Happy holidays to you! I drew two holiday illustrations this year, first the light-hearted one above. Then, as the new COVID variant spread and it became apparent that travel and get-togethers would be restricted AGAIN, I did the drawing below for Tribune Media. I hope your holidays are not spoiled, my sympathies if they are.
Holiday Season in Ukraine
Europa Square, Dnipro, the annual Christmas market, 2019.
I’ve had three holiday seasons in Ukraine and find its calendar more sensible than Americas’. America slams into high shopping gear on Black Friday at the end of November. From then until December 25 the malls, stores and highways are crowded and stressful as many people shop for presents, food and drink for that one day. It can turn the most jolly among us into grumpy cats.
But in Ukraine it’s not all needed on one day. They spread it out. Not all Ukrainians do it the same way, there is variation even within my small sample of students and friends. But, most Ukrainians celebrate Christmas January 7, the Orthodox Christian date with feasting and family. The religious go to church services. But, it is not the day for presents.
Ukraine also has Black Friday sales - which is a little odd, since, unlike the US, Ukraine does not have a holiday that Friday. My Ukrainian acquaintances are dubious about the alleged discounts, but it’s still a big shopping weekend. However, they don’t have the same rush to prepare for Christmas.
Christmas lights near Rocket Park, Dnipro, 2019
I’m told that the Ukrainian day for gift-giving is Saint Nicholas Day, December 18. One student said that’s the day his children awake to find presents under their pillows. That’s not a lot of presents, I observed. “Yeah,” he said “It’s not such a big deal.”
Next comes New Years Eve. I get the impression it is not as big a blow-out as it is in the west. The people I know spend the evening with family, not at a big party. Given the size of an average Ukrainian apartment, there is not enough room to have a big party at home. Parties tend to happen at restaurants or in parks.
Like America, the week between holidays is a school holiday and for some a work holiday. But, the bookending holidays are in reverse order and later. New Years first, then Christmas. It’s much easier in that order.
Dnipro tram decorated with holiday lights,, 2019
A week after Christmas there is “Old New Years Eve,” which would have been the New Year on the old calendar. It is not an official holiday. In some places a man comes to spread grain seeds on your threshold as a blessing for the year. I have not seen this, but I saw bits of grain on the landing outside my Dnipro apartment that day, so apparently my neighbors had this service performed.
The Christmas markets begin in mid-December. This year, Kyiv’s Sophia Square markets opened, and the huge city tree was lit up on Saint Nicholas Day. I haven’t seen it yet, but I have photos of past years markets in Kyiv, Liviv and Dnipro below. At the Christmas markets people sip their mulled wine and browse among the booths selling seasonal food and drink, trinkets and decorations..
Lviv Christmas Market, January 2019.
Lviv Christmas Market, January 2019.
Near the Lviv Christmas Market, January 2019.
Kyiv Christmas Market, Sophia Square, 2020
Kyiv Christmas Market, Sophia Square, 2019
Kyiv Christmas Market, Sophia Square, 2020.
Kyiv Christmas Market, Sophia Square, 2020.
Kyiv Christmas Market, Sophia Square, 2020.
Kyiv Christmas Market, Sophia Square, 2020.
Kyiv Christmas Market, Sophia Square, 2019. There are a number of commercial and seasonal characters to get a photo taken with.