How are Ukrainians celebrating Christmas in wartime?
Dec 24, 2024
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Amid the backdrop of war, a young student and a mother share their heartfelt experiences of celebrating Christmas in Ukraine. They discuss the emotional challenges of maintaining festive traditions while dealing with air raid sirens and the absence of loved ones. Culinary stories blend cultural heritage with modern twists, illustrating how food plays a vital role in celebrations. Their reflections on family gatherings evoke resilience and hope for the future, showcasing the spirit of unity in the face of adversity.
Despite the ongoing war, Ukrainians like Irina strive to maintain cultural traditions and family gatherings during Christmas, showcasing their resilience.
Both Vitaly and Irina express a blend of hope and anxiety for the future, reflecting broader concerns about personal safety and wartime stability.
Deep dives
The Impact of War on Daily Life
Celebrating the festive season amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine presents unique challenges for families. Vitaly and Irina shared their experiences, highlighting how the sounds of explosions have become a normal backdrop to daily life, affecting their emotional states and routines. Irina, a young mother, explained that her baby Mira, despite the chaos, remains blissfully unaware and sleeps through the noise, while she feels the weight of anxiety more acutely. Their conversation underscores the resilience of individuals in finding ways to cope with the harsh realities of life under conflict.
Family Traditions During Difficult Times
The importance of family gatherings during the festive season was a central theme in Irina's recollections of Christmas traditions. She reflected on the significance of her first Christmas with Mira, expressing a strong desire to create a festive atmosphere despite the ongoing difficulties of war. Irina discussed the pride of adhering to Ukrainian customs, such as preparing twelve traditional dishes, and shared her hope of reuniting with family members, including her brother in the military. This highlights how, even amidst hardship, the desire to maintain cultural and familial bonds remains a priority for those affected by the war.
Hope and Concerns for the Future
As the conversation turned to the future, both Vitaly and Irina expressed a mix of hope and concern regarding the ongoing war and its implications for their lives. Vitaly articulated his fear of losing loved ones who are on the front lines and the anxiety over possible changes in mobilization policies that could affect young men in Ukraine. Irina shared her hope for a more stable winter with electricity and warmth, signifying a yearning for normalcy even during wartime. This candid acknowledgment reflects the collective fears and aspirations of many Ukrainians striving for peace amidst uncertainty.
How do you celebrate Christmas while living under constant threat of your home being bombed, air raid sirens going off and while your friends and loved ones are fighting on the frontline?
Two people who’ve appeared regularly on Ukrainecast this year got together in a Kyiv restaurant to chat through their plans for the festive season and their hopes for the new year.
Vitali, a graduate in his 20s and Iryna, mother to baby Mira (who makes a special appearance), recorded a conversation about what it's like to celebrate the festive season in Ukraine, while the war rages on.
This episode was made by Danny Wittenberg. The producers were Anna Chornous and Diane Richardson. The technical producer was Dan Ehrlich. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sara Wadeson.
Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480
You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord
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