An integral part of teaching foreign students the Ukrainian language is familiarization with Ukrainian culture, traditions, folk holidays, beliefs, and rituals.

Winter holidays are a great opportunity to introduce foreign youth to the knowledge of traditions, ideas, customs that exist in Ukraine and reflect the specifics of perception of the world around them, the mentality of the Ukrainian people. One of these Ukrainian folk holidays, which is especially expected for children, is St. Nicholas Day, which is celebrated on December 19. On the eve of the holiday, foreign students from India, Nigeria, Tanzania, Pakistan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, together with the teacher of the department N. A. Pylypenko-Fritsak, visited the reading room of the library of the Medical Institute and joined the program dedicated to St. Nicholas Day.

Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. Students listened with great interest to the story of Turkish students about the life of Nicholas, who was born in Patara, Turkey, dedicated his life to good deeds, helped the poor and needy. Students from Nigeria and Tanzania told why the children were especially looking forward to St. Nicholas Day and what gifts the children found under the pillow. A student from Kazakhstan introduced all those present to the traditions of celebrating St. Nicholas Day in the Ukrainian diaspora in the capital of the country, in the city of Nur-Sultan. All students joined the discussion of national features of the celebration of St. Nicholas Day, to determine the differences and common features of St. Nicholas and Santa Claus, the prototype of which is St. Nicholas. Foreign students were particularly interested in the traditions and customs associated with the holiday: writing a letter to St. Nicholas with secret wishes, divination, winter games and contests "Making a snowman", "Catching a snowball", etc., for which students received "nikolaychikov".

Students expressed their gratitude for organizing the event, for the opportunity to learn interesting and useful information on the cultural heritage of the country where they study, for the opportunity to join the traditions and customs of the Ukrainian people, folk holidays.