Christmas is not only one of the most important events of the liturgical year, but also a holiday with a special atmosphere, with its own magic and charm. How many wonderful films, unforgettable melodies, exciting stories, gentle and warm words, and also - tastes, smells, dreams and associations are connected with this period... The spirit of Christmas and the pathos of this holiday do not leave anyone indifferent. Christmas is unforgettable and unique. At the same time, there are many ways of celebration and related traditions.
Lviv, as a multicultural and multinational city, is the key that can help not only to feel the spirit of the celebration of Christmas, but also to unlock the door behind which lies the wealth of customs and traditions associated with this holiday. Christians of different confession, ritual differences, the calendar issue - these factors led to the fact that over the centuries a unique situation arose in Lviv: Jesus was "born" here twice, in some places even three times, and the celebration of Christmas stretched over a week (December 25 for Christians, who celebrate according to the Gregorian calendar, January 6 for Armenians and January 7 for Christians who celebrate according to the Julian calendar).
Christmas in Lviv was and remains a family holiday. So, as early as the morning of December 24, the head of the Lviv family went to the forest or to the city market, and returned with a green beauty. After this, the entire family decorated the holiday tree with apples, gilded and silvered nuts, cakes in the form of animals, candies, cotton wool snow, etc. Instead, paper baskets with nuts inside, garland made of paper circles and straws, paper hearts and spiders were hung around the house. On Christmas Eve, the family would gather, and only lenten dishes should be on the table: mushroom soup, soup with beans, cabbage and peas, dumplings with cheese, cabbage, plums or apples. The housewives baked many small cakes and served strudel and prepared a traditional drink from dried fruits.
Families usually spent the New Year holiday, which coincided with the commemoration of Saint Sylvester, visiting relatives and friends. Lviv residents could go to a restaurant on this day or even go to the mountains. As today, various firecrackers and festive toys were popular on such days. Carp, cabbage dishes, goose stuffed with apples, chocolate cake, etc. were served to the table. St. Sylvester's Day was time when balls and masquerades was opened in Lviv. The last one regularly took place in the city from the end of the 18th century precisely during the Christmas period. This period was sometimes called "contracts time". Nobles from different regions came to the city. Therefore, they not only danced and rested, but also was engaged in urgent matters - concluded trade agreements for the whole season, bought things necessary for the farm, agreed on marriages between children. Thus, at such a Christmas ball, the two young people that just had met each other could have been wooed there. Another name of the period: "marriage fair". After January 6, Galician Ukrainians also picked up this wave in Lviv.
Regarding public celebrations and carnival events, the first of these took place in Lviv more than half a millennium ago. In 1610, the Venetian consul in Lviv, Antonio Massari, organized a real “mental earthquake” for local residents. Then Lviv residents saw the Venetian carnival and fireworks for the first time. This event was organized on the occasion of the consul's engagement to Lviv woman Lyontsa Abrekova. The Lviv carnival started on the same day as the Venice carnival - January 17, 1610, which was the day of St. Anthony the Abbot. Everything looked extremely pompous. Troubadours announced the beginning of the festivities, music was heard from different corners of Rynok Square, a festive atmosphere enveloped those present, both young residents and older Lviv residents were dancing. Among guests of the carnival were the mayor, heads of city workshops, foreign ambassadors, etc. The action was accompanied by unforgettable festive fireworks.
500 years ago or nowadays - Christmas and New Year's holidays are always fun and interesting in Lviv. Today, instead of carnivals and balls, we have a rich program of events from Lviv museums, theaters and cinemas, restaurants, etc. Therefore, it is important to follow the latest announcements of events in the city - to not to miss something interesting!
