Adjusting to life in my adopted country and culture takes time and patience. On one hand it’s hard. On opposite, it’s more fun, especially when it comes to celebrating religious holidays. Because most of the Christian holidays around the world have the same meaning, but continue to be celebrated according to two calendars Julian and Gregorian, I’ve found December and January are the busiest months with marks on my personal calendar. They combine holidays celebrated in both countries with which I have connections - Ukraine and the USA .

• December 19 – St. Nicholas, Sviatyij Mykolai Day. The popular traditional gift giving day in Ukraine . According to cultural rituals, children and adults receive presents which they “discover” under their pillows on early morning and the person named Nicholas-Mykola receives special treatment on this day. Schools have plays telling Nicholas stories and the saint visits local youth organizations. He quizzes children on their catechism before giving gifts. It’s similar to the American Christmas when people exchange presents.

• December 24-26 - Christmas Eve and Day. My family was confused in 1991, the year we arrived to Western New York, and the question, “Should we celebrate Christmas in December when our relatives and friends in Ukraine celebrate its holiday in January?” was on our annual agenda for a few years. When our expended family invited us for a Christmas dinner on December 24, we couldn’t resist. We have happily celebrating the holiday since then.

• December 31 - New Year Eve is the easy one. It’s a well known holiday in Ukraine and the USA . People wait for the popular night to arrive and welcome it with hope and happiness for a better year and departure of the history’s past. Champaign and good food within a great company is must be on the New Year’s Eve schedule. As an old Ukrainian proverb says, “the way you welcomes it-is the way you’ll spend it,” has been a long cultural tradition in many Ukrainians homes when it comes to celebrating the NEw Year arrival.

• January 6 - Ukrainian Christmas Eve, Sviaty Vechir (Holy Evening) also called “Sviata Vecheria” (Holy Supper). Traditionally, Sviata Vecheria has been meat-free, with the exception of fish, and includes in 12 courses and is linked with the “12 days of Christmas” and the Twelve Disciples of Christ. People, including small children, greet each other for the next few days with, “Khristos Narodywsia!” (Christ is Born) and the answer is , “Slawimo Yoho” (Glory to Him). After the supper, people sing carols and visit neighbors and families. The Christmas Eve is the beginning of the Christmas Days which last a few days and considers very important annual holidays.
It seems that the Christmas Season in Ukraine never ends and every day is just another holiday. According to the Gregorian calendar, the New Year Eve is celebrated on January 13 with more religious holidays to follow. By the time it’s all over, the Easter season begins and my calendar is already marked with two Easterns, according to the Gregorian and Julian calendars.

Acculturation isn’t an easy process. It’s like getting married. You nurture your own traditions and beliefs and learn cultural differences of your partner. It takes time to find a common ground, but what can be better than respecting your own culture and understanding somebody else’s differences? Once you learn to appreciate diversity, you resolve cross-cultural conflict. You become hooked, foster your new relationships, and celebrate all holidays together.

It doesn’t make any difference what cultural holidays you celebrate and according to what calendar. To me, every day is a holiday. It\'s Fun and I enjoy them all.

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2009!

By Zanna Vaida