In Peter's time, the didukh was replaced by a Christmas tree. According to beliefs, its needles protect the house from misfortune and evil spirits. At that time, various delicacies, sweets and even vegetables with fruits were hung on the Christmas tree. Decorating a tree with toys began relatively recently, a little more than a hundred years ago.


Despite the fact that the celebration of the New Year in Ukraine falls during the great Christmas Fast, according to tradition, Ukrainians serve a rich table with a variety of dishes and alcohol on New Year's Eve. This has been the case since ancient times. As well as gathering the whole family at one table.


Another of the old customs is Christmas carols. These are ritual songs that Ukrainians have been singing for centuries, gathering and making a kind of ritual circumambulation of neighboring houses. This happens on the Holy evening before Christmas, which has become an integral part of the New Year holidays in recent years. Carols appeared in pre-Christian times. On December 24, our ancestors began to celebrate Christmas Carols, then the Big Veles Yuletide. According to beliefs, it was during these days that the border between Reality and Reality — the earthly world and the world of gods and spirits became especially thin. There was an opportunity to communicate with supernatural beings, to ask them for protection and help, or, if the spirit is evil, to negotiate with him so that he does not harm you next year.