Нова радість стала /‘New joy is here’ Ukrainian Christmas carol

Нова радість стала - солісти Дмитро Фощанка, Василь Сащук, Олександр Вознюк Оркестр Київської Опери, диригент Ділявер Осман
‘New joy is here’ (Nova radist stala) great example of combination of religious rituals and caroling tradition. This song tells the news about birth of Christ as well.Soloists: Dmitry Foschanka, Vasyl Sashchuk, Oleksandr Voznyuk Orchestra of the Kiev Opera, conductor Diliver Osman

Ukraine, just all other Christian countries that live by the Julian calendar, celebrates Christmas on January 6 and 7.
So here is collection of top Ukrainian Christmas carols and some of them might sound surprisingly familiar to you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9GN3VaFYR8
Kolyadka vs Shchedrivka
Ukrainian Christmas carols
First of all we need to make it clear that there are two types of songs for winter holidays: kolyadka or carol and shchedrivka.
Carols are traditionally sung on Christmas, January 6-7 and shchedrivky are performed on January 13 (that is December 31 according to the old style).
These two types of songs are different not only by the time they are performed. Carols of kolyadky are mostly about birth of Jesus Christ while shchedrivky were sung an New Year Eve and their sense comes to wishing people joy, wealth and good harvest.
This is an interesting thing that these songs used to be parts of pagan rituals and initially church tried to eliminate them. However, the tradition was too strong and with time it merged with Christian holidays thus creating a unique mixture of old and new religion.
Until XV century Slavic people celebrated New Year in early spring and texts of shchedrisky still have the traces of this tradition. We can hear about birds coming back and birth of domestic animals.
Now, when you know the difference, let’s go!

Видео Нова радість стала /‘New joy is here’ Ukrainian Christmas carol канала victorkyivUA1