senior citizen
12-30-2014, 07:14 AM
If our grandparents had not emigrated to the United States, but had remained in Poland, Ukraine, etc., here is how we might remember their customs for New Years.
Polish New Year Traditions
Szczesliwego Nowego Roku -- Happy New Year in Polish
New Year's Eve is known as Sylwester because it falls on the feast day of St. Sylvester.
Poles party hearty with good food and drink. New Year’s Day festivities might include a hayride into the forest where a bonfire is set and sausages, bigos and wodka are enjoyed.
Bakers sell breads and rolls in the shape of rabbits, sheep, geese, and cows to assure wealth and good luck for the coming year. Round or ring-shaped breads are also popular because they symbolize life coming full circle and eternity, and paczki are served for dessert. (paczki are jelly doughnuts).....
Sylwester begins Carnival -- a period of balls and parties before Lent begins.
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Ukrainian New Year Tradition
Z Novym Rokom -- Happy New Year in Ukrainian
Feasting on fish, pork, legumes, holubtsi (cabbage rolls), pampushki , cakes and other confections is a big part of Ukrainian New Year's Eve and Day festivities.
Ukrainians, who follow the Julian calendar, celebrate on Jan. 13-14 (although, as in Russia, the national New Year is technically Jan. 1).
Families gather to reflect on the past year, make toasts and predictions about the coming year, and presents are exchanged.
Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter, the Snow Maiden, pay a visit.
Polish New Year Traditions
Szczesliwego Nowego Roku -- Happy New Year in Polish
New Year's Eve is known as Sylwester because it falls on the feast day of St. Sylvester.
Poles party hearty with good food and drink. New Year’s Day festivities might include a hayride into the forest where a bonfire is set and sausages, bigos and wodka are enjoyed.
Bakers sell breads and rolls in the shape of rabbits, sheep, geese, and cows to assure wealth and good luck for the coming year. Round or ring-shaped breads are also popular because they symbolize life coming full circle and eternity, and paczki are served for dessert. (paczki are jelly doughnuts).....
Sylwester begins Carnival -- a period of balls and parties before Lent begins.
**********************************************
Ukrainian New Year Tradition
Z Novym Rokom -- Happy New Year in Ukrainian
Feasting on fish, pork, legumes, holubtsi (cabbage rolls), pampushki , cakes and other confections is a big part of Ukrainian New Year's Eve and Day festivities.
Ukrainians, who follow the Julian calendar, celebrate on Jan. 13-14 (although, as in Russia, the national New Year is technically Jan. 1).
Families gather to reflect on the past year, make toasts and predictions about the coming year, and presents are exchanged.
Grandfather Frost and his granddaughter, the Snow Maiden, pay a visit.