Dressed as goats, bears, oxen and cranes, many Ukrainians ring in the new year in the colorful rituals of the Malanka holiday.

Malanka, which draws on pagan folk tales, marks the new year according to the Julian calendar, meaning it falls on Jan. 13-14.

In the festivities, celebrants go from house to house, where the dwellers offer them food. According to tradition, a household should have 12 dishes on offer — one for each month of the year. Pancakes, pies and cheese dumplings are common dishes for the holiday.

A villager, dressed in a traditional bear costume, celebrates the Malanka festival in the village of Krasnoilsk, Ukraine. (Photo Credit: Associated Press)
Participants, dressed in traditional costumes, celebrate the Malanka festival. (Photo Credits: Associated Press)
Villagers dressed in traditional costumes, rest , eat and drink while celebrating. (Photo Credit: Associated Press)
A villager, dressed in a traditional bear costume, celebrates the Malanka festival. (Photo Credit: Associated Press)
Participants, dressed in traditional costumes, ride in a horse-drawn cart while celebrating the Malanka festival. (Photo Credit: Associated Press)