In Ukraine, families decorate Christmas trees with spiders and spiderwebs. To American eyes, the Ukrainian Christmas decor resembles Halloween rather than the season of giving. At the very least, the spider decor is reminiscent of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
However, in Ukrainian tradition, spiders are seen as a symbol of hope and good fortune through the cold winter months.
There are several stories regarding the spiders’ origin. One account states that one Christmas was so dark and cold, you could not tell day from night. On Christmas eve, a small, poor Ukrainian family lit what little candles and firewood they had in celebration and hope that the Sun would return.
The mother could not afford any Christmas gifts or decorations for her children. Still, she traversed the forest and found a small fir tree to decorate the house. Little did she know, the tree was inhabited by a spider.
The spider, thankful to escape the frigid outdoors, decorated the small Christmas tree with an ornate web.
On Christmas morning, the Sun crept through the open window and shone upon the spider’s handiwork. Like magic, the web was transformed into gold and silver. The family’s luck turned for the better and the children remained warm and without want.
As a result, spiders are a sign of good fortune within the Ukrainian tradition. Families often create spiders from wire and beads which are called Pavuchky. Some families spin ornate webs along the branches of Christmas trees. Others decorate the tree with tinsel to represent spiderwebs.
Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, hangs Christmas lights in its market square annually to resemble a giant spiderweb emanating from the bottom branches of the Christmas tree. Despite the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, inhabitants of Kyiv are still decorating a much more subdued Christmas tree powered by an exercise bicycle.
Whether with the help of a spider or men riding an exercise bike, Ukrainians are committed to maintaining their traditions despite the cold of winter or the harsh reality of war.