Ukrainian Christmas: Literary Reflections on Tradition and Modernity

Abstract

Christmas celebration in Ukraine is associated with various religious and cultural traditions. Our ancestors followed numerous authentic customs, and many of them have survived to this day. The first things that comes to one’s mind at the mention of a traditional Ukrainian Christmas is Vertep. During the Christmas season, groups of performers, often dressed in traditional costumes, move from house to house or perform in public spaces, presenting short plays or scenes that depict the Nativity story, as well as various folk tales and comedic sketches. Basically, the vertep typically includes a variety of characters, such as angels, shepherds, the Holy Family, and sometimes even fictional characters or animals. It must be noted that atheistic Soviet state severely persecuted religion and the associated elements of culture, and by 1930s the tradition of Christmas verteps was virtually eliminated.