Spring holidays were an extremely important event for our ancestors. For centuries, the Ukrainian people have been waiting for the arrival of spring, often calling for it in songs and rejoicing in every manifestation of it: birdsong, flowering and sunlight and warmth. That is why the spring cycle of holidays plays a special role in the life and culture of Ukrainians.

Features of the spring cycle of holidays in Ukrainian culture

The Ukrainian people have a centuries-old history and many traditions, customs and beliefs. Every year, Ukrainians celebrate spring holidays in Ukraine, which reflects our cultural values and mentality. The spring cycle is a kind of reflection of the fact that our people are ready for change and keep up with the times, ready for the emergence of something new, but treat it with caution. Often during the celebration of folk holidays of the spring cycle, you can observe the interweaving of Christian and pagan rites and customs.

Often, holidays were dedicated to the agrarian calendar and agriculture. This can be explained by the fact that for our ancestors, a good harvest was a very important aspect of a comfortable life. Therefore, you can find many traditions, signs and customs on this topic, and spring holidays are no exception.

The spring cycle includes the following 12 holidays:

Yavdokha (Eudokia);
40 holy martyrs of Sebastia;
The Cross (Adoration of the Cross Week);
Warm Alexis;
Palm Week;
Annunciation;
Easter;
Watered Monday;
Memorial Week;
Ascension;
Spring Nicholas;
Trinity (Green Holidays).

Each holiday in spring had its own sacred meaning for our ancestors and was filled with faith in a happy future.

Yavdokha (Eudokia): The Beginning of Spring and the Agrarian Calendar

Folk festivals of the spring cycle began with Yavdokha (Eudokia), which was celebrated on March 14 according to the Julian calendar. It was the day when the groundhog woke up, the fish in the pond broke the ice with their tails, and the birds returned to their native land.

On this day, the ancestors of the Ukrainian people welcomed spring. One of the main customs was the call of spring. People climbed hills and trees, singing vesnyanka. A good omen on this day for the owner of each house was to bring melt water, with which each member of the family was to wash themselves. Women usually planted seedlings in pots for this spring holiday. The peasants were already thinking about the future harvest, looking for workers. It was on March 14 that the winter hiring ended and the spring hiring began.

Yavdokha had other names among the ancestors of the Ukrainian people: “Vesnivka” (in honor of all the sung vesnyanoks), “Plyushchikha” (in honor of the ice that usually flattens and breaks on this day on ponds and rivers) and “Svistunya” (because of the first spring wind that whistled through the village).

40 Holy Martyrs of Sebastia: Honoring the Martyrs and Rites of Purification

March 22 was the day of commemoration of the 40 holy martyrs. This spring holiday had a special meaning for the Ukrainian people. On this day, housewives baked buns with lean fillings: berries, potatoes, cabbage, etc. Among the pastries, one could find buns, cookies, pancakes, flat cakes, dumplings, and more. Everything depended on the housewife and the family’s wealth. Often, the buns were shaped like birds, which were gilded with honey. The number of pastries was mandatory - there had to be forty pieces in honor of the 40 holy martyrs. The birds symbolized the souls of the saints flying to God. An interesting fact is that the first bird was always thrown into the oven as a sacrifice to the sun. In some settlements, dough birds were hung on tree branches, which was supposed to protect the birds from hunger and plague. Sometimes the pastries were buried in the field for a fruitful harvest for the next year. This rite once again emphasizes the sacred meaning of the folk holidays of the spring cycle for Ukrainians.

In addition, there were other customs for this holiday, including the rite of closing winter and opening spring. For this, girls had to break forty planks and tear forty ropes. Older women visited the church, put forty candles there and bowed forty times. It was believed that on this day you should not work, because you could earn yourself forty diseases and sores.

Cross (Adoration of the Cross Week): Spiritual Cleansing and Worship of the Cross

Adoration of the Cross Week is part of the Great Lent before Easter. This holiday of the spring cycle is dedicated to the worship of the Cross, which was established in ancient times to maintain the spiritual strength of believers. This day is a kind of reminder that the Cross is not only an attribute of Christ's death, but also a symbol of his Resurrection and the opening of the way to heaven.

Spring holidays in Ukraine, such as the Cross, were also accompanied by baking cross-shaped bread or cookies. Such pastries were made in the form of a Cross, part of which was stored in a barn with grain to call for a good harvest, the other part was often buried in the field for the same purpose.

Warm Oleksa: Awakening of Nature and the Beginning of Agriculture

The spring cycle of holidays continues on March 30, on the day of Warm Oleksa. On this day, one could see the arrival of the long-awaited arrival of spring, the snow melted, the rivers overflowed their banks, and the weather finally became warm and spring-like. On this day, farming began, housewives worked in the garden.

In many cities of Ukraine, on this day, birch sap was collected and drinks were prepared from it, such as birch uzvar. Beekeepers opened hives and asked for a honey summer. There was another ritual, everyone tried to find a crocus flower and trample it. Our ancestors believed that whoever did this would definitely live another year.

