Avoid wearing dark clothing: What to steer clear of on the Feast of St. Andrew’s Eve.

Ukrainians have a deep affection for traditional winter holidays, one of which is the Generous Evening - the eve of the New Year. According to the new calendar, Generous Evening is celebrated on December 31, while in the old calendar, it falls on January 13, during the Old New Year. Generous Evening (Malanka) is a religious and folk celebration. What should not be done on this day is explained by UNIAN.

The most important tradition of Generous Evening is the preparation of a large number of hearty dishes. According to folk beliefs, the richer and tastier the food, the happier the upcoming year will be.

In pre-Christian times, girls would engage in fortune-telling, as the rituals held on the night of December 31 to January 1 were considered the most effective.

What not to do on Generous Evening

In addition to traditions and customs, there are also certain prohibitions. Based on centuries-old traditions, on this day, one should not:

• count coins or borrow money;
• argue, take offense, or curse;
• celebrate in old or dark clothing;
• work;
• quarrel;
• feel sad;
• sit silently at the festive table;
• leave the entrance to the home empty;
• consume all the food on the table;
• throw out garbage after sunset.

Our ancestors did not prepare dishes with fish or poultry on Generous Evening, believing that this could scare away good fortune.