The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine included the local folk tradition "Shchedryi Vechir" (Generous Evening) in the National Inventory of Elements of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine list.
The traditions of the Shchedryi Vechir have become the intangible cultural heritage of Ukraine
Maryna Sobotiuk, a researcher of Ukrainian cultural traditions, notes that the traditions of the Shchedryi Vechir in Ukraine take the form of so-called New Year's door-to-door rounds.
The tradition has a long history, going back to pre-Christian times and includes 12 ceremonial dishes and customs of preparing for the Shchedryi Vechir.
The tradition includes door-to-door rounds by companies consisted mostly of children, teenagers or young men and women.
Such companies, dressed in traditional costumes, knock on the front doors of the residents of their heighbourhood and stage a little show in front of the hosts.
They sing traditional songs, wishing the hosts well-being and all the best in the new year.
Some performers have a goat on a leash with them. The animal symbolises fertility and abundance.
The generous hosts thank to the performers by giving them money, sweets, festive food and drinks and so on.
Shchedryk is one of the traditional songs performed during the feast and a famous Ukrainian New Year's song, known in English as "The Little Swallow".
First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Emine Dzhaparova, noted that Ukrainian scholars and experts are working to include Shchedryk in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Our goal is to prove to the world that the Carol of the Bells melody actually has purely Ukrainian "citizenship". According to UNESCO's rules, one of the requirements for inscription on the World List is that it be included in the national list of intangible cultural heritage, so today's event is an important step towards global recognition.
New Year celebrations in Ukraine listed as intangible heritage
The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy has already included 88 elements in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine, among them are those related to the New Year celebrations:
Traditional Malanka ritual performed in the village of Beleluya, the Ivano-Frankivsk region,
The tradition of congratulating men named Vasyl in the village of Lypivka in the Rohatyn territorial community of Ivano-Frankivsk region,
Creation of a three-dimensional spherical Christmas star of the village of Matskovichi.
