How New Year is celebrated in Ukraine: traditions in different regions

How is the New Year celebrated in different regions of Ukraine? Learn about ancient rituals, festive dishes and unique traditions that are preserved to this day

Choose a tour in Ukraine for any taste

CHOOSE A TOUR

Ukraine is a country with an extremely rich cultural heritage, and this is especially noticeable during the New Year holidays. Each region has its own unique traditions that reflect the history, ethnography and worldview of local communities. From noisy folk festivals in the Carpathians to family feasts in Slobozhanshchyna - New Year in Ukraine is celebrated differently, but always with warmth, symbolism and faith in good changes.

This article tells about New Year traditions in different regions of Ukraine.

Carpathian New Year - Malanka, carols and Hutsul color

The Carpathian region of Ukraine is distinguished by especially rich New Year traditions that combine Hutsul folklore, ancient folk rites and festive customs. Celebrations here often begin long before January 1 and last for several days.

One of the most famous traditions is Malanka – a costumed performance with songs, dances and theatrical scenes, which has deep roots in the culture of Transcarpathia and Bukovina. Hutsuls prepare festive dishes, decorate homes and Christmas trees, and young people go around houses singing carols, wishing for prosperity and a bountiful year.

Of particular importance is the Generous Evening, when the table must necessarily include kutya, meat and vegetable dishes, symbolizing abundance and fertility. Young boys and girls in traditional clothing give generously and perform ritual dances.

The Carpathians are also known for winter festivals – in particular, the Hutsul carol festivals. Holiday fairs offer local cheeses, honey, and handmade souvenirs, creating a vibrant atmosphere that attracts tourists from all over the country.

Read here about the basic rules, restrictions and nuances of celebrating the New Year in Ukraine under martial law.

Bukovina – Masquerade Processions

It is worth mentioning Bukovina separately, where the tradition of pereberiya – New Year’s masquerade processions has been preserved. Participants dress up as mythical characters, animals or historical figures and go around homes with wishes for happiness and prosperity. These events combine elements of humor, theater and ancient beliefs.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Slobozhanshchyna – family warmth and generous tables

Slobozhanshchyna, which covers Kharkiv, Sumy and part of Luhansk regions, has also preserved New Year’s traditions for many years. The region is still popular for its carol singing and generosity. Local residents gather together and go around their neighbors with songs, wishing them health and well-being.

The festive table is the central element of the holiday: kutya made from wheat, honey, poppy seeds and nuts, sausages, dumplings, borscht, as well as traditional symbols of the modern New Year - tangerines, baked fish and various canapés. In Slobozhanshchyna, the New Year is often accompanied by large family feasts, where people discuss the past year and plan for the future.

An interesting tradition is to light candles on the festive table, which symbolizes the protection of the home and family unity. In cities, celebrations were often supplemented with fireworks and mass festivities, but in wartime conditions this is not possible yet.

Read more about how the New Year will be celebrated in Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Odessa and Dnipro in wartime in this article.

Polissya – ancient rituals and belief in the signs of nature

In Polissya, New Year celebrations are distinguished by the preservation of ancient rituals. One of the key ones is generosity – performing generosity with symbolic gestures, which, according to beliefs, bring happiness in the new year.

Kutya, poppy seed pastries, and homemade dishes are always present on the table. Homes are decorated with Christmas tree branches, candles, and amulets. Folk signs play an important role: the weather on January 1 is considered a harbinger of a harvest.

In Volyn and some areas of Polissya, an important symbol remains the didukh – the personification of ancestors and family well-being, which is installed in the house for the holiday period.

Central Ukraine – family traditions and large-scale celebrations

In Central Ukraine, in particular in the Kyiv region, the New Year combines home comfort and public events. Preparations begin in advance: decorating the home, putting up a Christmas tree, creating holiday decor.

Traditionally, various salads, dumplings, cold cuts, etc. appear on the table. Families gather together, exchange gifts, and celebrate the New Year with loved ones.

Fairs, concerts, and mass festivities are held in cities, while carols and schedrivki are still preserved in villages, which strengthen the sense of community.

In this article, we will tell you where to go to celebrate the New Year in Ukraine to spend the holiday brightly and without worries.

Podillia: “driving the Goat” and evening parties

In Podillia, the ancient tradition of “driving the Goat” has been preserved - a ritual with masks, humorous skits, and songs, symbolizing the renewal of life and fertility. During the New Year period, evening parties were also held, where young people sang, danced, and got to know each other.

Southern Ukraine – Cultural Diversity

Southern Ukraine, especially the Odesa region, is distinguished by its multinational flavor. The festive table often includes fish, seafood, meat dishes and salads with local variations.

The streets are filled with music – from folk songs to modern hits, and open-air concerts and fireworks become an integral part of the holidays. The tradition of solemnly lighting the Christmas tree and welcoming the New Year in the squares creates an atmosphere of a shared holiday.

In the Zaporizhia region, Cossack motifs of celebration are preserved in some places – joint feasts, folk songs and symbolic toasts for freedom and prosperity.

From Hutsul rituals and Polissya beliefs to the southern multicultural flavor – the New Year traditions of Ukraine demonstrate the depth of history and diversity of cultures. It is this mosaic of customs that makes the New Year in Ukraine a special holiday, combining the past and the present, family warmth and shared joy.

Winter tours of Ukraine are a great opportunity not only to learn about New Year's traditions, but also to see them firsthand: visit Carpathian festivals, Christmas and New Year's fairs, authentic villages and festively decorated cities. Choosing a trip to Ukraine in winter, you discover new regions and feel the true atmosphere of the Ukrainian New Year.

Plan a winter trip to Ukraine with Visit Ukraine today - give yourself warm emotions, new impressions and unforgettable holiday memories!

Reminder! Winter tours of Ukraine in 2025/26 open up the opportunity to see the country without filters: real, historical, alive. Safe routes, organized trips and support from Visit Ukraine make travel accessible even in difficult times. We have already told you which tours are already open and how to prepare for the trip.

Photo – Freepik

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2025, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.