KYIV – The annual Vertep Fest took place in Kharkiv this year for the fourth time. Fifty-two musical collectives arrived on January 11-12 from different corners of Ukraine; a large number of them were from Kharkiv and the eastern region, which shares a border with Russia. More than 1,500 people passed along the city’s main street in the traditional “Vertep March.” Fifty-six cities in Ukraine, the Netherlands, Poland and Estonia supported the international performance of the beloved carol “Nova Radist Stala” at Vertep Fest 2020. The final event of the festival, the Ethno Evening Folklore Party, gathered a large number of spectators and closed the event on a high note.
“Within the relatively short time of its existence, the Vertep Fest has already managed to find many fans in Kharkiv. The best evidence is how the residents of the city cordially welcomed vertep groups,” said Olena Rofe-Beketova, the festival’s chief coordinator and director of the Charitable Foundation Kharkiv with You. The groups presented “vertepy” (plural of vertep), plays on the Nativity theme with interludes depicting secular life.
Ms. Rofe-Beketova is confident that all found the fourth Vertep Fest to be extremely warm and sincere. “This time, we felt that literally the whole city was celebrating. Participants were already planning performances for the next year, even while the festival wasn’t yet over. They promised to bring with them new bands and new ideas for performances. We see that this festival is alive and growing,” she stated.
During the weekend, sweet Christmas carols and splendid performances were presented in different parts of Kharkiv. The teams at the Vertep Fest performed all over the city, showing its residents a wide variety of genres: puppet shows, performances by “kobzars” (wandering minstrels), shadow theater, live costume nativity scenes, etc.
The festive atmosphere was created during these two days by more than 1,000 participants age 4 to 83. New bands from Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions joined this year’s festival.
The festive atmosphere at Vertep Fest 2020 was created by more than 1,000 participants age 4 to 83.
Organizers of Vertep Fest, members of the Charitable Foundation Kharkiv with You, say they are convinced that this affirms the growing interest in Ukrainian traditions in the east of the country.
“We invite all participants to join the Vertep Fest in singing the favorite Christmas carol ‘Nova Radist Stala’ (A New Joy Has Come),” said Iryna Holubieva, organizer of this carol flash mob, which is one of the most exciting and dynamic parts of the festival. “The idea of the event is to sing the Ukrainian carol simultaneously all over the world, so it – like a dome of light, love, faith and hope – covers the whole world, protecting us all.”
“The first such singing took place in January 2017 in three cities, Kharkiv, Lviv and Kramatorsk, and in 2020 we had about 50 cities and villages in Ukraine and five cities in European countries. We all sang this carol together. For better coordination and coherence, we ask all participants to register, and then we send detailed instructions in response. We are many, we are different, but we unite for a common purpose. And this is very significant and symbolic for Ukraine,” explained Ms. Holubieva.
On the first day of Vertep Fest 2020, traditional Christmas-themed shows took place at gathering places where local spends their weekends, in supermarket chains and at shopping centers. Christmas carols could be heard even in public transport: subways, trolleybuses, trams. The festival encompasses 45 locations in Kharkiv, and the city’s Gorky Park hosted a large-scale concert, at which 12 children groups performed.
“A good atmosphere, a wonderful holiday, a lot of people,” commented the well-known Ukrainian writer Serhiy Zhadan. “I am happy that we have this festival in Kharkiv, and that it is developing. After all, every year, more and more people are coming to experience this. I see this because together with my daughter Marusia, a member of the Shchebetushky group, we participate in every Vertep Fest. And most importantly, I like the reaction of Kharkiv’s people who welcome Christmas carols, smile and are glad to be involved in this activity,” Mr. Zhadan said.
The Vertep Fest in Kharkiv is one of the largest folklore events in Ukraine’s east.
The second day of the festival began with the traditional walk. Groups that focus on restoring the traditions of northeastern Ukraine’s historical Slobozhanshchyna region (or Slobidska Ukraine), organizations from the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, representatives from western and central Ukraine, and residents of Kharkiv and Lysychansk all marched together. A much larger audience of locals welcomed the walk than in previous years.
“The purpose of the Vertep Fest is not only to revive traditions and create a holiday for Kharkiv, but also to unite all of Ukraine. The idea of Slobozhan Ethnic Evenings came about when we noticed that the participants of the Vertep Fest have very little time to communicate with each other,” related Iryna Markevych, organizer of the ethnic evenings. “We decided to organize a party at which, in a cozy atmosphere, people could get to know each other and make friends. It is a unique opportunity to introduce representatives of all regions of Ukraine to Kharkiv in all its diversity, to facilitate understanding among representatives of different ethnic communities in Ukraine, to reduce conflict and increase tolerance in society. Usually, we have at these events eight communities alongside Ukrainians: Azerbaijani, Georgian, Armenian, Greek, German, Bashkir, Kyrgyz, Belarusian,” she stated.
The final event of the Vertep Fest, the folklore party dubbed Ethno Evening combined the traditions of different regions and cultures of Ukraine, arousing great interest among the locals.
“This year, we also decided to draw attention to the need for equal access to culture to all segments of the population: women with disabilities (on wheelchairs) have been involved in Ethnic Evenings. Also, we invited a woman who has twice overcome cancer and is now undergoing treatment. Their example inspires and gives us all hope. Together with Plast members, they took part in the fashion show, wearing authentic Ukrainian outfits of Left Bank Ukraine from our private collection ‘Tree of Life,’ ” explained Iryna Markevych, who is also one of the volunteers of Plast National Scout Organization of Ukraine in Kharkiv.
“Iryna Holubieva and I have been assembling the collection for several years now, finding old things sometimes in terrible condition at flea markets, auctions, villages, and giving them new life. They give joy and pass on a genetic code encrypted in ancient clothing, as well as make Ukrainian women look very beautiful,” Ms. Markevych enthusiastically added.
The Vertep Fest was launched in 2017 when the Kharkiv Plast branch and the Charitable Foundation Kharkiv with You first organized a national festival of Nativity scenes on the eve of the old-calendar New Year in Kharkiv. The organizers immediately decided that everyone should be touched by the holiday and that it was especially needed at the military hospital and children’s hospitals.
“This festival is a great opportunity to meet with like-minded people, to see Ukrainians from all over the country and to exchange experiences,” said Ms. Rofe-Beketova, the festival’s coordinator. “For Vertep Fest viewers, it’s a great excuse to have a great time with the whole family, to invite friends and relatives from other cities to surprise them. Or just come to Kharkiv to get acquainted with it in the magical atmosphere of the Christmas holidays and enjoy an unforgettable experience.”
The organizers set themselves the goal of reaching the entire city as much as possible, so the performances take place in popular holiday destinations, the South Railway Station, and shopping and entertainment centers, many of which are located beyond the city center.
The first Vertep Fest brought together 20 groups and 645 participants from all over Ukraine, and it has been dynamically growing ever since.
“We are pleased to say that, during these four years, changes have taken place, first of all, in the way the festival is perceived. It is already referred to as a traditional festival for the city. Mostly, the city is well-received by Vertep Fest, and people are happy to watch and listen to the performances of the bands,” said Ms. Rofe-Beketova. “This year, we just felt that the city and the region eagerly await the festival and are happy to welcome it.”