A Ukrainian refugee who feels “broken inside” at not being able to spend Christmas with all her family will still try and make the most of it in Nottingham.
Many Ukrainian refugees - some of whom will be spending their first Christmas away from their hometown - continue to live in fear of their families surviving the on-going Russian invasion. In Nottingham, Anna Hlushchenko, 32 is now living in Hyson Green with her three-year-old daughter and husband. Fleeing from war, Anna came to the UK in May.
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Sharing what Christmas in Ukraine is like, Anna said: “The main part of Ukraine is orthodox, we have many traditions and a special dinner on January 6 where all the family come together at your parents' house. We have 12 special dishes, they’re all different.”
The 12 dishes represent Jesus’ 12 apostles. In Ukraine, many people start celebrating Christmas on January 7.
The celebrations then go on to last a week. Anna continued and said: “There’s meat dishes, a special porridge called Kutia, that’s my favourite.
“Christmas is a warm and friendly event.”
Kytr or Kutia is a sweet berry pudding is traditionally eaten at Christmas only.
Anna, who is a self-employed business owner, continued: “It’s rare you get other guests coming over but if you do we believe that something good will happen in the family. On the 7th [of January] after 12pm, children of different ages and adults mainly in villages will walk from house to house and sing songs and poems.
“People will give them sweets and candy, sometimes money similar to Halloween.” Many of the children dress up, she explained.
“When Ukraine was a part of the USSR in the 19th century many of the traditions we do now weren’t allowed. If you celebrated you would be punished.”
The USSR stands for Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Ukraine SSR was one of the constituent republics of the soviet union from 1922 to 1991.
Anna continued and said: “It’s my first Christmas here [in the UK] . I like Christmas so I’m excited. I like the decorations, every holiday is special.” One of the main differences Anna has noticed in the UK compared to back home is how early Chirstmassy things are stacked on the shelves in shops.
Anna added: “Halloween wasn’t over and I was seeing Christmas things!”
“I did want to go back home for Christmas, I had plans to but my parents said don’t come. It’s a little less dangerous in Kiev now but Russia has destroyed our electricity and it’s a cold time. Russia has bombarded cities far from the line of fighting, I will try to do my best to make Christmas special for my daughter.”
Milita Kompaniiets, 27, has also fled from Ukraine. She said: “Christmas is a special day, my mum cooks a special dinner, out of the 12 dishes I love Kutia, my mum cooks like no-one else and that food reminds me of my mum.”
Yevheniia Myronenko, 36, added: “I love varenyky. They are like dumplings and can be cooked soft, it’s more about what’s inside, it’s not about the bread and it’s really good.”
All three women have made a special effort to teach people in Nottingham all about Ukrainian culture. Alongside other volunteers in Woodthorpe, they have been helping pack and collect donations to Ukraine, which is still in need.
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