The Museum of Kyiv History presents the exhibition project “Christmas City: Kyiv in the 19th–20th Centuries”, which will immerse visitors in the aesthetics and culture of winter holidays in historical Kyiv, as well as offer a journey through the city’s most interesting pre-holiday locations.
What did festive Kyiv look like, and how did families decorate their homes at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries? What leisure activities and winter pastimes did citizens enjoy—what performances did they attend, how did they dress for New Year’s banquets and balls, and where did people skate in the city center? How did the tradition of celebrating New Year in restaurants emerge, and how varied was the assortment of desserts in Kyiv’s confectioneries before the winter holidays?
“Today, the approach of the winter holidays feels especially poignant for every Ukrainian, as for the third consecutive year we will celebrate Christmas and New Year amid the full-scale war with Russia. Yet even in the most difficult times—worrying for loved ones on the front lines, fearing for children under constant shelling, living under the ongoing stress of loss—it is important for us to preserve faith in the Christmas miracle, in the triumph of light over darkness, in people and humanity. That is why we continue to introduce our guests to history and Ukrainian traditions, to offer magical moments to children and a respite from sorrowful thoughts for adults. By electricity or candlelight, the spirit of Christmas will enter the Museum,” emphasizes Diana Popova, General Director of the Museum of Kyiv History.
The exhibition is divided into five thematic sections, each illustrating a key stage in how Kyiv residents prepared for the winter holidays: “Ice Rink,” “Café and Confectionery,” “Tailor’s Workshop,” “Theatrical Kyiv,” and “Home Interior.”
The exhibition will feature fascinating artifacts that are small fragments of a larger era: a Singer sewing machine, which was a family heirloom for many; a cash register used a century ago; vintage French fashion magazines; period women’s wardrobe details; personal items belonging to the actress Maria Zankovetska; and, of course, the main symbols of the holiday—Christmas trees and New Year decorations. The mood will be enhanced for visitors by unique archival photographs of Kyiv in winter from the Museum of Kyiv History’s collection.
The exhibition project “Christmas City: Kyiv in the 19th–20th Centuries” will run from December 7, 2024, to January 26, 2025. During the exhibition, guided tours will be offered by the Museum’s leading researchers, alongside thematic workshops for children and adults.
Exhibition Curator: Tamila Kalytenko
Exhibition Artist: Kateryna Kostenko
Exhibition artifacts provided by: NY ART Gallery, Epokha Auction House, Sigillum, Sheremetev Museum, Borys Paton State Polytechnic Museum at Igor Sikorsky KPI, Central State Archive-Museum of Literature and Arts of Ukraine, Kyiv Academic Drama Theatre on Podil, Kyiv National Academic Operetta Theatre.
Exhibition Partners: “Christmas Stories,” design and floristry studio LoraShen, Dobropark, confectionery company Lukas, Tobi Sho, Big Wines.