Holidays Glossary

12 terms — search by name or definition

Easter sweet bread with raisins — centerpiece of the Easter basket.

Krashanky — single-color dyed eggs; pysanky — wax-resist patterned eggs.

Wheat porridge with poppy & honey — first Holy Evening dish, symbol of prosperity.

Christmas Eve with 12 lenten dishes — starts at the first star.

Portable nativity theater — puppets and carolers, tradition since 16th century.

Sheaf of grain stalks — ancestors' symbol in the home at Christmas.

Kolyadky — Christmas; shchedrivky — Generous Eve (Jan 13). «Shchedryk» is the world-famous melody.

January 19 — water blessing, ice-hole dipping by tradition.

Pentecost — 50th day after Easter; homes decorated with greenery.

Obzhynky — harvest end: grain wreath; Spas (Aug 19) — apples and honey.

January 25 — students' day in Ukraine.

Third Thursday of May — embroidered shirt as identity symbol.