A week after Kolyada (Christmas) on December 31 (according to the Russian Orthodox Church) or January 13 (according to the Russian Orthodox Church), the Generous Evening was celebrated, timed to meet the New Year.
The main event of the Generous Evening and the New Year in Ukraine was giving, which was accompanied by a mandatory round of houses to wish people happiness, health and well-being in the New Year. Christmas carols begin to be sung exactly at midnight before the New Year. They should not be mixed with carol singing. At a time when carols are always and necessarily sung by a choir, then shdervkas can be performed solo.
I sow, I sow, I sow
Happy New Year,
With cattle, with a stomach,
With wheat, with oats!
Carolers were invited into the house, seated at an elegant table and treated to treats. The grains scattered by the carolers were all gathered together, stored, and in the spring they were the first to be thrown into the ground, hoping that they would provide a good harvest.
Обо всем этом поется в колядках, известных далеко еще до начала христианских времен на Украине это проявляется и в обычных обрядах, как вот: двенадцать поленьев, двенадцать святочерних блюд, призывы на ужин мороза, волка, черной бури и злых ветров, дедушек на углу, сено на столе.
Все эти движения, действия и слова, на первый взгляд не имеющие никакого значения в жизни человека, веют на сердце каждого из нас волшебством родной стихии и являются для души живущим бальзамом, наполняющим его могучей силой.