“Shchedryk” is the most well known Ukrainian Christmas song that’s been heard in hundreds of arrangements over the years.
Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych used archaic traditional material to compose the song in 1916. In the song, there’s a swallow flying over the sky, wishing all the good things that the spring would bring to everyone. In the older tradition, new year was celebrated as the spring came in april – only later, with christianity being introduced to the area, the new year’s eve moved to the day we all know today. Well – almost – as the Ukrainian new year’s eve is still celebrated according to the old calendar, on 13. of january in the Julian Calendar (December 31 Old style). The night is called „Shchedryi Vechyr” (Bountiful Evening or Feast of Epiphany).