in Ukraine. Something tells me this tradition has long been forsaken. But if it does take place still - Jeez, have the camera ready as it would be a historical, once-in-a-lifetime kinda thing :) Not that many Ukrainian men are spoiled with such a show, I bet!
PS Usually, Ukranian and Russian girls won't come straight forward to ya (with pumkins or without) to tell they want to marry you. Most of us prefer to wait till the guy actually proposes ;)
Well New Year is a big holiday, and Christmas mainly is a religious holiday. We don't give presents on Christmas, but there are children going from house to house singing songs, and for that people give them apples, candies, sweets, and some money:) Oh forgot, children also bring "Kutay" - boiled rice with honey, raisins, nuts, and anything else (there is no a certain recipe).
New Year is usually celebrated all night long, very often from 10-11 p.m. up to....when everybody falls asleep, and that can be at 8 a.m. or earlier:) Children don't usually spend the whole night partying, but it also depends on a family and children too:) The presents are given and opened at midnight, or it also may depend on a family:)
A pumpkin.....hm....well it is a tradition which is no longer in use:) But earlier, if a man would come to a girl, into her parents' house, to ask her to marry him, and if she didn't agree she would give him a pumpkin, but if she did agree then she would give her bride-groom "rushnik" - it is an embroidered towel:)
Ok, chances I'm going to get cracked over the head with a frozen pumpkin are slim.....
That's good. :o)
So... party until I lose my wallet, and steer clear of singing kids armed with boiled rice... Got it!
Anything else I should know about the New Year - Christmas holidays???
There is a Ukrainian saying that 2 people who spend New Year together shall spend the rest of the year together, a romantic time for serious minded females.
In my experience, last New Year in Ukraine, the bars close during the early evening and the restaurants get fully booked or are seriously expensive. My New Year was in the family home, if yours is to be the same then a few days, 1 or 2 days, before offer to go to the supermarket to make your contribution. You can fill a trolley for very little money (by our standards) and you can make it (their) New Year to remember!
это неправда. в Киеве Хэллоуин популярен среди молодежи (школьники, студенты) - но не более, чем Новый год и Рождество Xристово. Мы не любим этот праздник!!!!!!!!
Translated !!
This is not true. Halloween is popular with just a few school children and students - but nothing like New Year or Xmas. We do not like this tradition !!!!!!
Halloween...well it depends on a person:) Last year, on Halloween, I was returning back home in the evening, from courses of business English, and a company of devils, and witches "lapsed" into the bus:) They were having lots of fun, and as well, all other passengers had a lot of fun watching them:) So it just depends:)
Thanks for re-organizing the forum Martin. I tried doing it yesterday but Vanechka, Pity, or whatever he's calling himself these days, wasn't through with his tantrums.
I dont know what she is talking about ,but my former girlfriend in Kyiv says all most all of her friends go way out for the costume thing in the "city" and i saw plenty of photos in bars and restaurants to proove it . She says plenty of people and adults do Halloween quite royally in the "city". Maybe Mrs. Rat is from the outskirts of the city of Kyiv. My former girl said Pagan holidays did well from the times when religion was banned . She was a culture and history teacher and tour guide of the city . Also an interpretor of English.
Jm & Conatus
Lena (Mrs Maxirat) did not live in Kiev Central - but like 90% of others lived in the Apartment Zones. She has read comments above and says its possibly a night life thing amongst party goers in the centre nightlife places but definatly NOT celebrated like Xmas or New Year.
She is like most I have met in FSU - they are not keen on any USA traditions or influences -the sight of MacDonald’s makes her cringe !!!
Having read through this thread now I understand why Elena wnated me to return at new year/christmas time. I didn't know that.
Hmmm - I find that really helpful it colors my opinion. Every little bit helps including her concern about my welfare in Wilma.
Incidentally I spent all day yesterday driving around Florida looking for a generator and inverter. I must have driven 400 miles easy. I get home and the bloody power is on!!! Now I have to return the frigging thing.
Neon here reporting from Russia. Can't seem to get onto my e-mail here but no problem getting onto the forum....go figure. All is well. Glad to hear the power is back on. Rather cool here, from 0 to + 8 so pack your warm clothes. Haven't had time to read the forum yet but will if I can get a little time to myself. I'll keep trying my e-mail. Later.