The book is about Ukrainian winter celebrations that have a deep history. It combines descriptions of a quiet family Christmas celebration with the bustle of Malanka. Ukraїner’s team travelled to different regions of Ukraine to tell the story of the Christmas didukh, the festive table and carols, as well as the Malanka street carnival with its masks and fancy costumes. It is also a story about the persistence of the tradition, which was not interrupted despite all the attempts of the Soviet regime, about its revival and study.
The book is double-sided: on one side you will find the texts about Christmas, and on the other side about Malanka. Inside, there are also photos of the filming process and feedback from the team. “Christmas and Malanka” is the result of a large-scale expedition held from December 2021 to February 2022.
“There were some traditions that seemed to have been lost in that area, so they were only written about. We asked the people who used to follow them if they would be doing it this year. And when they saw our interest, they said, ‘Yes, if you’re interested, we’ll do it.’ That’s how the locals in Popova Hreblia organised themselves, who had no plans to continue the tradition, but we kind of pushed the community to restore it,” recalls Natalia Vyshynska, who was in charge of finding the heroes for the expedition.
slideshow
“Local resident Vasyl Tabakharniuk takes an interest in the history of Pistyn village and studies the history of the celebration:
— In Malanka, you can see everything: both the past and the present, and both political and historical processes can be reflected here.
Pistyn buzzes with activity and tastes treats. Just four days ago, all the designs and costumes were only a mere concept. Malanka’s celebration is divided into several stages, but the carnival is considered to be the grandest. A few days earlier, on 10 January, groups of active residents gathered in different parts of the village and came up with the idea and theme of their own Malanka. They spent the next two days preparing: building decorations on cars, sewing costumes, tinting masks, and drawing posters.”
The book is available in Ukrainian.
