Kyiv is gradually getting into a festive mood, with the main Christmas tree installed and ice rinks opening.
Holiday celebrations in Kyiv start on Dec. 19, the day when the Orthodox Church observes St. Nicholas Day, the first winter holiday in the series of Christmas celebrations. Organizers this year have stuck to Ukrainian traditions. They include singing Ukrainian Christmas carols, installing a didukh, a Ukrainian Christmas decoration made of wheat, and the Nativity scene. Celebrations will take place on Sofiyivska Square in downtown Kyiv from Dec. 19 till Jan. 16, where the main Christmas tree will also be located. The lights on it will be turned on at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19.
The Christmas tree is 80-years-old and 26 meters high. It was brought from the Carpathian Mountains. It cost Hr 12,000, and Kyiv officials paid an additional Hr 28,000 for transportation.
Each of Kyiv’s 10 administrative district will also have their own Christmas tree and festive concerts.
Main festivities will be held in the area between the two sacred places: St. Sophia Cathedral and St. Michael’s Monastery. While Sofiyivska Square will host the entertainment, Volodymyrsky Passage Street will serve as a food court area, and Mykhaylivska Square will offer children’s amusement, with a railroad, a Ferris wheel, ice sculptures and St. Nicholas’s residence located there.
At Spivoche Pole Park (33 Lavrska St.), a Christmas market will operate complete with traditional Ukrainian festivities, a nativity puppet show, and Ukrainian carols.
Those who want to discover European traditions of Christmas celebrations can stop by Poshtova Square where European food and souvenirs will be served.
Shopping lovers will not be disappointed as many festive fairs will operate throughout the city. Kyivans are invited to buy sweets, souvenirs and handmade stuff wares on 1 Sportyvna Square (Dec. 19 – Jan. 17), on Troyitska Square (Dec. 19 – Jan. 16), and near the Friendship of Peoples Arc (Dec. 19 – Jan. 16). A Made in Ukraine Fair will be held on Kontraktova Square from Dec. 24 till Jan. 11, selling clothes, footwear and household items.
The city also offers outdoor winter activities. Anyone can take part in the St. Nicholas Race (Dec. 19, 11 a.m.) for Hr 250. It’s an annual charitable running race that raises money for orphanages.
Numerous outdoor ice rinks are the peculiarity of this year’s winter season in Kyiv.
An ice rink for children is set up on Mykhaylivska Square. An ice rink and an ice hill for sledding will open on Troyitska Square. Those willing to improve their ice skating skills may take skating classes there for Hr 20-30 every day from 8 a.m. till 10 a.m.
Yet the biggest – a 4,000-square-meter outdoor ice rink – opened on Dec. 10 in VDNH, or ExpoCenter of Ukraine (1 Akademyka Hlushkova St.). It will remain open till the end of February. Besides the ice rink, the ExpoCenter will feature an ice labyrinth, an ice bar, an ice sculptures’ park and a 12-meter-high sledding hill.
Because of the ongoing hostilities in eastern Ukraine, the celebrations in Kyiv will be held without fireworks.
