Christmas is a holiday rich in traditions. In Ukraine, people decorate their homes, cook festive dishes, and wear embroidered clothing. In some places, neighbors still go from house to house singing kolyadky and offering blessings for the birth of Jesus Christ.
At the same time, Christmas is part of a wider cycle of December celebrations, where Christian and pagan elements come together and create a unique atmosphere.
Yellow Blue Business Platform (YBBP) has selected five English books with beautiful illustrations that invite readers into the world of Ukrainian Christmas and other winter holidays. These books are wonderful gifts for friends and partners.
A Ukrainian Christmas
About the book. Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Hrytsak and writer Nadiyka Gerbish explore the history of Christmas in Ukraine and show how both ancient and modern customs shape the holiday atmosphere. The book brings together 33 short essays that touch on everything that makes up Ukrainian Christmas: authentic dishes, songs and symbols, sacred texts, as well as contemporary books and films inspired by the season.
Alongside warm cultural details, the authors also address more dramatic chapters of Ukrainian history. For example, they describe how Ukrainian Catholics secretly celebrated Christmas during the Soviet era, when the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was officially banned. The book also includes lighter, curious facts, such as the origins of the Advent calendar.
Through this work, the authors remind readers why preserving one’s culture and beliefs matters so deeply, especially when they are suppressed or threatened.
Why read it. Easy to read, the book appeals to both adults and younger readers. Each chapter is accompanied by vivid illustrations. The English edition was published in October 2023 and spent several weeks as a bestseller in the “Ukrainian History” and “Eastern European History” categories on Amazon. Its success in Europe led to translations into German and Estonian.
First Star I See Tonight: Ukrainian Christmas Traditions
About the book. Orysia Tracz was a writer and cultural researcher who devoted her life to exploring Ukrainian traditional customs and folklore. She translated dozens of books from Ukrainian into English and lectured on art and culture in Ukraine, Australia, the United States, and Canada. For many years, she also wrote a regular column for The Ukrainian Weekly, a newspaper founded by the diaspora in the United States.
This book brings together her essays first published in that newspaper. Through these texts, Tracz explores the origins of Christmas and the ways it is celebrated both in Ukraine and within diaspora communities in the United States and Canada. She writes about key traditions and symbols such as the pavuk, didukh, Malanka, and Koliada, and explains why Santa Claus is not part of these Christmas customs.
Why read it. Published in 2015, this book was the first large-scale work in English dedicated to Ukrainian Christmas traditions. It weaves together key historical events, ancient rituals, and contemporary ways of celebrating the holiday. Each chapter is complemented by photographs and unique archival documents.
Christmas Traditions of Ukraine: Winter Symbols and Celebrations
About the book. This is a children’s book by Ukrainian writer and illustrator Lidiya Bo. It gently introduces young readers to the winter holiday season in Ukraine, showing how ancient customs and modern practices come together to create a magical atmosphere — from St. Nicholas Day to the New Year.
Through simple explanations and bright illustrations, the book explores familiar symbols such as the Christmas star, vytynanky, didukhs, and straw spider ornaments. It also pays attention to small sensory details, including the scents and colors that many Ukrainians associate with the holiday.
Why read it. The book offers a clear overview of the key symbols of Ukrainian Christmas, making it easy to follow for children and adults alike. Nearly every page features large, colorful illustrations filled with holiday characters and motifs. Proceeds from the book support projects that help children affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Celebrations
About the book. Mary Kushnir is a Ukrainian writer and the head of the Family Council at the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre for the Elderly. In this book, she introduces readers to a wide range of traditional Ukrainian celebrations — not only Christmas and New Year, but also Easter, Ivana Kupala, and other seasonal holidays.
For each celebration, Kushnir shares traditional greetings and family recipes. In total, the book includes more than 115 dishes, reflecting how food plays a central role in Ukrainian festive culture.
Why read it. This book will appeal to those interested in Ukrainian traditions and to readers looking for new ideas for holiday cooking. Alongside descriptions of rituals and celebrations, Kushnir highlights how these traditions are kept alive today, both in Ukraine and within the diaspora. Each section is enriched with colorful illustrations and photographs that bring the celebrations to life.
Ukrainian Cooking in Taras' Kitchen: Christmas and Easter Dishes
About the book. Taras Sabadash, a food blogger and host of a popular YouTube show about Ukrainian cuisine, brings together Christmas and Easter traditions in this cookbook. He shares recipes for twelve of his favorite dishes prepared for Christmas Eve and offers practical advice on what traditionally goes into an Easter basket.
Alongside recipes, Sabadash explains how Ukrainians celebrate these holidays and which festive customs and symbols matter most. The book combines cooking with storytelling, helping readers better understand the cultural meaning behind each dish.
Why read it. This book is a collection of simple, authentic recipes presented in both English and Ukrainian. Sabadash walks readers through each step clearly, making the dishes easy to recreate at home. The recipes are enriched with insights into Ukrainian culture and culinary heritage, turning the book into both a practical guide and a cultural introduction.
