Name: Christmas Eve

Genre: Tale

Duration: 10min 21sec

Annotation:

The villagers are getting ready for Christmas night. Chub is expected to visit the clerk at home, who will leave his arrogant beauty daughter Oksana alone. The blacksmith Vakula is waiting for Chub to leave the house to pay a visit to Oksana. He is hopelessly in love with her, but his love is unrequited. He would get the moon out of the sky for her if he could. For her, he was ready for anything.
And in fact, someone actually removed the moon from the sky that night. And none other than the devil himself. He harbored a grudge against the blacksmith, because he painted the devil on the walls of the church, and even so truthfully. The picture showed that the devil has a great lack of sinners who are destined to go to him, to hell. The devil wanted to destroy the plans of the villagers and stole the light that the moon gave. He hoped that Chub would stay at home, thereby preventing Vakula from spending that evening with his beloved Oksana. And this story will tell what can happen when the devil and people interfere in each other's affairs.

N.V. Gogol - The night before Christmas. Listen to short audio content online.

The last day before Christmas is replaced by a clear frosty night. The maidens and lads had not yet come out to carol, and no one saw how smoke went out of the chimney of one hut and a witch rose on a broomstick. She flashes like a black speck in the sky, picking up stars in her sleeve, and the devil flies towards her, to whom "the last night was left to stagger around the white world." Having stolen the month, the devil hides it in his pocket, assuming that the darkness that has come will keep the houses of the rich Cossack Chub, invited to the clerk at kutya, and the hated devil blacksmith Vakula (who painted a picture of the Last Judgment and the shamed devil on the church wall) will not dare to come to Chubova's daughter Oksana . While the devil is building chickens for the witch, Chub and his godfather, who left the hut, do not dare to go to the sexton, where a pleasant company will gather for varenukha, or, in view of such darkness, return home, and they leave, leaving the beautiful Oksana in the house, dressing up in front of a mirror, for which and finds her Vakula. The severe beauty taunts him, untouched by his gentle speeches. The frustrated blacksmith goes to unlock the door, on which Chub, who has gone astray and lost his godfather, knocks, deciding to return home on the occasion of the blizzard raised by the devil. However, the blacksmith's voice makes him think that he did not end up in his own hut (but in a similar, lame Levchenko, whose young wife, probably, the blacksmith came), Chub changes his voice, and an angry Vakula, poking, kicks him out. The beaten Chub, having found out that the blacksmith, therefore, left his own house, goes to his mother, Solokha. Solokha, who was a witch, returned from her journey, and the devil flew in with her, dropping a month in the chimney.

It became light, the blizzard subsided, and crowds of carolers poured into the streets. The girls run to Oksana, and, noticing on one of them new laces embroidered with gold, Oksana declares that she will marry Vakula if he brings her the laces "which the queen wears." In the meantime, the devil, who has become mellow at Solokha's, is frightened away by the head, who has not gone to the clerk at the kutya. The devil quickly gets into one of the bags left in the middle of the hut by the blacksmith, but the head soon has to climb into the other, as the clerk knocks on Solokha. Praising the virtues of the incomparable Solokha, the clerk is forced to climb into the third bag, since Chub appears. However, Chub also climbs there, avoiding a meeting with the returned Vakula. While Solokha is explaining herself in the garden with the Cossack Sverbyguz, who has come after her, Vakula carries away the sacks thrown in the middle of the hut, and, saddened by the quarrel with Oksana, does not notice their weight. On the street he is surrounded by a crowd of carolers, and here Oksana repeats her mocking condition. Leaving all but the smallest sacks in the middle of the road, Vakula runs, and rumors are already crawling behind him that he either lost his mind or hanged himself.

Vakula comes to the Cossack Pot-bellied Patsyuk, who, as they say, is "a little like the devil." Having caught the owner eating dumplings, and then dumplings, which themselves climbed into Patsyuk's mouth, Vakula timidly asks for directions to hell, relying on his help in his misfortune. Having received a vague answer that the devil is behind him, Vakula runs away from the quick dumpling that climbs into his mouth. Anticipating easy prey, the devil jumps out of the bag and, sitting on the blacksmith's neck, promises him Oksana that very night. The cunning blacksmith, grabbing the devil by the tail and crossing him, becomes the master of the situation and orders the devil to take himself "to Petemburg, straight to the queen."

Having found Kuznetsov's bags about that time, the girls want to take them to Oksana to see what Vakula caroled. They go after the sled, and Chubov's godfather, having called for help from the weaver, drags one of the sacks into his hut. There, for the obscure, but seductive contents of the bag, there is a fight with the godfather's wife. Chub and the clerk are in the bag. When Chub, returning home, finds a head in the second bag, his disposition towards Solokha is greatly reduced.

The blacksmith, having galloped to Petersburg, appears to the Cossacks, who pass through Dikanka in the autumn, and, pressing the devil in his pocket, seeks to be taken to an appointment with the queen. Marveling at the luxury of the palace and the wonderful paintings on the walls, the blacksmith finds himself in front of the queen, and when she asks the Cossacks who came to ask for their Sich, “what do you want?”, the blacksmith asks her for her royal shoes. Touched by such innocence, Catherine draws attention to this passage of Fonvizin standing at a distance, and Vakula gives shoes, having received which he considers it good to go home.

In the village at this time, the Dikan women in the middle of the street are arguing about exactly how Vakula laid hands on himself, and the rumors about this embarrass Oksana, she does not sleep well at night, and not having found a devout blacksmith in the church in the morning, she is ready to cry. The blacksmith simply overslept Matins and Mass, and waking up, he takes out a new hat and belt from the chest and goes to Chub to woo. Chub, wounded by Solokha's treachery, but seduced by gifts, agrees. He is echoed by Oksana, who has entered, ready to marry the blacksmith "and without the slippers." Having got a family, Vakula painted his hut with paints, and in the church he painted a devil, but “so nasty that everyone spat when they passed by.”

We hope you enjoyed the summary of The Night Before Christmas. We would be glad if you find time to read this story in its entirety.

Summary of The Night Before Christmas

The very last pre-Christmas evening was coming to an end, there was a gradually increasing frost on the street, it became cooler than in the morning. And then suddenly a witch appeared above one of the village huts, flying straight out of the chimney. She flew over the houses and at the same time collected stars in the sleeves of her clothes, which were scattered across the winter sky.No one had time to see her, because the time for carols had not yet come. The village youth was just about to leave their huts. And the devil flew towards the witch, who wanted to sneak up on the moon to steal it. The demon himself had long been angry with Vakula, the village blacksmith, who was the best painter on the Dikanka farm. This God-fearing man loved to paint pictures. One of them depicted the scene of the Last Judgment, where the devil was expelled from hell. It depicted sinners who, according to legend, beat him with everything that came to hand, chasing him with whips. From the very time this picture appeared, the devil decided to take revenge on Vakula. So he had only one night left when he could freely walk around the world. The demon planned to steal a clear month so that it would become dark on the earth, and then he could detain a Cossack named Chub. Then the blacksmith Vakula, who was very fond of his daughter, the beautiful Oksana, could not find his way to his house.

The devil's plan was a success, and as soon as he managed to hide the stolen month in his pocket, it became very dark all over the world, so it was impossible to find the way anywhere. Even the flying witch, when she saw herself in pitch darkness, screamed in fright. Right there, just in time, the thief of the month drove up to her like a small demon - the devil began to whisper pleasant words in her ear, which all women, even witches, would love to hear.

At the same time, the godfather and the Cossack Chub stood on the threshold of the clerk's house and decided whether they should go to visit the kutya in such darkness. They did not want to seem lazy in front of each other, and after some more thought, they nevertheless decided to set off.

Only one girl remained in the house - she was the daughter of the respected Cossack Chub in the village. She stood in front of the mirror and preened herself in anticipation of her girlfriends. With pleasure and great love, the girl examines her reflection, and she really likes it. Just then the blacksmith Vakula came. He looks for a long time and cannot stop admiring this proud beauty, but the girl meets him coldly. They began to talk, but suddenly they heard a knock on the door. Vakula, very angry, is going to drive away the one who knocks, but sees at the door Oksana's father himself - Chub, who, having gone astray, decided to return to his home. When he hears Vakula's voice, he thinks that he has confused his house with the hut of the famous Cossack Levchenko. Changing his voice, he answers the blacksmith that he came to carol, to which he drove the owner of the house away. Chub decided to visit the witch Solokha, Vakula's mother, but at that time the devil was visiting her and playing with her. When the demon flew as usual through the pipe into the hut to this woman, he accidentally dropped the stolen month.

