In addition to celebrating the New Year and Christmas, at the end of December Ukrainians will also have other memorable dates. So, on December 21, according to the New Julian calendar, Orthodox Christians will honor the memory of the saints. There are also secular holidays on this day, which you will learn about in this material.
What holiday is December 21st according to the new church calendar?
On this day, December 21, according to the New Julian calendar, the memory of the holy martyr Juliania of Nicomedia is honored.
The Holy Martyr Juliana was the daughter of a noble pagan from Nicomedia. At the age of nine, the girl was betrothed to a young man named Eleusius. Over time, she felt the deception and emptiness of the faith that her father adhered to, and secretly from her parents she received holy baptism. When the moment came for the wedding, Juliana resolutely refused to get married.
The words of her father, begging her not to break her promise and not to cancel the engagement, could not convince her! As a result, the irritated father began to beat his daughter for her stubbornness. Not long later, Juliania was handed over for trial to the ruler of the city, who turned out to be Eleusius, her former fiancé. The young man began to beg her to marry him, promising not to persecute her because of her Christian faith.
The holy martyr again categorically refused and chose to go through torture. Juliania was beaten and tortured for a long time, but after each execution she received miraculous healing from God, as the legend says. Approximately five hundred men and more than a hundred women confessed to Christianity after seeing the steadfastness and courage of the holy martyr, and were beheaded, thereby being baptized in their own blood. Ultimately, Juliana was condemned to death. Her execution took place in 304.
December 21: holidays in Ukraine and the world
In addition to church holidays, December 21 is also celebrated in other memorable dates in Ukraine and the world.
- Basketball Birthday: This holiday marks the date when the game of basketball was invented and first played. On December 21, 1891, Canadian athlete James Naismith invented the game by developing the rules and hanging the basket on the wall of a gymnasium in Massachusetts.
- World Orgasm Day: This unusual international day is celebrated on December 21st. Its goal is to raise awareness of sexual health, education and safety, and encourage open conversations about intimate topics.
- Lantern Day: This day is dedicated to celebrating the different types of lanterns. Depending on cultural traditions and religious holidays, lanterns can have different shapes and colors. Celebrated on different dates, depending on the country and customs.
- Crossword Birthday: December 21 is also celebrated as Crossword Birthday. This popular puzzle game was first published in the New York World newspaper in 1913, and Arthur Weinberg is credited as the author of the first crossword puzzle.
- Winter Solstice: This day occurs during the period when the length of the day is minimum and the night is maximum. The winter solstice typically occurs on December 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the time when the Sun reaches the southernmost point of its orbit. On this day winter begins.
Folk signs on December 21
Observe nature to predict what the day will be like: if it’s cold and quiet outside, expect a snowy and mild winter; heard thunder on December 21 – expect strong winds; tits sing in the morning – prepare for the night frost; if birds settled under the roof of the house on this day, prepare for a blizzard; snow falls – expect a rainy summer; A blizzard has begun – heavy rainfall is predicted in the summer.
Birthday people on December 21: description of names
On this day, the owners of the following names celebrate their Angel Day: Prokop, Peter, Themistocles, Juliana (Ulyana), Sergei, Feofanius.
- Procop: Origin: Greek, from “πρόκοπος” (prokopos), meaning “progressive” or “going forward.”
- Meaning: The name is associated with success, progress, a person moving forward.
- Peter: Origin: Greek, from the word “Πέτρος” (Petros), translated as “stone” or “rock”.
- Meaning: The name can symbolize strength, reliability, stability, and is also associated with leadership.
- Themistocles: Origin: Ancient Greek, consists of the elements “φημί” (phemi) – “to speak” and “στοχος” (stokhos) – “goal”, which can be interpreted as “those who talk about goals”.
- Meaning: The name may be associated with sociability and the pursuit of goals.
- Yuliana (Ulyana): Origin: Feminine form of the masculine name Julian, of Latin origin from “Julianus”, associated with the Julian family.
- Meaning: Often associated with youth, beauty and lightness, it can also mean devotion and caring.
- Sergey: Origin: Latin, from “Sergius”, possibly related to the Latin word “serge” – “painter” or with the Greek “σεργίον” (sergion) – “triumph”.
- Meaning: The name can be associated with creativity, victory, triumph.
- Feofaniy: Origin: Greek, from “Θεοφάνεια” (Theophaneia), translated as “revealed the devotion of God.”
- Meaning: The name has a spiritual connotation, symbolizes a divine phenomenon, blessing.
December 21: what is the zodiac sign according to the horoscope?
December 21st zodiac sign – Capricorn. Capricorn begins around December 22nd and continues until January 19th. Capricorn is an earth sign ruled by Saturn. People born under this sign tend to be resilient, determined, and practical. Capricorns strive to achieve their goals, are organized and responsible. They are often associated with tradition and efficiency.
Compatibility:
- Well compatible with Capricorn: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces.
- Difficulty compatible with Capricorn: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Aquarius.
Capricorns look for partners who share their serious approach to life and goals. They value reliability and stability in relationships. On the other hand, Capricorns also need to learn to relax and find joy in the moments without getting too caught up in their constant worrying about the future.