rChristianity can be attributed to the evolution of many of hercurrent holidays and festivities.1 January - New Year's Day is one the most favorite ofall holidays in Ukraine. As in Western countries on ChristmasEve, Ukrainians give "New Year" presents, Children receive theirpresents under the New Year Tree on the morning of the 1st ofJanuary. Traditionally just prior to midnight there's aPresidential speech broadcast nationally. When the clock strikesMidnight, people pop open thier champaign bottles and raise atoast. With the first glass they congratulate each other as theclock strikes 12 times and fireworks fill the sky. The weekbefore the New Year is a busy one with shopping, parties atwork, decorating pine and fir-trees, and cooking the years mostdelicious meals. The main folk heroes of this holiday are FatherFrost (Did Moroz) and his grand-daughter "Sniguron'ka" (...

...The SnowGirl). The tradition of predicting fortunes on this night isvery popular among young people. A peculiar tradition includes writing down on a piece of paperyour wish for the coming year, then dropping it in to yourchampagne and drinking it as the clock stikes twelve times.Another "fun" folk tradition pacticed mainly in the villages onNew Year night is for the unmarried girls to go outside andthrow one of thier boots over the Hosts' fence. Whichever waythe toe of the boot ends up pointing indicates where the futurehusband will come from. Nearly all businesses remain closed fromDecember 31st to January 8th.7 January - Orthodox Christmas The period from the 7thuntil the 14th of January is Saint Christmas week. During thisweek people go from one house to another, singing songs andwishing good wishes to health, prosperity, etc. and just havinga good time. Most usually are dressed in folksy or carnival typecostumes. Such activity is called "Kolyaduvannya" and"Schedruvannya". The songs are called "kolyadky" and"schedrivky". When somebody is singing these songs and greetingyou, as a rule you should give them sweets or food or drinks orwhatever you have as a token of appreciation. . It is believedthat everything that the people have sung in their Kolyadka andSchedrivka will come true.Also during the new year holidays, up to the 14th of January itis common for kids (and sometimes adults-in the villages) to gofrom one house to another wishing the owner of the house newyear wishes, new happiness, health, etc. All those wishes areusually said in rhymes and with the spreading of seeds, such aswheat or other grains. This shows a wish of prosperity for thehouse. This practice is called "Posivannya". Some token, usualyfood, drink, sweets, or money, is usualy given in return.14 January - Old Calendar New Year celebrated as a familyholiday. See more above under 7 January - Orthodox Christmas.22 January - Ukrainian Unity Day (Den Sobornosti) is animportant historical event in Ukraine. It goes back to the datewhen Eastern and Western Ukraine were united. On this day in1919 the "Treaty of Unity" between Ukrainians was signed and theunity of all Ukrainian lands previously belonging to the RussianEmpire (UNR) and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was solemnlyproclaimed on Sofijivska Square in Kyiv. "Den Sobornosti" is thesymbol of territorial and spiritual unity of Ukraine as aunified sovereign state....