We, the students of Nova Praha Lyceum #1, Oleksandriia district, Kirovohrad region, Viktoriia Kisilova, Yaroslav Myronenko, Roman Perkin, Diana Karnazhuk, Polina Malovik, Yaroslav Kriachko, Tymofii Zhabko studied the Ukrainian heritage of the feast of Vasil and Malanka.

Our team studied the history of this holiday. We learned that on the New Year’s eve people traditionally celebrated the Shchedryi Vechir (Generous Evening), it is also called the holiday of Malanka. It is called generous due to the main dish of the New Year's table – a generous kutia. Our ancestors believed that a generous New Year's table would provide people with abundance and well-being for the whole year.

We asked the residents of the villages of Nova Praha, Sharivka, Kvitneve, Pantaziivka and Gaiove about the dishes that must be prepared for the Shchedryi Vechir. In our area housewives prepare a sweet, generous kutia with honey, poppy seeds, raisins, walnuts, dried plums, apricots, cherries and pears. Women usually serve pies, dumplings, sausages, pancakes, etc. to the table. There must be pork dishes on the table too.

During this holiday people take musical instruments with them: an accordion, a violin, a pipe, a tambourine, choose a boy who will be Malanka, another one who will play the role of the Goat, as well as a doctor who will heal the Goat, gypsies, and other dressed-up people and take with them the bright attribute, the Star. They are going around neighbors and acquaintances to give gifts and wish them health and prosperity. According to tradition, they start giving generously after the sun sets, that is, when, according to beliefs, all kinds of evil forces come out into the world.

In such a company, boys and girls go from house to house, express good wishes to the owners, entertain them with songs, dancing and funny skits. This custom is called "to lead Malanka" and "to lead the Goat".

In our village, this holiday "Vasyl and Malanka" is very popular and its traditions are passed down from generation to generation. Every year, preparing for the holidays, we add something, make changes, ask residents about unknown elements of this holiday.

The feast of Vasil and Malanka is our cultural and national value. It is an important part of Ukrainian cultural heritage. This is an important element of Ukrainian identity.