The moon, taking advantage of this, rose smoothly into the sky, and it became light around. The raging blizzard had subsided by this time, and noisy and cheerful youth poured into all the streets. Girlfriends came for Oksana. The girl noticed on one of them brand new little laces, embroidered with gold, and in front of everyone she announced very loudly that she would marry Vakula if he brought her those in which the queen herself walks. The blacksmith, very upset by these words, goes to his house.

At the same time, another guest, a village head, appears in Solokha's hut. The devil immediately hides the coal bag. The mistress of the house always willingly welcomed the very respected Cossacks in the village, but they themselves did not even know that each of them had a rival. She was the friendliest with the widower Chub. Solokha had serious plans for him - to take possession of all his wealth. She was jealous of her son for Oksana, as she was afraid that he might become the owner of Chub's property before her, so she often quarreled with Vakula's father. As soon as the head shook off the snow from his clothes, there was a knock on Solokha's door again - it was a clerk. So, one by one, all these boyfriends hid in coal bags that stood in the corner of the hut. Everyone was afraid to even move. Vakula's son came after them, and when he saw several bags, he thought that it was his mother who had collected the garbage, then decided that he needed to throw it away.

On his way, he met girls, among whom was his Oksana. Throwing all the big bags onto the snowy road, he, with one small one over his shoulders, catches up with the proud beauty. But she laughs at him again, and the guy decides to go to the hole and drown himself, because he is not able to fulfill Oksana's request. Entering the house of a Cossack named Patsyuk, about whom there were rumors that he was connected with the devil himself, Vakula meets a devil at his house who wants to get his soul. They sign a contract, according to which the devil will take him to the queen, in which he will ask for slippers for his Oksana.

The path to the Empress was long. Having met her, the blacksmith receives the coveted slippers and brings them to Dikanka. Everyone on the farm thought that the guy still drowned himself on Christmas night, but Oksana felt sorry for him most of all, who realized that no one else could fulfill her desires and whims. She does not sleep at night and understands that she loves this blacksmith very much. When he returned to the village and came to ask the girl's hand from her father, she replied that she agreed to become his wife without these little boots. The young people got married, and then Vakula painted his hut very beautifully with paints, everyone walked and admired.

Christmas Eve, night. The stars and the moon came out. It's time to praise Christ and carol. But suddenly, in Dikanka, a witch jumped out of the chimney of a hut along with clouds of smoke. Sitting on a broomstick, rising higher and higher, she grabbed stars from the sky in her sleeve. Out of nowhere, a black spot appeared and began to turn into something strange. In front there was a muzzle similar to the face of a German in a pince-nez, but with a snout like a pig's and a goatee. There were horns on the head. And this creature was dressed in a uniform, like a provincial lawyer. The tail sticking out from under the uniform completed the strange picture. It was the devil who appeared in order to sin and fool around before such an important event for people as Christmas. The devil soared up and stole the moon. But why?

He knew that on that night, Chub's daughter, the beautiful Oksana, would be left at home alone, because her father would go to the deaco to kutya. And a blacksmith will come to her, who is known in the neighborhood as a painter who skillfully paints icons. He was a God-fearing man, and for that the devil did not like him. He was especially angry with the blacksmith after he painted a picture of the Last Judgment and the defeated devil. The impure one then swore revenge on the blacksmith.

Meanwhile, Chub and Panas were going to visit the deacon in his new hut. But as soon as they went beyond the threshold, they plunged into complete darkness. What was the matter - they quickly understood: there is no month! Kum offered to stay at home, but Chub, who himself wanted this, was still stubborn and, contrary to Panas's words, said that he had to go.

