Shchedryi Vechir. Malanka. New Year
30/12/25, 03:00
After Christmas—with its Lenten dishes and quiet remembrance of ancestors, when silence was kept at the table—December 31 brings Shchedryi Vechir, known as Malanka.
For Ukrainians, this is a moment of transition: from the inward to the communal, from contemplation to openness. The home fills with guests, laughter, and song, and the festive table becomes a sign of readiness to welcome the New Year with abundance and joy.
The name “Malanka” comes from the figure of Melania, who in folk tradition came to symbolize renewal and transformation. Malanka embodies the changing of roles and the movement of life itself. Traditionally, young unmarried men take part in the ritual, disguising themselves as Malanka, animals, birds, devils, and other fearsome or playful figures, giving form to the forces of chaos and renewal. Costumes, masks, and humorous scenes turn the community into a living theater, where everyone becomes part of the action. Similar winter masquerades and carnivals are known across many European cultures, and today this custom is being revived as a form of street celebration and shared play.
The generous table holds special meaning. Kutia remains a ritual dish, but it is prepared more richly—with honey, dried fruits, and nuts—as a wish for prosperity. Dumplings, meat dishes, and baked goods appear on the table as well. Alcohol is also present, as part of the tradition of toasting to health, family unity, and a good year entering the home.
During Malanka, shchedruvannia and zasivannia take place. Guests visit homes with songs and blessings, scattering grain as a sign of fertility, growth, and the continuation of life. The grain symbolizes the future harvest and the strength of the earth. Hosts accept this blessing and treat the singers, affirming mutual care and community.
Throughout the Christmas season, shchedrivky—ritual songs of blessing—are sung. One of them, “Shchedryk,” was arranged for choir by composer Mykola Leontovych from a traditional folk melody. In the 1920s, the Ukrainian Republican Capella, led by Oleksandr Koshyts, toured Europe and the Americas to show the world that Ukrainians have their own culture, language, and music, and that they are a distinct nation with the right to independence. In the United States, composer Peter Wilhousky, with the capella’s permission, wrote English lyrics to the melody of “Shchedryk,” hearing in its sound the ringing of bells. In this way, a Ukrainian shchedrivka became known worldwide as “Carol of the Bells.”
Today, for the fourth year in a row, the New Year arrives in a time of war. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has continued for more than 1,400 days. Celebration is possible thanks to the defenders who hold the line and make it possible for Ukrainians to live, speak their native language, preserve traditions, and keep faith. Deep respect and gratitude go to our soldiers and to everyone in the rear who supports the path to victory.
May the New Year bring light into our homes, strength to our hearts, and confidence in tomorrow. May the grain of Shchedryi Vechir grow into joy, and may the road of the coming year lead toward a life filled with meaning and warmth.
