The Ukrainian Origin of “Carol of the Bells” | The Story of Shchedryk

“Carol of the Bells” is one of the world’s most iconic Christmas songs, but few people know it was originally a Ukrainian New Year’s carol called Shchedryk. In this episode of Ukraine Unfiltered, we uncover the real history behind the song, the tragic assassination of its composer Mykola Leontovych, and how a simple four-note Ukrainian folk chant became a global holiday classic.