Manor College’s Chrystyna Prokopovich explains the Ukrainian Christmas spider

According to Ukrainian lore, a jeweled spider decoration on a seasonal tree brings good luck for an entire year.

The tradition dates back centuries to a tale about a spider that, thankful for the warmth in the house provided by a poor family, spins beautiful Christmas “decorations” on its tree. The delicate, silky patterns bring a new sheen to the home’s Christmas celebration and foretells (legend has it) good fortune to the creature’s hosts.

Manor College’s Chrystyna Prokopovich, curator of the Ukrainian Heritage Studies Center, tells the legend through the book, A Christmas Spider’s Miracle. Check out the video: