New Year in Ukraine

New Year in Ukraine

New Year is the principal winter holiday. The welcoming of the New Year is considered the most significant occasion of the winter.

The New Year's tree is identical to a Christmas tree. It is decorated in the same way, with ornaments, lights and garland. Stars are usually perched atop the tree rather than angels,

Grandfather Frost ("Ded Moroz ") is charged with the responsibility of delivering presents on New Year's Eve. He is a large, bearded and grandfatherly man resembling Santa Claus, although he has no saintly identity, nor sleigh nor reindeer. He is sometimes dressed in blue rather than red.
He appears on New Year's Eve with a sack of gifts and delivers them to each family. He doesn't come down the chimney, but it doesn't really matter how he gets into your dwelling. Perhaps through the front door, perhaps through the window - who knows?

Instead of elves to help him, Ded Moroz has his grand-daughter Snowy or Snowmaiden ("Snegurochka "), with whom he lives somewhere in the northern forest. Snegurochka is an attractive young blonde girl, often dressed in light blue or red winter attire and sometimes a cap of the same color.

Presents are also given on New Year. There is no requirement of waiting until the morning of New Year's Day to open them; they are usually presented and opened shortly after greeting the New Year at midnight.