Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas Day celebrated by refugees and their host families in West Berkshire
Ukrainians refugees celebrated the Orthodox Christmas Day with families in West Berkshire.
Hosts from the Newbury Area Ukraine Support Group (NAUSG) were invited to share the festivities in a special party on January 7 at Newbury Baptist Church Hall.
A handful of Ukrainian guests began preparing food in the morning, for the party that started at 4pm.
Ukrainian Christmas meals consist of 12 different dishes, one for each of Jesus’ apostles, or to celebrate each month of the coming year.
The Newbury hosts were asked to bring something sweet for dessert for the more than 100 guests, which included hots, volunteers and children.
Organiser Natalia Buhrii-Shramko gave an emotional speech thanking the hosts and volunteers for helping them settle into a country in which they never expected to live.
“Words can’t say how grateful we are for everything you have been doing for us," she said. "Thank you for being so warm, welcoming, for becoming our friends and families…This Christmas we are not in the mood to celebrate but we have to, otherwise we would break and we have to remain strong.
"Your coming here today to celebrate with us is so important. You can’t even imagine what support it gives us. Thank you for spending time with us, for eating our Ukrainian food with us and listening to our carols.”
NAUSG organiser and host, Fe Eden, said: “It was so lovely to share a Ukrainian Christmas with our wonderful guests. The traditional food was simply delicious. Fabulous entertainment too, but most of all, was how emotional I felt as it really brought home what our Ukrainian community have had to deal with, escaping a war that still continues, establishing a new life in a different country and culture, and adapting in so many ways. They are the brave.”
The food included Kutia, made from honey sweetened wheat, Borshch (soup with beetroot), Verenyky (dumplings stuffed with potato or cream cheese), Holubtsi (cabbage wrapped meat) and a number of other dishes, washed down with Uzvar, a sweet dried fruit drink.
One of the NAUSG organisers and hosts, Gillian Durrant, said: “Our intention was to create a support network and community for the guests, and this evening was a wonderful culmination of everyone’s efforts. It was so heart-warming to see so many people, brought together through adversity, having a good time. We are so grateful to the Ukrainians for sharing their Christmas with us.”
Many guests were wearing traditional blouses, decorated in colourful cross stitch and the hall was decorated with homemade stars.
Ms Bugriy-Shramko explained their significance, then introduced a series of children who entertained the hall with songs, including the National Anthem. There were soloists on the piano and accordion, and a young girl in traditional costume and headdress recited a folk tale in Ukrainian.
Adults sang traditional tunes and many joined in the singing or clapped along.
Funds for the celebration came from the quiz night that volunteer Jackie Paynter organised at the end of last year and Blue Beetle Ceramics provided a craft activity for the children.
