Today in the Julian calendar is St. Nicholas Day (Святий Миколай) – December 19th. This morning good Ukrainian boys and girls around the world looked under their beds to find presents delivered by St. Nicholas, who departed heaven on a chariot carried by angels. Giving gifts is usually reserved for today rather than on Christmas in traditional Ukrainian culture, but is becoming more laxed with western traditions. Those who were lucky to visit the bishop at their school or church saw him dressed in his 4th century Byzantine attire and participated in plays and song.

Here is a traditional song for the Saint: