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It's impossible to imagine the end of the year without decorating Christmas trees, rustling gifts, the smell of tangerines, singing carols, nativity processions, themed decor and a sense of wonder. We believe that St Nicholas will visit us and leave a present. It doesn't matter whether it's under the pillow, under the bed or on the windowsill...

Later, we will gather as a family for Christmas - with kutia, twelve dishes and carols: some on 25 December, others on 7 January. On New Year's Eve, some may still be waiting for Santa Claus, others for Santa, while others will simply exchange gifts, greetings and wishes. But for everyone, this is a special period when we sum up the results of the year, try to set goals for the next 365 days and feel the magic of unity, hope and love.

Around the whirlwind of winter holidays, in addition to magic, there are always questions and a historical component. What are the symbols of traditional and modern Ukrainian Christmas? Why do we wait for St Nicholas and what is his connection to Santa? Who is Father Frost and is it true that he is a product of Soviet culture? When did Ukrainians start decorating the Christmas tree and can we say that it replaced the didukh? How did the practices of celebrating Christmas in cities and villages coexist? How were new canons of the holiday formed under the influence of Soviet rule and in the times of independence ? Anthropologist Daria Antsybor's in-depth study Under the Pillow or Under the Tree will help you find out how and when these ideas were established.