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Группу зимних календарных песен составляют колядки и щедривки. Это величественные песни украинских земледельцев, связанные с праславянским культом Солнца. Предки украинцев отмечали три фазы солнца – весеннее равноденствие, летнее и зимнее солнцестояние. Новый год начинался у древних славян от весеннего равноденствия (как, наконец, и у других европейских народов). Лишь впоследствии празднование начала нового года было перенесено на время зимнего солнцестояния (где-то с XIV века).
Do not confuse carols (folk songs) with carols (songs of religious (church) content) - dedicated to one of the most important Christian holidays - Christmas. Carols appeared, in which archaic motifs and images were intertwined with biblical ones (birth, life, torment, death and resurrection of Christ). A special place is occupied by church carols of authorial, book origin (Silent Night, Holy Night; New joy has become; and others). According to H. Luzhnytskyi, "with carols, the history of Ukrainian theater enters the phase of the so-called magic of the word. The spirit of primitive man's imagination was mythical and magical, and carols in their genesis are primitive magical formulas, where the conjurer is an actor, because during spell, he plays the role of the future self, or higher power."
With the advent of Christianity, the birth of Jesus Christ began to be celebrated on December 25 (old style) or January 7 (new style). The ancient pagan rite was timed to one of the greatest Christian holidays - Christmas. New religious carols with biblical and Christian images appeared. They have gained the same popularity as the old carols.