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Christmas warmth
Dec 24, 2009 at 21:15
Independence Square in Kyiv, ground zero for Ukraine’s 2004 Orange Revolution and other protests, has many other uses. It is now a playground for crowds seeking to celebrate the holiday season. A towering 35-meter high Christmas tree made of 500 green trees was lit up on Dec. 19's Saint Nicholas Day. On this night, children await a special blessing from St. Nicholas, who either rewards them with a present or scolds with a tree branch under a pillow if they did not behave. If there was a male version of a fairy in Ukraine, it would be Oleh Skrypka, a popular rock artist and ethnic festivals patron. On a mission to revive old Ukrainian traditions and rituals, Skrypka occupied Saint Sophia Cathedral with his Krayina Mriy (Country of Dreams) festival for the next month. Christmas caroling, folk dancing, masquerades and church choir performances are expected to give a new life to centuries-old rituals.
— Photos by Yaroslav Debelyi, AP
Text by Yuliya Popova