On December 24, it will be ten months since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Since February, France has welcomed more than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.
Among them are many children.
As Christmas approaches, this traditionally joyful period in Ukraine promises to be more complicated this year for these thousands of refugees.
In Ukraine, a joyful and family celebration
In this Minute Papillon! podcast, you will hear the director of the Ukrainian Cultural Center Viktoriia Gulenko tell us about Ukrainian traditions for Christmas.
“Traditionally it is a family party.
Many Ukrainians are disappointed because they will not be able to return to Ukraine because of the insecurity”, reports the one who is also a cultural adviser at the Ukrainian embassy.
While Catholic Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on December 25, the Orthodox, the majority in Ukraine, are waiting for January 6.
On this date, Viktoriia Gulenko explains to us that in each family a meal is served with the main course “koutia”: “It is a kind of wheat with honey, poppy and hazelnuts.
There is a religious tradition that on this day there cannot be a dish with meat at the table”.
During this period, the children occupy a large place, “we give a lot of attention to the children”, details Viktoriia Gulenko.
She details: “Each school organizes a party, many shows take place in all cities.
This year should have been a joyous time and not a dark time.
“Giving the feeling of being at home and safe”
In this Minute Papillon! podcast, follow a Christmas party organized for Ukrainian children in a primary school in Paris.
In this school, many Ukrainian children are welcomed to study French but also - and this is the particularity of the system set up by the rectorate of Paris - Ukrainian.
Tatiana, a Ukrainian teacher, provides these history and language lessons for these children: “We would like to give them the feeling of being at home”.
During this festival, many parents meet and talk in their language.
A show closes the festivities with stories for children, dances in costumes and a cappella songs.
All in Ukrainian.
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