Holidays in Kharkiv: A Tradition of Giant-sized Figures ### Answer: Holidays in Kharkiv: The Tradition of Creating Giant Figures ### Title: Holidays in Kharkiv: A Tradition of Creating Giant Figures ### Translation: Holidays in Kh Holiday celebrations in Kharkiv: A tradition of creating giant figures.

New Year’s events on the square will begin on December 19, the day the “Twelve Months” market opens. The market consists of a dozen wooden booths where vendors will be open until January 9. The assortment includes products made locally, including those from Kharkov: souvenirs and items crafted by folk artists. There are also plans to offer dishes representing the national cuisine. The market is open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. On December 31, it will be open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Kharkov’s main Christmas tree—this year adorned with new toys and lights—will be unveiled on December 24 at 7:00 PM. Kharkov Mayor Gennady Kernes and Kharkov Oblast Governor Mikhail Dobkin will act as Santa Clauses, lighting up the tree. At the same time, the traditional “reception area” in the Kharkov Santa’s booth will open, and the Baba Yaga hut will also be active. Svetlana Babitskaya, director of the city’s Department of Culture, explained that large Cossack figures will walk through the central square, and cannons will be set up opposite the city hall. “Large Cossack dolls will play various games with children and adults. There will also be multi-level slides designed for both young children and adults. On the two observation towers of the Cossack booth, cannons will be installed to fire 12 shots at regular intervals, symbolizing the arrival of the New Year,” Babitskaya said. On the day of the official Christmas tree unveiling, computer experts will present a video projection show, just as they did on Independence Day. The city hall promises that this year’s show will be “even more interesting.” During the New Year celebrations, a giant samovar with a capacity of 300 liters will be set up in the center of the square. The samovar has been brought from Zaporizhzhia. Tea will be brewed in this samovar over an open fire. Everyone interested will have the opportunity to taste this beverage prepared outdoors, according to the city council. But that’s not all. The highlight of the New Year events on Liberty Square will be four eight-meter-tall giant matryoshkas, each symbolizing a season of the year. These matryoshkas will be painted with special materials so that cold, snow, or rain won’t damage their appearance. The artists behind these creations are young designers from Kharkov, Donetsk, and Feodosia. “For Euro 2012, we plan to make two more matryoshkas dressed in the national costumes of Poland and Ukraine,” Svetlana Babitskaya said. “But already now, the logos of Euro 2012 will appear on these matryoshkas. In the future, we hope to create many two-meter- and six-meter-tall matryoshkas that will allow visitors to learn about the history of our city. We believe they will become genuine works of art and a true symbol of Kharkov’s creativity.” In addition to the four static matryoshkas, “20 inflatable matryoshkas will also be in use,” the city hall noted. “This is to create the atmosphere of a traditional New Year’s market.” On December 24, just like on December 31, the city authorities have scheduled fireworks displays. On New Year’s Eve, there will be a concert featuring Ukrainian and international stars in the square. By the way, the trend towards grand-scale installations has been evident since this year’s Easter celebrations in April, when a giant egg was set up on Liberty Square.