Traditional Pre-Christmas Holidays of Western Podillya

"The article analyzes folk winter holidays celebrated in December before Christmas as the greatest holiday of all Christians. There is a combination of folk (pre-Christian) traditions with Christian traditions, which co-exist to this day. The holidays analyzed in the research are dedicated to the most common names of saints in Western Podillya (as well as in Ukraine as a whole), which are most often given to the local residents. Dmytro’s/St. Demetrios Day celebration, in addition to its Christian custom, characterized by church services in memory of martyrs and honoring birthday people, is also known by the traditions related to celebrating the land in winter period, protecting cattle, as well as the cult of deceased ancestors. Celebrations of Dmytro’s/St. Demetrios holiday are proceeded by the celebration of Michael’s Day, which symbolizes the arrival of winter. In Western Podillya St. Michael is known as a protector against evil forces. He is also perceived by the locals as the patron saint of wild forest animals and hunters. Until the middle of the 20th century St. Catherine’s Day celebration in Western Podillya followed the rituals reflecting pre-Christian beliefs. Among them are rites of “destiny calling”, fortune telling and divination (considering the destiny of a future marriage couple), as well as honoring the cult of ancestors. During Varvara/St. Barbara celebration the most evident are magical actions associated with fire and water as the main elements in the world creation and symbols of the Nativity of Jesus Christ in the Christian tradition. Such lunar symbols as dumplings and pies are important for the understanding of celebration rituals. Most ritual actions convey love courtships related to the choice of a future marriage partner. St. Anna’s holiday completes the cycle of holidays related to Christmas celebrations. It marks the beginning of Christmas preparations: women clean houses, men arrange farm buildings and property, provide food for festive meals, girls organize groups for singing carols and other traditional customs of Christmas holidays celebration. Keywords: Western Podillya, Christian religion, ceremonial action, divination, folk holiday. "