At this time, Oksana admired herself in front of the mirror and had a dialogue with herself. Is it really as good as people say. No, not good. The eyes are black, burning, braids like snakes. But no - good! Happy will be the one who gets her as a wife. Behind this narcissism, the blacksmith Vakula found her. The girl was angry and at the same time embarrassed. But there was also a smile in her eyes.

Oksana tortures Vakula, is it true that people say that his mother is a witch. In response, she hears that the blacksmith does not care about all this. And only she is important to him.

In fact, Solokha, Vakula's mother, is a witch. She flew across the sky. She returned home with the devil. And this is not her only guest. Many of the peasant peasants visit her. At the same time, no one suspects that the dexterous Solokha still has admirers. Most of all, she dreamed of intermarrying with the rich widower Chub. She was afraid that Vakula, who was in love with Oksana, would marry a girl and receive all her goodness, and Solokha herself would no longer be able to live as a family with a Cossack. Not allowed, according to Christian rules.

In Solokha's house, the devil and the lost Chub and godfather accidentally collided. The angry devil made a strong snowstorm to bring Chub back, and at the same time frighten off the blacksmith. The forelock does return, but the blacksmith, not recognizing him, drives him away.

Chub again goes to Solokha, with whom the devil is already flirting with might and main. The moon flies out of the pocket of the unclean and returns to heaven. The weather is fine, mass caroling begins.
Oksana praises her girlfriends' slippers, and the blacksmith promises that he will get her the same ones, and even better - which few ladies have. In response, Oksana proudly demands royal little boots and promises, if successful, to marry Vakula. The lad is angry with his beloved, and cannot resist her charms.

Meanwhile, in Solokha's house, a whole comedy with a bag takes place. First, the devil gets there because of the danger of being caught by the eyes of the village head, who went to the woman because of a snowstorm. Then there is a knock on the door of the deacon. The widow tells her to hide her head in a bag.

The clerk is scattered in courtesies in front of Solokha, but soon the Cossack Chub appears. The frightened minister of the church jumps into another bag. The deacon was immediately sent to a coal sack, but in a different one. The church official turned out to be so thin and so cringed with fear that it was not bad to pour an additional half bag of coal on top.

Chub is sure that he is alone here, joking, but then there is a knock on the door, and a blacksmith appears. The forelock is in the same bag with the deacon.

Vakula laments that he has completely lost his will because of Oksana. He carries away the bags left in the middle of the hut. Overwhelmed by sad thoughts, he does not notice their suspicious gravity. And when he sees Oksana again, walking outside the window with young people, he worries with renewed vigor. The girl reminds him of her whim - cherevichki. Vakula runs away, and the inhabitants of Dikanka spread rumors that the blacksmith either went mad or hanged himself.

Vakula goes to the Cossack Pot-bellied Patsyuk: he is “a little like the devil”, timidly asks to show him the way to hell. The owner eats dumplings and dumplings without any effort: the food itself jumps into his mouth. Patsyuk says that the devil is behind the blacksmith. Indeed, on the street, the devil jumps out of the bag and promises Vakula Oksana. But the blacksmith is cunning: he grabs the devil by the tail, overshadows with a cross and orders to take himself to the queen in Petersburg.

The contents of the bags "come to life", Solokha's boyfriends understand that she fooled them, and her trust is waning.

The blacksmith finds himself in St. Petersburg, finds the Cossacks, who were passing through Dikanka in the autumn, and asks to take him to an appointment with the queen. The luxury of the palace shakes the young lad. He, together with the Cossacks, appears before the Empress and asks her for royal little boots. Ekaterina is touched by the sincerity and innocence of the blacksmith and grants his wish.

On the farm at this time, the women gathered on the street and argue about the fate of Vakula. Oksana is worried, does not sleep well at night, in the morning she runs to the church to look for a blacksmith. Not finding him there, upset to tears. And the blacksmith had already returned, slept well, and began to get ready to woo Chub. Chub, angry at the frivolous and crafty Solokha, agrees. He likes Vakula's gifts. He also sees that Oksana herself is happy. Having found her beloved again, she is ready to marry him "and without chereviki". Vakula got married as he wanted and brightly painted his hut. And in the church, he painted to such a terrible devil that everyone "spit when they passed by."

• "The Night Before Christmas", analysis of Gogol's story