Mikolajčik: Rival i prethodnik Djeda Mraza

Mikolajčik je nježno ime koje Ukrajinci koriste za Svetog Nikolu. To je ukrajinska varijanta imena ovog sveca – Mikola. Tako je Mikolajčik oblik koji bi se koristio za obraćanje dječaku.

Povijest praznika u Ukrajini je vrlo duga. Vjeruje se da se Sveti Nikola slavi na teritoriju zemlje više od 800 godina. Tradicija darivanja djece slatkišima i poklonima stigla je iz Njemačke preko Poljske. Od tada djeca, a i odrasli, očekuju da će pronaći svoje poklone od Mikolajčika pod jastukom. Onima koji su se loše ponašali, Sveti Mikolaj donosi ugljen ili šipke.

Za vrijeme sovjetskog perioda sve vjerske proslave i praznici bili su zabranjeni. Ali ljudi su nastavili tajno ukrašavati jelke i darivati djecu poklonima. Tako su sovjetski vladari odlučili preteći tradiciju koju nisu mogli ukloniti. I tako je stvoren Did Moroz — Djed Mraz. Postoji teorija da je ovaj lik preuzet iz ruske narodne priče o starcu po imenu Moroz. Nagrađivao je one koji su bili vrijedni i poslušni. Što se tiče ukrajinske mitologije, postojao je i lik po imenu Moroz. Ali on je bio okrutni, nemilosrdni starac koji je dolazio zimi da uhvati djecu i nahrani vukove te smrzne seljake i njihovu stoku do smrti.

Djed Moroz je prvi put predstavljen sovjetskom narodu 1936. godine i postao je središnja figura novogodišnjih proslava. Sveti Nikola je bio zaboravljen ili je bio potisnut. Padom Sovjetskog Saveza praznik je obnovljen.

Danas su ukrajinska djeca vrlo sretna što primaju poklone od obojice: Svyatyi Mikolaija i Djeda Mraza. Pišu pisma obojici. Ukrposhta, ukrajinska nacionalna pošta, potiče djecu da koriste svoje usluge za slanje pisma Svetom Mikolaju. Od početka velikog rata, ukrajinska djeca često su molila sveca za obranu, oružje za ukrajinske vojnike i pobjedu.

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Mykolaichyk: the rival and predecessor of Did Moroz

Mykolaichyk is a tender name Ukrainians use to call St. Nicholas. It is a Ukrainian variant of the name of this saint — Mykola. Thus, Mykolaichyk is the form one would use to call a boy.

The history of the holiday in Ukraine is very long. It is believed St. Nicholas has been honoured on the territory of the country for more than 800 years. The tradition of giving children sweets and presents was brought from Germany through Poland. Since then, children, and adults, expect to find their presents from Mykolaichyk under the pillow. To those who misbehaved, St. Mykolai brings coal or rods.

During the Soviet period, all religious celebrations and holidays were banned. But people continued decorating fur-trees and giving presents to children in secrecy. So, the Soviet rulers decided to get ahead of the tradition they could not eliminate. And Did Moroz was created. There is a theory this hero was taken from a Russian folklore story about an old man named Moroz. He rewarded those who were laborious and obedient. As for Ukrainian mythology, there was also a creature named Moroz. But he was a cruel, merciless old man who came in winter to catch children to feed wolves, and to freeze villagers and their cattle to death.

Did Moroz was first presented to the Soviet people in 1936, and became a central figure in New Year’s celebrations. Saint Nicholas was forgotten or was kept under the radar. With the fall of the Soviet Union, the holiday was restored.

Today, Ukrainian children are very glad to receive gifts from both: Svyatyi Mykolai and Did Moroz. They write letters to both of them. Ukrposhta, Ukraine’s national post, encourages children to use its services to send a letter to St. Mykolai. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian children have often asked the saint for defense, weapons for Ukrainian soldiers and victory.