Ukrainians thinking of home as they face Christmas without loved ones

UKRAINIAN refugees came together to celebrate Christmas in Henley.

About 50 attended a party organised by charity MotherSisterDaughter at Trinity Hall in Harpsden Road with pizzas, mulled wine and a visit from Father Christmas.

The Henley Youth Choir sang seasonal songs, including two Ukrainian carols, accompanied by David Harrison on a keyboard.

Everyone sat at a long table in the middle of the hall and pulled crackers with family members and friends. Afterwards, Diana Barnett organised traditional children’s games.

In Ukraine, Christmas is celebrated twice — once on December 19, according to the old Gregorian calendar, and again on December 24, in line with European tradition, when St Nikolai comes armed with sweets and toys.

A more important celebration is Stariy Noviy God (Old New Year), which takes place on January 7.

This is when Orthodox Ukrainians receive a visit from Ded Moroz (Father Frost), who comes to give children gifts. Marina Koluvchuk, from Chernihiv, explained how on January 7, Ukrainians have 12 dishes including kutia, which is made of honey, raisins and wheat, varenyky (stuffed dumplings), kholodets (a gelatinous chicken or beef pie) and mushroom broth.

She said they also sing traditional Christmas songs, called koliadki, lay the table and decorate a Christmas tree.

Ms Koluvchuk is currently living in Goring with her youngest son, who is 12, while her older two sons, aged 27 and 23, are professional soldiers in Ukraine.

She said: “Chernihiv is on the border between Belarus and Russia and we were the first to be attacked. After a month of war, we left on March 23. Two days later, they bombed a bridge, cutting off the city. We waited for a month in Italy to get our visas to get into the UK.

“One of my sons is in Kyiv and the other in Kharkiv. We miss each other and want to be reunited. This is my first Christmas without them. We talk on Telegram every day but I want to return.

“My husband is still in Chernihiv. The men have to stay in Ukraine.”

Natasha Vasylenko, from Sevastopol in Crimea, said that festive celebrations in Ukraine differed depending on the area of the country.

She said: “The east has been more affected by Russian traditions, while the west is more European. My children get gifts from St Nikolai on December 19 but for the last four years we have started celebrating Christmas on the same date as Europeans, December 24.”

Natasha, who is living in Stoke Row with children, Lev, 17, and Maria, eight, had spent eight years in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Her husband, Alexander, is still in the city.

She said: “We talk every day. My dog and cat are also over there. After the war began, we could not take my cat, so left him with another family to be looked after.

“At first, we took my dog and left Ukraine for three months, going to Germany, Poland, Portugal and Italy. Then we returned to Kyiv but it was bombed. I had to go to a safe place for my children, somewhere they would receive a good education.

“My husband works in Kyiv — some men are fighting and some men are working because it is necessary for Ukraine to have a good economy in order to support the military.

“The children are really happy here. Our hosts are really kind and have a lot of animals — a pony, alpacas and peacocks. It is like a small zoo. Maria loves horses and animals, so it is perfect for her and my son is really happy also.

“He finished his education back in Ukraine and always dreamed of studying engineering. He has good English from learning it at school and is now happy studying engineering at The Henley College. He likes the educational process here and has good teachers and friends.”

The family will be celebrating Christmas this year with their host family. Natasha said: “They invited us, which was nice, and they hope that their grown-up children will come and it will be a big family celebration. I don’t know what they will cook. They made us a beautiful tree.”

Olga Korchova, an English teacher and single mother from Kyiv, came to the UK with her twin sons, Matthew and Maxim, 15, and her elderly mother, Yelena.

She said: “I couldn’t leave my mum. She is 93 — I think she is the oldest refugee. We travelled a very long way to get to Warsaw and then flew here.

“It was an extreme effort to get here and I prayed to God. My mum has trouble with her blood pressure.”

At first, the family stayed with a host but are now renting a small house.

Olga teaches Russian part-time, so she can also care for her mother. The boys attend Leighton Park School in Reading, where they play the piano in concerts.

Olga said: “It is a very good school. My sons are very skilful at the piano — they studied at music school for 10 years in Ukraine.

“I am happy to be here. I feel so close to some English people. They give so much. I think of them as my sisters now. It is not only kindness, it is something more. I am very grateful.”

MotherSisterDaughter is a charity that helps the resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced refugees. It is currently focused on helping Ukrainian refugees. For more information, visit www.mothersisterdaughter.org.uk