You're reading: Political Christmas trees vie with others

This year’s main square Christmas tree will be historic for many reasons, ever since its construction became the pretext for police to beat protesters on Nov. 30. And then the main tree at the heart of Independence Square got hijacked by the protesters, while the official tree was moved to the Arch of Friendship, the huge rainbow memorial off European Square.

Incidentally, the memorial was created in 1982 to mark unification of Ukraine and Russia – a peculiar coincidence, considering the Dec. 18 Russian-Ukrainian deal in Moscow that is widely seen as returning the nation to Russia’s orbit.

Municipal workers decorated the Independence Square tree on Dec. 13. The House of Ded Moroz (Father Frost, the local version of Santa), was erected there as well. There will also be a skating rink set up, as well as many booths to house a Christmas fair. The real tree was  lit on Maidan Nezalezhnosti on the eve of St. Nicolas’ 

Day, which is celebrated on Dec. 19. This is the day when Ukrainian children check anxiously under their pillows to find presents.

But then there is the other tree decorated by EuroMaidan activists. The skeleton of what used to be the main Christmas tree on Maidan has been draped with Ukrainian and European Union flags, various inscriptions and banners with Yulia Tymoshenko’s giant face on it. The tree was also topped with a specially designed wooden star on Dec. 16, which features the national symbol, the trident, inside it.

While Maidan Nezalezhnosti remains the heart of protests, some activists have stepped in to create a space for children to enjoy festivities by another Christmas tree in the center of Kyiv. Nataliya Krasnenkova, head of PR-House, a public relations agency, teamed up with her friends to put up yet another Christmas tree by the Opera theater.

“I like the Christmas tree on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, however, it’s a symbolic one,” Krasnenkova said. “But as a mother of two, I understand that children need another place to enjoy the holidays.”

First, Krasnenkova with her team planned to bring a real tree from the forest and put it up on Mykhailivska or Sofiyivska squares. But they learned that they will need to apply for a full set of permissions from the city authorities to be able to do it.

“And then we find out that the Christmas fair by the National Opera lacks a tree and they already have all the permissions and electricity, so we potentially can light it there,” Krasnenkova said.

The activists wanted to bring a tree somewhere from Eastern Ukraine, “as it would show the unity of the nation,” Krasnenkova said.

After searching the web, activists reached out to a Luhansk-based forestry, but learned that transportation and other logistics would take up too much time and resources. Then Krasnenkova decided to use Facebook in search for better ideas and finally ended up finding an artificial five-meter tree (16 feet) in Dnipropetrovsk.

The activists need to raise around Hr 5,700 for the purchase, transportation and construction. So far they’ve a half of that. To get the rest, organizers created a Facebook page “EuroTree for children” where they posted all information, including contacts of the activists and bank account number.  

They hope to turn on the light on their Christmas tree over the weekend Dec. 21-22 and asked everyone to bring decorations for the tree and take part in celebrations. “People can organize quickly and do everything without the hindrance of the bureaucratic machine. And it can be much cheaper,” Krasnenkova adds.

Another good spot to check out with the children is Shevchenko Park, where organizers set up an eight-meter artificial tree and scheduled a musical program for the youngest audience on Dec. 19.

Podil will also feature a Christmas tree and a skating rink for sports lovers by the Puzata Khata fast-food restaurant on Kontraktova Square.

Where to find Christmas trees and fairs in Kyiv:

– Sofiivska Square

– Mykhailivska Square

– Volodymyrska Street (near the National Opera)

– Troitska Square (near Olympiyskiy Stadium)

– Shevchenko Boulevard near Shevchenko Park

– Mariinsky Park

Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Goncharova can be reached at [email protected]