Sowing, blessing, and fortune-telling: essential activities to observe on St. Basil's Day.

St. Basil's Day is one of the most significant winter church holidays celebrated at the beginning of the year. It is also a folk festival that involves rituals such as sowing, caroling, and other ancient traditions symbolizing prosperity, happiness, and harvest in the new year. "We Ukraine" outlines the important traditions to observe on this day.

Traditions of St. Basil's Day Celebration

St. Basil's Day is rich in folk traditions that intertwine with rituals and beliefs regarding health, wealth, and luck in the new year. One of the most well-known traditions of this holiday is sowing. In the morning, boys and men go from house to house, sowing grain and reciting generous wishes for health, happiness, and a bountiful harvest. The grain symbolizes abundance and prosperity in the new year. It was believed that this ritual would ensure the family wealth and success in their household.

Another interesting tradition is associated with Generous Evening on the eve of the holiday when girls go caroling. They sing ritual songs and bring joy into every home, for which the hosts generously reward them with sweets and money.

Didukh – a symbol of the ancestors' spirit and fertility – also holds an important place in the celebration of St. Basil's Day. In Ukraine, there was a tradition of bringing the didukh into the house at Christmas and placing it in a place of honor, usually near the corner. In some regions of the country, on St. Basil's Day, the first sower or "first guest" had the honor of threshing the didukh – beating the grain from the sheaf, which was then stored until the spring sowing. It was believed that this grain would bring a rich harvest and luck in the new year.

Particularly fascinating is the tradition of divination on St. Basil's Day, when girls try to discover their fate and future husbands. The night before the holiday was considered magical, when all wishes made had the strongest power and it was especially auspicious to fulfill them. It was believed that this holiday opens doors to future opportunities and offers a chance for changes in personal life.