On February 2, Ukraine celebrates Stritennya; on February 3, Japan welcomes spring with Setsubun
03/02/26, 03:00
When the earth is still wrapped in an icy quilt and the wind roams across empty fields, nature begins its secret passage.
In Ukraine, this time is called Lyutyi—a month whose very name breathes cold and the fierceness of the final frosts, yet in its heart the first spark of warmth is born. In this liminal, almost magical moment, two distinct cultures—Ukrainian and Japanese—pause in anticipation of change.
On February 2, Ukraine marks Stritennya, the Feast of the Great Meeting, where ancient folk legends intertwine with Christian spirit into a single, intricate tapestry. The name comes from the old word strity—to meet, to find the one you have been waiting for. In popular imagination, this is the moment when Winter appears as an old woman in a headscarf and Spring as a young maiden crowned with flowers. They test their strength against one another, and from this contest depends how soon the gardens will turn green.
The day’s chief talisman is the Hromnytsya candle. Its name traces back to the ancient god of thunder, whose power was believed to drive away winter’s darkness. People trust that the flame of this candle is so potent that in summer it protects the home from thunder and lightning, and in winter it warms the soul, reminding us that the sun has already triumphed over snow. This small light becomes a symbol of illumination, blessing the path into a new agricultural year.
Almost simultaneously, on February 3, Japan greets spring with Setsubun—the “division of the seasons.” It is a time of deep purification, when homes are cleansed of all that is harmful. Families perform the ritual of mamemaki, scattering roasted soybeans to drive away winter’s misfortunes and the demons known as oni. A special magic surrounds the custom of eating ehō-maki rolls: they are eaten in complete, attentive silence, facing the year’s lucky direction (this year, south–southeast). This silence is sacred, for within it one gathers the purest wishes, careful not to frighten away the good fortune that has just crossed the threshold.
Both cultures see the turning of the seasons as a struggle between light and darkness. Holding the golden flame of the Hromnytsya candle, or tasting a festive roll in blessed silence, we become part of an eternal cycle in which life always overcomes the cold and opens the door to new blossoming.
Stritennya and Setsubun teach us to hear the whisper of the earth: winter is only a sleep, and spring is always the awakening of love.