After the 1917 revolution and occupation of the national republics that emerged out of the ashes of the Russian empire, the Soviet authorities declared a war on “bourgeois” religious traditions. However, eradicating them proved to be difficult, and thus the choice was made in favor of cultural appropriation. Newly-created communist songs glorifying proletarians replaced the traditional carols; St. Nicholas and the Christmas tree were not spared, either.
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Bohdan Ben: How the Soviets stole Ukrainian Christmas
Carolers wearing festive costumes sing Christmas songs as they gather to celebrate Orthodox Christmas in the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine in Kyiv on Jan. 7, 2021.
