Christmas carol in the village of Kryvorivnia

The book "Christmas Carol in the Village of Kryvorivnia" is a unique ethnographic and artistic testimony to the living tradition of the Hutsul Christmas by the folk writer, artist and folklorist Paraska Plytka-Horytsvit (1927–1998). Her story is not just a record of customs, but a sincere prayer in words, an immersion in the spiritual world of the Hutsul rite, where the carol appears as a mystical act of unity of man with God.

In the poetic Hutsul dialect, the author recreates the calendar and ritual cycle of winter holidays, showing the inner beauty of the life, rituals and beliefs of the highlanders.

The publication is accompanied by a foreword by Father Ivan Rybaruk about the revival of the carol tradition in Kryvorivnia - the "carol capital of Ukraine". It describes how this custom, despite the trials of wars and occupations, not only survived, but also became a symbol of the spiritual resilience, will, and unity of the Ukrainian people. It also includes a preface by literary scholar Mykola Ilnytskyi, where he analyzes the creative method of Paraska Plytka-Horytsvit. A valuable addition is Paraska’s own “Carols” and Vasyl Zelenchuk’s ethnographic notes “Carols from Kryvorivnia”.

This book will become a valuable source for ethnologists, cultural scientists, philologists, educators, researchers of folk art, as well as for all who seek to learn more about the Hutsul soul and the phenomenon of Ukrainian Christmas.