Today Ukraine celebrates Marine Corps Day and Heroes Day: traditions and holidays on May 23
23 May 06:33
may 23 is the Day of the Ukrainian Marines, established in 2014. Today is also the Day of Heroes or the Holiday of Heroes, a holiday of remembrance of the fighters for the freedom of Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
What is the church holiday today
Today, on May 23, believers celebrate the feast day of St. Michael the Confessor. St. Michael came from Asia Minor, from the city of Sinnad (modern Turkey).
As a young man, Michael aspired to monastic life, so he left the world and settled in a monastery near the Black Sea.
Here he was distinguished by fervent prayer and hard work, for which the Lord granted him the gift of performing miracles. There is a story of a time when the peasants were thirsty during the harvest and there was no water. Then Michael turned to God, and water suddenly appeared from an empty vessel.
Later, Michael was elected bishop of the city of Sinai. For his kindness, spiritual wisdom, and holiness, he gained deep respect among the faithful and among the Byzantine emperors Nicephorus and Michael. However, when the heretical emperor Leo the Armenian came to power, the saint was condemned and exiled to the city of Eudokiada, where he ended his life in exile.
After the death of Emperor Theophilos and the restoration of icon veneration under Empress Theodora (842), the memory of confessors such as St. Michael was honored as an example of perseverance and fidelity to canonical truth.
may 23 – what holiday is today in Ukraine
Day of the Ukrainian Marines
On May 23, Ukraine celebrates the professional holiday of the marines of the Ukrainian Navy.
The holiday was established in 2014 and was celebrated on November 16 in 2014-2017. The current date of celebration, May 23, was established in 2018 by Presidential Decree No. 145/2018 “On the Day of the Ukrainian Marines.”
On this day, the foundation of the modern marines was laid. Modern marines have inherited the best fighting traditions of their glorious ancestors and today are heroically defending Ukraine from Russian invaders. It is no coincidence that the marines’ beret badge bears the sword of Sahaidachnyi, one of the founders of the marines who fought against Moscow.
Day of Heroes in Ukraine
This holiday was established in 1941 by the OUN meeting. Today, in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this date has gained particular relevance, as thousands of Heroes are defending our land from Russian invaders.
The Day of Heroes honors the memory of Ukrainians who have become symbols of the struggle for national dignity. This day calls on Ukrainians not to forget the heroic legacy of the past and to continue the struggle for freedom and independence, as our predecessors did.
What not to do on May 23
Do not engage in heavy physical labor on the ground, especially in the garden or in the field – the day is considered “easy” and the work on this day is not expected to bear fruit.
No noisy festivities, feasts, or entertainment should be organized – the day of the confessor is more conducive to reflection, silence, prayer, and purification.
It is forbidden to refuse to help your neighbors – it is believed that requests on this day should be answered with compassion and meekness.
Folk signs and traditions for May 23
Our ancestors had many interesting signs for this day. For example, rain on May 23 is a sign of a mushroom harvest and a good summer, sunny and clear weather is a sign of a good and warm summer, cold wind or a sharp cold snap is a sign that there will be a “return of cold” in June, fog in the morning is a sign of dry and warm weather in the coming days, morning dew is a sign of clear weather and a good grain harvest.
May 23 was popularly known as Mykhailo Konoplyanyk. The name is associated with a combination of the church’s commemoration of St. Michael of Sinai and the agricultural cycle, namely the beginning of hemp sowing.