Palm Week: Blessings of Nature and People

The spring holidays of Ukraine also include Palm Week, which got its name in honor of the Christian holiday of Palm Sunday. But every year the holiday falls on different days of the week, since it directly depends on the date of Easter, which also shifts every year. The main rite on this day was the consecration of willow branches and their storage at home throughout the year. Often, family members were beaten with willow branches, which symbolized purification and health.

Annunciation: The Great Spring Holiday in the Christian Tradition

Annunciation is one of the most sacred days of the spring holidays in Ukraine, celebrated on April 7. According to beliefs, it was on this day that the Virgin Mary received the good news of the birth of Christ. On this day, the Ukrainian people wore elegant and richly embroidered clothes and did not do any work. It was believed that girls did not even braid their hair on the Annunciation.

Our ancestors had the custom of asking God on this day for everything they needed, because they believed that it would definitely come true. It was also important to have money on these spring holidays, they had to ring and count them, then there would always be abundance in the family.

Ukrainian people jumped over bonfires on the Annunciation and fumigated their winter clothes with grass smoke.

Easter: A Holiday of Resurrection and Folk Traditions

One of the most important spring holidays for the Ukrainian people is Easter. This is a day that symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The traditions of celebrating Easter can be seen everywhere in modern Ukraine.

Preparations for this holiday began in advance, during Holy Week. Usually, our ancestors whitewashed huts, bought meat, baked Easter cakes and painted eggs. The creation of pysanky dates back to the Roman Empire. When Mary Magdalene told Emperor Tiberius the news of the Resurrection of Christ, he demanded that the chicken egg on his table turn red as a sign of the woman's truthfulness. And this happened instantly. Since then, in Ukraine and a number of other countries, there has been a tradition of painting eggs and giving them to relatives and friends.

Easter cakes were baked on Maundy Thursday, three days before the holiday itself. Easter is the most significant day of the spring cycle of holidays in Ukraine.

Watered Monday: Water as a symbol of purification and spring joy

This holiday is celebrated on April 9. On this day, boys poured water on girls they liked, family members poured water on each other, believing that in this way they could give healing and health.

Watered Monday is characterized by cheerful rituals that came to us from pagan rituals. In addition to pouring water, immediately after Easter one could observe the so-called “streets” - cheerful round dances, games and dances of young people in nature.

Memorial Week (Farewells): Honoring the memory of ancestors

The week after Easter is celebrated as Memorial Week. At this time of spring holidays, there is a tradition to caress the graves of deceased relatives, plant flowers and trees on them, and leave gifts.

It was not uncommon to see Ukrainians tending mass graves or graves that no one cared for.

Saint George: Patron Saint of the Land and Livestock

On May 6, Ukrainians commemorate Saint George, who was the patron saint of farmers and herders. According to beliefs, it was on this day that winter and spring crops began to grow, meadows turned green, and gardens bloomed. It was believed that dew on this day was healing, and they washed their eyes with it, and young girls washed themselves to preserve their beauty as long as possible. Cattle were also taken out during the dew to protect them from all evil.

The celebration took place through folk festivals, dancing, singing, etc.

Ascension: Uplifting the spirit and blessing the harvest

The cycle of spring holidays also includes Ascension, which is a kind of tradition for blessing a good harvest. It is celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter, it symbolizes the resurrection of Christ from heaven. On this day, our ancestors performed special rituals for a bountiful harvest. For example, they watered flax, baked cross-shaped pancakes - pancakes, with which they went to the field, and also commemorated loved ones.

Spring Nicholas: A holiday of help and mercy

This holiday appeared in Ukraine in honor of Nicholas the Wonderworker, who is considered the patron saint of sailors and all travelers. So it is not at all surprising that on this day the Ukrainian people first took horses out to pasture, sprinkled them with holy water and led them through the field so that evil spirits would not torment the horses.

The morning of the holiday was spent at the service in the temple, and all day they tried to help the poor and needy.

Trinity (Green Holidays): A Symbol of the Unity of Nature and Man

Spring holidays in Ukraine end with Trinity, which is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter. Our ancestors invited guests to their homes and prepared light treats. There is a belief that on Trinity the earth should rest, so any agricultural work was prohibited.

Ukrainian houses were decorated with green plants, which served as a symbol of eternal life.

Echoes of pagan traditions in spring holidays

Quite often, our ancestors can see echoes of pagan rituals. This can be especially often observed during the spring cycle of holidays. This is due to the fact that since ancient times we have been passing on our traditions and beliefs from generation to generation, believing that the forces of nature are able to overcome everything and give our people a happy and comfortable life.

Our ancestors called for spring, performed rituals for a fruitful harvest, cleansed themselves, wished each other health with the help of willow branches, etc. Such pagan rituals can also be seen in modern cities and villages of Ukraine.

Preserving the traditions of the spring cycle of holidays for future generations

Spring holidays have always had a sacred meaning for Ukrainians. We adopt traditions, customs and rituals from our ancestors and pass them on to future generations. Such a custom supports the cultural heritage, strengthens ties between generations of the Ukrainian people and helps us preserve our own Ukrainian ethnicity. Let's continue to observe the traditions of spring holidays and pass them on to future generations!