З Різдвом Христовим! Merry Christmas!

Ukraine and the Orthodox world celebrate Christmas on January 7.

On Christmas Eve (Sviaty Vechir), Ukrainians gather for Sviata Vecherya (Holy Supper), traditionally served with twelve dishes symbolizing the twelve apostles. (Learn more about the Ukrainian Christmas tradition here and here.)

Enjoy more Ukrainian carols! (Click here, here and here, for previous editions.)


Vertep in Kyiv








The incredible Veryovka Choir








Connecticut's Chorale Ensemble "Yevshan" at St Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Hartford, Connecticut, January 13, 2008 Directed by Alexander Kuzma


















Pikardiyska Tertsia performs "Malanka"


Pikardiyska Tertsia performs "Oi, Raduysya, Zemle" ("Rejoice, O Earth")

Z Rizdvom Khrystovym! Merry Christmas!

Ukraine Celebrates Christmas, Part 1 (Updated)

The country that exported “Carol of the Bells” to Western civilization celebrates Christmas on January 7.



Christianity, imported to Ukraine in 988 A.D. and oppressed for most of the 20th century, has produced a Christmas tradition very different from that of Western civilization.

The rough equivalent of the West’s much-commercialized Christmas can be witnessed here on New Year’s Day, a counter-tradition cultivated by the atheist Soviet government. (Mind the purchasing power gap.)

Z Rizdvom Khrystovym! Merry Christmas! Enjoy this wonderful collection of Ukrainian Christmas carols and links:

http://www.brama.com/art/christmas.html http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-world/ukraine.html http://www.houseofukraine.com/UKE_CAROL.HTML http://www.abheritage.ca/pasttopresent/settlement/ukrainian_settlement.html
http://www.msichicago.org/scrapbook/scrapbook_exhibits/catw2004/traditions/countries/ukraine.html http://www.infoukes.com/culture/traditions/christmas/ http://www.uazone.net/holidays/christmas.html

"Dobry Vechir Tobi" (Ukrainian Carol)


"Dobry Vechir Tobi" by Ruslana


"Shchedryk" ("Carol of the Bells") by a Ukrainian choir in San Francisco


"Nebo i Zemlya Nyni Torzhesvuyut"


Christmas in a Ukrainian village



"Tykha Nich" ("Silent Night")


Ukrainian Christmas Mass


Christmas Eve in the Ukrainian Diaspora


Vertep in a small Ukrainian village


Diaspora Ukrainians sing Christmas Carols


Ukrainian Caroling in Saskatoon


Ukrainian Christmas Carol accompanied by bandura


Another Ukrainian Carol


"Nadvori Rizdvo" by Bohdana Tkachuk and the ensemble Prolisok


"Narodyvsya Bog na Saniakh"