Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4634-1137
Abstract
The article analyzes the manifestations of politicization of Christmas ritual traditions of Ukrainians (nativity scenes (verteps), caroling, Generous Evening performances) during the ongoing war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The corresponding forms (transformations of classical characters of caroling texts and Christmas performances, addition of military-political motifs to them), the influence of political reasons on the organization of customary practices (transition of their Christmas cycle to a new calendar), collections of donations for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are clarified. It is shown that the strengthening of political accents in nativity scenes, carols and Generous Evening performances contributes to the popularization of these traditions, including among foreign audiences, and the active involvement of young people, in which distribution of relevant texts and videos on the Internet played a powerful role. Thus, the politicization of Christmas customs gives them functionality as manifestos of patriotic civic action, as a means of orienting Ukrainians in the surrounding socio-political and cultural-civilizational reality, where Ukraine is recognized as a natural part of the European cultural and spiritual space and is separated from the hostile “Russian world.”
Recommended Citation
Nedavnya, Olga
(2026)
"Politicization of Christmas Ritual Practices of Ukrainians During the Modern War,"
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe: Vol. 46
:
Iss.
9
, Article 18.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55221/2693-2229.2952
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/ree/vol46/iss9/18