St Nicholas Day 2024: date of celebration, traditions and history
22 October 2024 04:06
St Nicholas Day is one of the most favourite holidays in Ukraine, looked forward to by both children and adults. This holiday has religious origins, but over time it has acquired a completely different meaning. It has long been famous for its traditions, the most popular of which is the tradition of leaving sweets and gifts under the pillow. When is St Nicholas Day in 2024 and the traditions of celebration, "Komersant Ukrainian" tells
When is St Nicholas Day in 2024?
In September 2023, the OCU and the UGCC switched to the New Julian calendar. As a result of this transition, the date of celebration of most church holidays has shifted 13 days forward.
Thus, while before the transition to the new church calendar, St Nicholas Day was celebrated annually on 19 December, since last year the date of celebration has changed and is now celebrated 13 days earlier. In other words, St Nicholas Day in 2024 is celebrated on 6 December, and this year it falls on a Friday.
The history of St Nicholas Day
St Nicholas is one of the greatest saints for Christians, known for his mercy and help to those who really need it. In the fourth century AD, he was born in Lycia, which is located in modern-day Turkey, into a wealthy Christian family, when this religion was still being persecuted. Already at a young age, Nicholas decided to devote his life to serving God and became the bishop of the city of Myra, where he used his inheritance to help the poor.
In a number of legends and traditions that have survived to this day, one can read about the many good deeds of St Nicholas. One of the most famous is the story of how he secretly helped an impoverished man provide for his three daughters. St Nicholas secretly brought gold to the man’s house, which later became the basis for the tradition of anonymous gift-giving. It is believed that he repeatedly helped people in the most difficult situations, saving them from trouble, healing them from illness and saving them from the death penalty, which is why he was called St Nicholas the Wonderworker.
The veneration of St Nicholas the Wonderworker has ancient roots in Ukraine. As early as 882, a church was built in his honour in Kyiv, and the Cossacks of the Zaporizhzhian Sich considered him their patron saint. Icons of St Nicholas were also a constant feature on ships embarking on long journeys.
In modern culture, St Nicholas appears as a kindly grandfather who brings gifts to children. In English-speaking countries, this character is known as Santa Claus, who brings gifts at Christmas. Despite the differences in cultural traditions, the basis of the image remains the same – it is a symbol of kindness and help to those in need.
Traditions on St Nicholas Day
St Nicholas Day is primarily associated with its interesting and pleasant traditions. The most popular traditions include the following:
- Leaving gifts or a carving under the pillow. A few days before the holiday, children write letters to St Nicholas, telling him how they behaved throughout the year and writing a list of their wishes. It is believed that polite and obedient children receive the desired gifts and sweets, while children who have misbehaved may find a stick under their pillow, symbolising the need to reflect on their behaviour and improve.
- Do charity work and help others. Due to the religious roots of this holiday, most people strive to do good deeds and help those in need on this day. Thus, imitating the good deeds of St Nicholas the Wonderworker, believers organise charity collections on this day and donate their money to help children, the elderly, the sick, and military personnel or war veterans.
- Attend worship services. On this day, churches across the country hold solemn religious services in honour of St Nicholas the Wonderworker. These services bring together believers who want to pray and ask for help and protection from St Nicholas.
- Hold celebrations in honour of St Nicholas. It is common for schools and kindergartens in Ukraine to hold celebrations in honour of this holiday. Children actively participate in festive performances, where they put on themed plays, recite poems and sing songs dedicated to this saint. Such events are often accompanied by gift-giving, which adds to the festive atmosphere.
In summary, St Nicholas Day is one of the most favourite holidays of Ukrainians, symbolising the importance of charity and good deeds. The most pleasant aspect of this holiday is the tradition of exchanging gifts, which gives it an atmosphere of family warmth. In addition, this event also has a deep historical and cultural significance and serves as an additional reason to help those in need and show mercy to others.
Author: Olya Yushko
