Greeting Card: Print from original glasspainting by Yaroslava Surmach Mills St Nicholas Center Collection Copyright © Surma Book and Music Co, NY; permission pending

Postcard: image used on 2001 Ukrainian Christmas stamp St Nicholas Center Collection

St. Nicholas, Sviatyij Mykolai, comes to Ukraine on December 6th (or the 19th in the Orthodox Julian calendar). It is a happy day with visiting and sleigh rides. Schools have plays telling Nicholas stories and the saint visits local churches. Dressed as a Byzantine bishop, the good saint is often accompanied by angels. He quizzes children on their catechism before giving gifts. St. Nicholas Day is the main day for gift-giving, though gifts are also becoming associated with Christmas Day. Today many Ukrainian churches have St. Nicholas celebrations to help children understand that the holy man Nicholas came long before Santa Claus.

In Lviv one hundred and fifty volunteers prepare gifts for thousands of less fortunate children across Ukraine through the St. Nicholas Travels Around Ukraine campaign. The effort, organized by the Ukrainian Catholic University along with other organizations, collects gifts, then selects and packages them for delivery on Mykolaya, December 19. The program began in 2000.

St. Nicholas is the focus of seasonal charity in Kiev. The "Help St. Nicholas—Make a Child's Dream Come True" provides fifteen locations to collect toys, warm clothing, and books for children who are orphaned, in hospital, or from low-income families. Beginning on St. Nicholas Day, December 19th, the good saint has a house in Taras Shevchenko Park where children may attend free theatrical shows and receive a gift from St. Nicholas.

St. Nicholas history in Ukraine goes back to the 10th and 11th centuries. In churches, his icons are prominently placed on the iconostas, usually next to Jesus, the Mother of God, or the patron saint of the church. His icons were found also in nearly every home. In the mountains of western Ukraine where the Hutzels named the four seasons of the year after saints, winter honors St. Nicholas.

Ukrainian folk tradition recognizes two Saint Nicholas figures: "cold Nicholas" and "warm Nicholas."

Cold Nicholas, the familiar winter saint, is believed to bring the first snow by shaking his beard. In Western Ukraine accompanied by angel and devil figures, he is celebrated with gift-giving as described above. As the patron saint of spinning, yarns and thread were brought to church to "add to his beard."

Celebrated in the spring, warm Nicholas, patron saint of farming, is said to walk the land to dry overly wet areas and dampen the dry. On the festival horses begin grazing in the fields, sheep are sheared, and buckwheat sowed. In port areas the festival focuses on Nicholas as patron saint of the seas. Cossacks, like the Greeks, take St. Nicholas icons when sailing the treacherous Black Sea.

Ukrainian Amber Icon St Nicholas Center Collection

Ukrainian Beaded Icon St Nicholas Center Collection

Ukrainian Straw Icon St Nicholas Center Collection

In his annual statement wishing Ukrainian children a happy St. Nicholas Day, Ukrainian President Yushchenko, said, "Let God guard you and give you happiness, joy and hope. Let his divine blessing follow you in your life." He continued, "Ukrainians have [venerated] Saint Nicholas as the patron saint of children since olden days. He makes us believe our most cherished dreams will come true one day, endows our hearts with kind feelings and inspires us to do good."*

St Nicholas on cover of a book of prayers to the saint St Andrews Cathedral, Kiev St Nicholas Center Collection

* UNIAN News Agency, December 19, 2006
   Ukrainian Radio, December 19, 2008: "This bright and joyful holiday is the first holiday coming to us as a good winter fairy-tale announcing the approaching of Christmas and New Year. It gives us confidence that our lifelong dreams will come true, it also gives us hope and love, and inspires us to good deeds and mercy towards others," reads the statement posted on the official website of the head of state. Yushchenko said that Ukrainians like Saint Nicholas as a wise patron and mentor always helping all kind-hearted people. "His kindness and love to Ukrainian children is especially praised," reads the statement. On this festive day, the president wished all Ukrainian families peace, consent and prosperity.

Ukrainian St. Nicholas Song

St. Nicholas in Ukrainian Tradition for teachers

St. Nicholas Is On His Way . . .
       more about St. Nicholas and Ukrainian Tradition

Ukrainian Children Write to St. Nicholas

LINKS
St. Nicholas in Ukraine, Enclyclopedia of Ukraine

Ukrainian Saint Nicholas visits the United Nations

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