Malanka, a unique traditional winter festival in Ukraine

Boys dressed in bear and gypsy costumes went door-to-door to perform skits to celebrate the traditional winter Malanka Festival.

Malanka is the most popular traditional festival in western Ukraine. It falls on January 13 and 14 every year, which is New Year's Eve in the solar calendar. During these two-day celebrations, local men, women and children put on traditional masks and exotic costumes, sang carols from house to house, and wished people good luck. At the same time, they would do practical jokes or perform short dramas.