When St. Nicholas Day approaches, a special atmosphere of pleasant anticipation, joy and magic reigns in Ukraine every year. This traditional holiday, which has deep historical roots, is filled with colorful customs and symbolism that continue to retain their significance in modern society. Ukraineflora company delivers gifts for Ukrainians from their relatives and friends from all over the world and is happy to share with you observations: what gifts are best to give on St. Nicholas Day, how this holiday is prepared and celebrated in Ukraine.

We offer premium quality products at reasonable prices, and also guarantee discounts on first and subsequent purchases for those who order St. Nicholas Day greetings with delivery. You can make a purchase in advance, but if you want to order delivery of gifts and flowers very urgently, same day, our couriers will deliver them to the recipient within two hours after payment.

Let's dive into the history of the holiday, learn its cultural significance and find out how to share care and a fabulous atmosphere with loved ones, even if you are separated by a considerable distance.

When is St. Nicholas Day celebrated in Ukraine in 2023 according to the new calendar

Every year, Ukrainians are increasingly moving away from the customs imposed by their “eastern neighbors” and are boldly rooting European traditions in their culture. Since 2023, St. Nicholas Day in Ukraine is celebrated on December 6. Let us remind you that previously this holiday was celebrated on December 19.

Who is St. Nicholas - history and importance of the holiday

Nicholas the Wonderworker is one of the most famous not only saints, but also real historical figures. He became the prototype of Father Frost, Santa Claus and many other characters who are symbols of the New Year holidays in many Christian countries. How did it happen that a saint who lived in the Roman Empire at the end of the 3rd - beginning of the 4th century became so fantastically popular in both the West and the East?

Nicholas was born in 270 AD in the city of Patara (now in Turkey), and died on December 6, 343 in Myra, where his tomb is located. The boy's family was very wealthy, and his parents preached the Christian religion, however, in the Roman Empire itself it was still officially prohibited.

When Nikolai was about 11 years old, his parents died of the plague, and the boy remained the only heir to a large inheritance. It was at this time that he makes his first extraordinary decision and distributes all the money to the poor. This step was provoked by the deep religiosity of young Nicholas, absorbed in the as yet unrecognized, but already quite “strong” new faith, whose adherents actively formed communities on the territory of the Roman Empire.

St. Nicholas - patron saint of the poor

Left without a family, the boy found himself “under the wing” of his uncle, who served as a bishop in the city of Mira. At about the age of 18, Nikolai was already a priest, and during this period his second unusual act occurred - helping three poor sisters. History tells that the girls did not have a dowry, so they could not get married. The father could not support them and, out of despair, was ready to send his daughters to a brothel. Nicholas secretly threw three bags of coins for each daughter through the window (it is also said that he did this through the chimney). The money ended up in shoes (according to another version, in socks), which were drying by the fire. The girls discovered the gift and purchased a dowry to find a better destiny for themselves.

Nicholas probably collected donations or used the remains of his inheritance to perform this one of his first good deeds. In the future, he repeated it more than once with other families, and in the end, in the World they found out who exactly in their city helps the poor.

Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors and travelers

Another story from the life of Nicholas is the story of how he goes on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He had to travel first by ship, then go with a caravan to the Holy Land in Caesarea. On his way back he also returned by sea. At one point, a terrible storm hit the ship. The sailors began to pray to the pagan gods, however, their prayers were not heard. Then Nikolai went out onto the deck and said a prayer. His request was addressed to the Christian God, who heard him, stopped the storm and carried the ship to the shores of Patari.

This story gave rise to a huge number of myths that spread throughout the world. Scandinavian Vikings, crusaders, Serbian fishermen and many others believed that St. Nicholas protected not just sailors, but all travelers.

How Nicholas became a bishop

Once upon a time a bishop's chair became vacant in Myra, and the clergy began to think about how to choose a new head of the church. It was decided to turn to the will of God: the person who will be the first to enter the church in the morning to pray will become a bishop. This lucky person turned out to be the young clergyman Nikolai.

