Generva

Ancestral Holiday

Generous Eve (January 13th)

A celebration of making it through another year, and of health and life in the year coming. It also has a secondary function of celebrating the Ancestors, and their role in our creation- and asking them to bless our future prosperity for the year.

Inspirations

The Slavic Shchedriy Vechir, or ‘Generous Eve’ / Malenka.

January 13th is celebrated as Generous Eve (Shchedriy Vechir). It was customary to set a "generous table" with an abundance of all kinds of dishes; the prosperity of the hosts depended on the quantity of prepared food. The dishes should be very satisfying, but cooking fish is a bad sign. It is customary to sing songs of generosity, or shchedrivkas, and to scatter grain in the house. This grain cannot be swept before sunset. In gratitude, the hosts give fruit, other sweets, or money.

Prayers & Adorations

Little Carol, Little Carol, Little Carol Bird, The swallow has flown in,
She began to chirp, To call the master.
Come out, come out, Master, Look at the sheepfold.
The sheep have rolled over, And the lambs have been born.
Your goods are all good, You will have a measure of money,
If not money, then a half-sheaf, You have a black-browed wife.
If not money, then a half-sheaf, You have a black-browed wife.

I sow, I sow, I sow, I greet you with the New Year!
Good fortune, and good health in the New Year,
May your fields bear better this year than last,
Be healthy for the New Year!
God grant us this!