Ukrainian Villagers Hold On To Tradition As War Continues To Rage

Ivan and Maria Zelenchuk eat in their kitchen before the start of Christmas celebrations in Kryvorivnya village, in western Ukraine on December 25.

The village --  located in the Carpathian Mountains -- is considered the capital of Ukraine’s Hutsul minority, where traditions still play an important role.

Zelenchuk searches for his traditional suit -- known as a Hutsul -- in his home before joining up with local villagers to commence the start of the Christmas festivities.

For hundreds of years people here have preserved Ukraine's oldest Christmas carol tradition. 

 

Zelenchuk is joined by Mykola Zelenchuk as they walk with other villagers to the village church.

Tradition has it that the singing of carols -- known locally as Kolyadky -- celebrates the birth of the sun and dates back to pre-Christian times.

Zelenchuk and other men from the village sing as they arrive at the church.

The carols were also thought to embody ancestral spirits.
 

Men dressed in traditional hutsuls suits play violins in front of the village church.

The tradition eventually became a part of Christmas, where the carols now celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Men raise their trembitas, a type of alpine horn made of wood, during the festivities. 

Traditionally, only men sing the carols that can last a few minutes or even up to four hours. They will also form a circle -- which symbolizes the sun -- around the church during their singing. 
 

Men sing Christmas carols in front of the church.

This year, many Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on December 25 for the first time rather than in January, which is when Russia marks the festival. The change was enacted in legislation in July. The law signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy noted that Ukrainians wanted to "live their own life with their own traditions and holidays," adding that it allows them to "abandon the Russian heritage of imposing Christmas celebrations on January 7." 
 

Participants pose for a group photo.

 

As part of the festivities, parishioners are welcomed to pray inside the village church...

...before receiving a blessing from the village Priest Ivan Rybaruk.

A woman attired in traditional clothing gets into her car near the church during the day's festivities.

During the evening meal, a group of men sing Kolyadky as a violinist plays.

The celebrations last late into the night.