According to another version, all the townspeople of Mira decided to thank Nicholas for his good deeds and turned to the church with a request to bestow the young priest with an honorary rank.

It is difficult to say for sure which story is more truthful, however, it is known that several centuries later in the lands of Germany, on the day of St. Nicholas on December 6, it was common to choose a boy and dress him in a bishop’s costume and give him some power in the church, thereby connecting the tradition of celebration with the history of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Despite the fact that Nikolai was not a little boy when he was ordained, he was still considered young for such responsibility, and such an unusual turn of fate began to be associated with his patronage of children.

During the life of St. Nicholas, the Roman Empire was undergoing a severe decline, and the Christian religion, which did not recognize the divine essence of the emperor, was outlawed - as a result, Christians were persecuted. It is believed that Nikolai spent part of his life in prison, where he was tortured, but did not abandon his faith. And this is one of the circumstances due to which Nicholas begins to be considered the patron of the innocently convicted, and over time, of all prisoners.

Traditions of celebrating St. Nicholas Day in Ukraine

Many believe that the image of St. Nicholas gave rise to the figures of various “New Year” characters, which are often associated with marketing benefits: they say that Christmas and New Year make people buy more. But we should not forget that Nikolai himself helped those in need more than just prayer - his deeds were quite material. The tradition of giving gifts to children is one of the main ones in Ukraine.

Other important customs of the holiday are:

• Writing letters. Before the onset of the festive night, children write messages to Saint Nicholas, in which they tell about their desires.
• Festive spruce. It is on this day that most families put up a Christmas tree and decorate the house for the holidays.
• Nikolaychik cookies or gingerbreads. They are baked in the shape of snowflakes, because it is believed that it is after St. Nicholas Day that the snowy winter begins.

What gifts can St. Nicholas bring

No matter how difficult it is, no matter what events come into our lives, miracles are what permeate every day, whether we notice it or not. You don't have to be a saint or a wizard to spread some holiday cheer to your family, friends, and loved ones. Take advantage of our offer to order delivery of gifts to Ukraine on St. Nicholas Day:

• Grocery baskets with pastries, chocolate and other sweets. Delicious cookies, sweets and other treats will help create an atmosphere of comfort and warmth. These gifts will emphasize the traditional meaning of the holiday, giving it a special charm.
• Fruit baskets. This option will be an excellent manifestation of care and attention. Fruits filled with vitamins and beneficial elements will be a symbol of health and well-being.
• Stuffed toys are a gift for children that give a feeling of warmth, comfort and security. And for adults on St. Nicholas Day, such a pleasant surprise will remind you of childhood - of the time when the world seemed beautiful and carefree. Toys will create an atmosphere of kindness, warm hearts and fill them with joy.

Winter holidays are a time of miracles that each of us can join. If possible, you can join our company’s initiative and send a gift for children in Ukraine. We are ready to deliver congratulations from you to boys and girls who live in orphanages, are in hospitals or have suffered from military conflict. Contact our managers to place an order and give a festive mood to those who need it most!

3 reasons to order gifts for St. Nicholas's holiday in Ukraineflora

When the holidays come, our company turns into a fairy-tale world of congratulations, where all products are real magical masterpieces. Here, around every corner there is something special hidden, inspired by care and love. Allow yourself to plunge into this wonderful world, where quality is not just a word, but a way of life.

Ukraineflora offers:

• An incredible selection. Each gift is selected with the utmost care. Our assortment includes not just products, but true embodiments of care, created to bring smiles to the lives of your loved ones.
• Service with a touch of magic. For us, each client is the hero of a unique story, and our consultants are 24/7 ready to help in choosing individual gifts. li>
• Payment without a shadow of a doubt via PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay. Our online gift and flower store in Ukraine was created to ensure that your purchases are not only amazing, but also safe.

Please your loved ones by giving them a drop of your warmth, together with Ukraineflora!