“Tomorrow, December 31, 2025, Ukraine will celebrate the Generous Evening, which according to the New Julian calendar coincides with New Year’s Eve. This holiday, also known as Basil’s Eve or Malanka, combines deep Christian traditions and colorful folk rites. On this day, believers turn to Saint Basil the Great with prayers, asking for well-being and protection from calamity”, — write on: ua.news
Tomorrow, December 31, 2025, Ukraine will celebrate the Generous Evening, which according to the New Julian calendar coincides with New Year’s Eve.
This holiday, also known as Basil’s Eve or Malanka, combines deep Christian traditions and colorful folk rites. On this day, believers turn to Saint Basil the Great with prayers, asking for well-being and protection from calamity, and the housewives prepare a rich dinner, which, according to tradition, consists of twelve nutritious dishes. The main feature of the evening is giving, when young people in bright carnival costumes go around the houses with wishes of happiness and wealth to the owners.
The tradition of carrying the Malanka is one of the oldest and most spectacular parts of the celebration, where participants dress up as folklore characters such as Goat, Baba, Grandfather and Malanka herself. During the rites, it is customary to sing shdervkas – special songs in which prophecies of a good harvest, family harmony and financial success sound. Such works as the legendary Shchedryk or humorous calls to bring a dumpling or a piece of lard to the window create a special atmosphere of the holiday. An important part of wishes in modern realities are also calls for disaster to pass by great Ukraine, and peace to reign in every heart.
A generous evening symbolizes openness and hospitality, so it is customary to invite as many relatives and friends as possible to the table. It is believed that the more generous the treat and the more benefactors visit the house, the more successful the next year will be. The holiday ends with preparations for the meeting of the New Year, which according to the Eastern calendar will be held under the sign of the Red Fire Horse, promising the nation dynamism and determination in the fight against Russia and the reconstruction of the country.
Read also how “Nova poshta” and Ukrposhta will work for the New Year holidays.
Parishioners in Kosmachi could not celebrate Christmas on December 25 due to a conflict in the church.
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