Ukrainian Christmas music: 12 songs for the holidays

For centuries, music has been a loyal companion to Ukraine. It has been there for Ukrainians during life's joys — the birth of a child, the beginning of a new family, and the hope of a new year. It has also brought solace in darker times, honoring loved ones who have passed and offering support to Ukraine's defenders during the war.

Ukrainians have always been musical people, having passed on thousands of folk songs through the generations. This love for music truly shines during Christmas and New Year, when Ukrainians go caroling, singing koliadky, Ukrainian Christmas carols, which celebrate the birth of Christ, and shchedrivky, New Year or Generous carols, conjuring and wishing wealth and happiness in the new year.

Rubryka offers you our curated playlist of Ukrainian holiday songs for a perfect festive atmosphere the Ukrainian way.

1. Oi Na Hori by ShchukaRyba

Oi Na Hori ( "Oh on the Mountain") is a rare bird of a carol, traditionally performed on the Generous Evening, an ancient Ukrainian name for New Year's Eve. This shchedrivka (a New Year carol) from northeastern Ukraine tells the story of Ivan, who comes across a falcon under a sacred tree and wants to shoot it. The falcon pleads for its life, offering to scatter dark clouds over Ivan and protect the tree instead.

We offer to enjoy this Ukrainian holiday song in its rendition by ShchukaRyba, a young folk band and choir known for their carol performances. The band's vocals are accompanied by the orchestration of talented Ukrainian musicians Bunht and Puhachev.

2. Shchedryk by Mykola Leontovych 

We included this world-famous Ukrainian carol in our previous article listing the top 7 iconic Ukrainian songs, and we couldn't help but add it to this list, too. Known worldwide as the Carol of the Bells, a Christmas classic, Shchedryk was initially sung on New Year's Eve, not Christmas. This folk song describes a little swallow that comes to a Ukrainian farmer's home and announces that he will have a wealthy year — a lot of cattle and harvest.

This shchedrivka, or the Generous Carol, became legendary after Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych wrote a score and a choral arrangement for it. The Crimean Chamber Choir delivers a flawless performance of the song.

3. Zabery Mene Do Sebe Na Rizdvo by KRUTЬ

Although Zabery Mene Do Sebe Na Rizdvo ("Take Me to Your Place for Christmas") is not a traditional Ukrainian folk song or a carol, it is still worth adding to this list and listening to.

Ukrainian singer and songwriter KRUTЬ, known for blending the sounds of bandura, a traditional Ukrainian instrument, and R'n'B and pop music styles, wrote this original song to tell the story of someone who feels exhausted from the busy city life and just wants to escape it all.

The singer longs to spend Christmas with someone they love, surrounded by warmth, family, and simple joys of life. It sounds like a perfect Ukrainian holiday song on its way to becoming a classic.

4. Dobryi Vechir Tobi by Pikkardiyska Tertsiya

Dobryi Vechir Tobi ("Good Evening to You") might be among the most popular Ukrainian Christmas carols. It has been performed and recorded by multiple Ukrainian artists over the years and has many versions in different regions of Ukraine.

Like many others, this koliadka honors the birth of Christ. It starts with a cheerful greeting to a host, where carolers ask him to get ready for the Christmas season and celebrate the arrival of three big holidays: Christmas, New Year, and Epiphany.

We recommend listening to the a capella version of this Ukrainian Christmas carol performed by the legendary vocal group Pikkardiyska Tertsiya, known for its incredible harmonies and reviving and popularizing Ukrainian folk music.

5. Oi Syvaia Ta I Zozulenka by Tina Karol

Oi Syvaia Ta I Zozulenka ("Oh, the Gray Cuckoo") is the finest example of shchedrivka, traditionally performed on New Year's Eve to summon luck and happiness for the family.

Full of symbolism, this magical folk song tells a story about a cuckoo, which, according to a Ukrainian folklore legend, foretells the arrival of spring and holds the keys to paradise. It flies over all the orchards but skips one special garden with three houses. The houses symbolize the universe and family: the sun is the father, the moon is the mother, and the stars are their children.

Ukrainian singer Tina Karol conveyed the beauty of this Ukrainian New Year carol with a poetic and intimate touch in her original arrangement.

6. Nadoryvsia Boh Na Saniakh by Taras Chubai

Based on two poems of a 20th-century Ukrainian poet Bohdan-Ihor Antonych and set to music by Vasyl Zhdankin, the beloved Ukrainian Christmas carol, Nadoryvsia Boh Na Saniakh ("God Was Born on a Sleigh"), reimagines the Nativity story in Ukrainian context and setting.

