Ukrajinski Božić: didukh, pavuk i božićna zvijezda

Proslava Božića u Ukrajini uključuje neke tradicije ukrašavanja kuće. U tom smislu, moderni aspekti, poput božićnog drvca sa svjetlima i ukrasnim kuglicama, kombiniraju se s mnogo starijim simbolima poput sljedećih:

• Didukh je snop pšenice, raži, ječma i zobi ukrašen suhim cvijećem, stabljikama maka, vrpcama itd. Ovaj drevni ukras je manifestacija duha obitelji, njenih predaka. Otuda se ime može objasniti kao “duh djeda”. Također hvali žetvu i plodnost zemlje. Povezuje moderne generacije s njihovim prethodnicima i osigurava obilnu novu žetvu. Ovaj simbol seže u predkršćansko doba.
• Pavuk je još jedan ukras od slame koji datira iz vremena prije kršćanstva. Ovo je mobil koji simbolizira obitelj. Sastoji se od više dijamantnih figura. Pavuk, pauk na ukrajinskom, obično se vješa u sredinu sobe.
• Božićna zvijezda je vjerojatnije kršćanski simbol, iako je slika zvijezde bila važna i za proslavu zimskog solsticija prije kršćanstva. Tradicionalna ukrajinska božićna zvijezda ima osam krakova i ukrašena je crvenom, zelenom, žutom, ponekad i bijelom i plavom bojom, papirom, vrpcama i zvoncem. Može se postaviti na štap i koristi se u procesu kolyaduvannya – još jedne tradicije pjevanja i pozdravljanja ljudi tijekom blagdanskog razdoblja.

Ukrainian Christmas: didukh, pavuk and Christmas star

Celebration of Christmas in Ukraine includes some traditions of decorating the house. In this respect, modern aspects, such as a Christmas tree with lights and tree decorations, are combined with much older symbols. These are the following.

• Didukh is a sheaf of wheat, rye, barley and oats decorated with dried flowers, poppy stems, ribbons, etc. This ancient decoration is a manifestation of the spirit of the family, its ancestors. Hence, the name can be explained as “the spirit of a grandfather”. It also praises the harvest and the fertility of the land. It connects modern generations to their predecessors and ensures an abundant new harvest. This symbol goes back to pre-Christian times.
• Pavuk is another decoration made out of straw that dates back to the times before Christianity. This is a mobile which symbolizes family. It consists of multiple diamond-shaped figures. Pavuk, a spider from Ukrainian, is usually hung up in the center of the room.
• The Christmas star is more likely a Christian symbol, though the image of a star was also essential for celebration of the winter solstice before Christianity. A traditional Ukrainian Christmas star has eight rays and is decorated with red, green, yellow, sometimes also white and blue, paper, ribbons and bells. It may be placed on a pole and is used in the process of kolyaduvannya — another tradition of singing and greeting people during the holiday season.