For many, Carol of the Bells is an irreplaceable symbol of Christmas. Few know that not only is this originally a Ukrainian folksong, but a folksong that was performed one hundred years ago all over Europe and the Americas in Ukraine’s first-ever cultural diplomacy project. The fledgling Ukrainian National Republic sent a capella on a worldwide tour in a bid to preserve the statehood of the country – and ended up giving a timeless gift of Ukrainian music to the world.
