Yule, as the turning point of the year, was considered a time of rampant evil forces in folk beliefs. Characteristic customs of this period included masquerading and divination.
Youth organized parties — such gatherings were places for meeting and choosing betrothed.
Folklore traditions were reflected in literature, which led to the formation of the genre of Christmas stories.
This collection includes Christmas stories by Russian writers of the 18th—19th centuries.
The heroes, celebrating the winter holidays, transform, play, encounter demons, witches, and the dead, and try to learn and change their fate.
The mystical atmosphere of Yule is conveyed through the surrealistic illustrations of modern artist Irina Zharkova.