The birth of Christ is relocated from Bethlehem to a humble Ukrainian village in the snow-covered Carpathian Mountains, and the three kings are locals who bring their unique gifts, such as a silver sleigh for Baby Jesus and a moon for Mother Mary.

We love this cozy Christmas carol in the melodic and fun reinterpretation of Taras Chubai, a Ukrainian musician and author of the iconic Ukrainian song, Vona.

7. Ide Zvizda Chudna by Raihorodok

The ancient carol Ide Zvizda Chudna ("A Wondrous Star Appears") perfectly captures the spirit of Ukrainian Christmas and the special meaning of the star in Ukraine's holiday traditions, in particular, the caroling ritual, during which carolers carry the eight-point star.

The song tells the story of the Star of Bethlehem leading the three wise men to the birthplace of Jesus. The wise men follow the star and meet King Herod, but an angel warns them to avoid him.

Raihorodok, a Ukrainian folklore ensemble, delivers an excellent performance of the carol in its traditional folk style — just like you'd hear during authentic Ukrainian Christmas caroling.

8. Malanka by Haidamaky

The original Ukrainian holiday song Malanka by the rock band Haydamaky was inspired by traditional New Year carols and an ancient pagan ritual of Malanka that Ukrainians still perform as part of the New Year's Eve celebration. They dress up in vibrant and hilarious costumes of animals and folklore characters and visit homes to carol and bring good fortune to the hosts.

The song's lyrics tell the mystical story of Malanka, a goddess of fertility and feminine personification of the New Year, who walks barefoot, gathers dew and flies like a bird, searching the skies for God. Haydamaky's lively holiday hit perfectly encapsulates the infectious energy of Ukrainian winter celebrations.

9. Oi Yak Bulo Izprezhdy Vika by Rolan Orban and DJDIIA

Considered one of the oldest Ukrainian Christmas carols, Oi Yak Bulo Izprezhdy Vika ("Oh, How It Was Before Time") tells a story about the creation of the world. In the earliest known version of the lyrics, the universe is created by two doves, but with the coming of Christianity, they were replaced by angels, and then Saint Peter and Saint Paul, who take yellow sand and scatter it across the world to create heaven and earth.

We offer you the chance to listen to the carol in its most recent rendition by the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Myroslav Skoryk Lviv National Philharmonic, which recorded the song in 2024 with music producers Roland Orban and DJ DIIA.

10. Boh Sia Rozhdaye by Shockolad

Another Ukrainian Christmas favorite, Boh Sia Rozhdaye ("God is Born"), rose in popularity after it was arranged by Ostap Nyzhankivskyi, a Ukrainian priest, in the late 19th century.

The carol describes the Nativity scene — the birth of Jesus, surrounded by marveling angels, the ox and donkey standing nearby, and the shepherds kneeling in awe. The three kings bring gifts of frankincense, myrrh, and gold, and the shepherds greet Jesus as their king.

Young vocalist Anna Hnydyn performs the song beautifully, with an almost angelic voice, while the Ukrainian band Shockolad brings its fun and catchy score.

11. Nebo Y Zemlia by SKAI 

One of Ukraine's most cherished Christmas carols, Nebo Y Zemlia ("Sky and Earth"), also tells the story of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. The song paints a picture of "heaven and earth," rejoicing at the news, angels singing, and people praising God's son. The carol accurately shows the excitement and wonder Ukrainians have always experienced at Christmas.

Instead of the traditional folk version of this carol, we recommend listening to the energetic and lively rock rendition by the Ukrainian band SKAI, performed and recorded live during their Christmas Concert in 2023.

12. Vo Vyfleymi Radost Premnoha by Pyrih I Batih

The final song on our Ukrainian holiday song list is Vo Vyfleymi Radost Premnoha ("Great Joy in Bethlehem"). The lyrics also picture the humble setting of the Nativity scene and angels announcing the elating news about the birth of Jesus and inviting shepherds and animals to witness the miracle. Although this Christmas song, like other traditional carols, celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, it can also represent hope and a fresh start.

We really enjoyed the joyous and rhythmic version of this Ukrainian Christmas carol by the Pyrih i Batih, a Ukrainian folk band that promotes the Ukrainian language and poetry through music.