Uzhhorod hosts “Carols in the Old Village” festival

This was reported by an Ukrinform correspondent.

The festival of traditional Zakarpattia nativity plays and Christmas carols was held at the Uzhhorod skansen (open-air museum). It began with a festive carolers’ procession from Petefi Square in central Uzhhorod to the Uzhhorod skansen, located on Castle Hill.

This year, the festival featured 25 creative ensembles representing 16 communities of the region.

In particular, tourists and visitors to Zakarpattia were able to see the legendary Boroniavo sharkhan – a unique tradition found only in the village of Boroniavo in the Khust district, where carolers go from house to house carrying a wooden dragon known as a sharkhan. This tradition is included in the list of Zakarpattia’s intangible cultural heritage.

During the festival, guests had the opportunity to donate to volunteers from the Zakarpattia Military Support Movement. A charity fundraiser was also held throughout the event in support of the Striks Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade Magura.

As reported by Ukrinform, in January 2024, Uzhhorod revived the traditional Carols in the Old Village festival for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The festival was first held at the Uzhhorod skansen in 1996. The tradition was interrupted for several years due to the pandemic and later the full-scale war.

Photo: Ihor Tkachenko / Ukrinform