Verkhy

Yaremche, Verkhovyna, Vorokhta, Slavske — in winter these places sing louder than ever. It is not only the seasonal snow: authentic Christmas traditions come alive. You hear carols and the echo of bells, catch the scent of hay, and somewhere nearby hooves clatter along snowy paths. The symbols of the coming year have long been faithful companions of the Hutsuls, and inseparable figures in carols. Horses helped people cross the passes, return home through blizzards and carry everything they needed — whether you could stay “in the saddle” often decided the peace and wellbeing of a whole family.