Short Fiction · Chapter
The Night of Christmas Eve explained
On the last night before Christmas, a witch and the Devil steal the moon.
What happens
On the last night before Christmas, a witch and the Devil steal the moon. The Devil, hoping to thwart the blacksmith Vakoola's courtship of Oxana, creates a snowstorm to keep her father Choop at home. Solokha, Vakoola's mother and a witch, entertains multiple suitors, including Choop and the Devil, who hide in sacks when Vakoola returns. Vakoola, rejected by Oxana, decides to seek the Czarina's slippers and forces the Devil to fly him to St. Petersburg.
Themes in this chapter
Supernatural and Folklore
The chapter is steeped in Ukrainian folk beliefs, featuring a witch flying on a broom, the Devil stealing the moon, and magical transformations.
Love and Romance
Vakoola's desperate love for Oxana drives the plot, leading him to make a pact with the Devil to win her favor.
Absurdity and Satire
The Devil's bumbling attempts to cause mischief and the farcical hiding of suitors in sacks provide a satirical tone.
Characters to notice
- Blacksmith Vakoola
The blacksmith and son of Solokha, who is in love with Oxana and decides to fly to the Czarina on the Devil's back.
- Oxana
The beautiful daughter of Choop, who rejects Vakoola's advances but later regrets her harshness.
- Solokha
Vakoola's mother, a witch who entertains multiple suitors and hides them in sacks.
- The Devil
The Devil who steals the moon and later is captured by Vakoola and forced to fly him to St. Petersburg.
- Terentiy Korzh
The Cossack Choop, father of Oxana, who is hidden in a sack after visiting Solokha.
Key passages
“The last day before Christmas had just closed. A bright winter night had come on, stars had appeared, and the moon rose majestically in the heavens to shine upon good men and the whole of the world, so that they might gaily sing carols and hymns in praise of the nativity of Christ.”
Christmas Eve night arrives with a clear, frosty sky and a bright moon, inviting people to celebrate with carols.
Sets the festive and supernatural atmosphere of the chapter.
“Suddenly, out of the chimney of one of the cottages, volumes of smoke ascended in clouds towards the heavens, and in the midst of those clouds rose, on a besom, a witch.”
A witch flies out of a cottage chimney on a broomstick, rising into the sky.
Introduces the witch Solokha and the supernatural element.
“The devil then, as the devil it was, stole warily to the moon, and stretched out his hand to get hold of it; but at the very same moment he drew it hastily back again, as if he had burnt it... Dashing desperately forwards, he grasped the moon with both hands, and, making wry faces and blowing hard, he threw it from one hand to the other... At last, he hastily hid it in his pocket, and went on his way as if nothing had happened.”
The Devil sneaks up to the moon, struggles to grab it, and finally stuffs it into his pocket, stealing it.
Illustrates the Devil's mischievous and clumsy nature.
“Stop, my dear fellow! what wilt thou say now? ... I will teach thee how to make good men and upright Christians sin; and the blacksmith sprang on his back, and once more raised his hand to make the sign of the cross.”
Vakoola captures the Devil by the tail and forces him to submit by making the sign of the cross.
Shows Vakoola's power over the Devil through Christian faith.
“Take me a ride on thy back directly, and harkee! a pretty ride must I have! ... To St. Petersburgh, straightway to the Czarina!”
Vakoola commands the Devil to fly him to St. Petersburg to see the Czarina.
Sets up the central quest of the story.
