Being there for each other: How Ukrainian refugees celebrate Christmas

Created: 12/24/2022, 10:00 am

By: Doris Schmid

Looking forward to Christmas: Kristina Kolomina and her daughter Viktoria.

The two live in the municipality of Königsdorf.

© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss

Ukrainian refugees are celebrating a special Christmas this year - far away from their relatives and their homeland, which is at war.

Geretsried/Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen – Christmas is a very special celebration for most people: the family gets together, people eat, drink, sing, laugh together and give each other presents.

For the refugees from Ukraine, Christmas in this fateful year is special and different in every respect - far away from their relatives and their homeland, which is at war with Russia.

Ukrainian refugees celebrate Christmas in Geretsried and Königsdorf

Most families in the district celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this weekend.

In Ukraine, Christmas Eve is traditionally celebrated on January 6th.

Until then it is Lent.

"It begins when the Advent season begins here," says Natalia Pavlovska (45).

She comes from the industrial city of Dnipro and lives with her husband and daughter as well as her sister and her son in Geretsried.

During Lent they abstain from meat.

For those who strictly follow the rules, even dairy products are taboo.

That's why it won't be served up until January 7th.

Nevertheless, the food on Christmas Eve is not sparse.

"When the first star has risen in the sky, the family sits at the table," reports Kristina Kolomina (37), who has found accommodation in Königsdorf with her daughter Viktoria (13).

“This is the sign that Jesus was born.” Then the mother and daughter light a candle.

“One prays and gives thanks for the food.” Kutja, which is traditionally served first, is very important.

The dish consists of boiled wheat grains, poppy seeds, honey and, depending on the family, other ingredients such as raisins and nuts.

Also not to be missed are Wareniki – dumplings that can be filled with mushrooms or boiled potatoes.

"There should be twelve dishes," adds Kristina Kolomina.

"It's a symbol of the twelve apostles, or the twelve months."

Kutja represents prosperity and health

Natalia Pavlovska will also have Kutja.

"It stands for prosperity and health," reports the German teacher.

Her nephew will revive another tradition.

"The godchildren bring their godfather Kutja, sing songs and recite poems." The reward is sweets and a small gift.

Speaking of sweets: together with Marilena Cassandra - the Geretsriederin took in the Pavlovska family - the 45-year-old baked cookies on the second Sunday in Advent.

"It was so nice," enthuses the Ukrainian.

"It felt like home.

It's like my mom was sitting next to me."

Baking cookies together: (from right) Natalia Pavolvska with her daughter Tatjana, her nephew Wowa, her sister Olena and host mother Marilena Cassandra.

© Private

The Pavlovskas will spend December 24th with their host family, preparing for the evening, going to church and having dinner together.

"There will be raclette," announces Natalia Pavlovska.

"I've never done that before." Shortly before midnight they want to go to the town hall to a small concert by the Gartenberger bunker brass band.

Originally intended as a one-off event, this performance has developed into a tradition over the years.

The ensemble only plays and sings the song "Silent Night".

If you bring your instrument, you can play along.

Then you wish each other a Merry Christmas and go home.

Come together at Christmas - like a big family

Many Ukrainians from the area will probably spend January 7th together.

On this day they want to celebrate Christmas together in the scout home on the B11 in Geretsried.

The Wilde Rose association offered them the premises for the celebration, reports Kristina Kolomina.

"The children are already preparing songs for the festival."

also read

Kaufland customer rages about flooded underground car park: "It always looks like this"

READ

This is how the extended Demmel family from Königsdorf with six children is preparing for the holidays

READ

Widowed and ill: mother of five no longer knows what to do

READ

Christmas in the hospital: There is good news for relatives

READ

"Should be a wonderful day": Wolfratshauser fulfills the terminally ill's last wishes

READ

Fancy a journey of discovery?

My space

The Ukrainians then want to come together like a big family, eat, drink, sing and celebrate together.

The refugees have long since become a community.

Natalia Pavlovska states: "We help each other and are there for each other."

nope

Our Wolfratshausen-Geretsried newsletter keeps you regularly informed about all the important stories from your region.

Sign up here.