Ukrainians, who were forced to leave for

Poland due to the aggression of the Russian Federation,

told how they celebrated this year's Christmas in a neighboring country, which sheltered them from enemy bullets.

Refugees say that, despite the fact that they are in relative physical safety, there is no particularly festive mood in the air. 

RMF24 writes about it.

Ukrainian refugees admitted that some of them celebrate according to the Julian calendar, January 7.

Some celebrated Christmas on December 25, when both Catholics and Orthodox, whose churches have switched to the Gregorian calendar, which we all use in everyday life, celebrate Christmas. 

"Someone is celebrating anyway. There is no special festive feeling in the air, but at the last moment I started preparing traditional dishes: soup, peas with vermicelli, doughnuts, fish, herrings, cabbage rolls, without meat, potatoes with mushroom sauce, with dried mushrooms, dumplings with cereals, all vegetarian, it would be ideal if there were twelve dishes on the table on Christmas Eve," says Natalya, who came to Poland with her son. 

The woman says that her parents are in Ukraine and she really wanted to go to her family for Christmas, but she was afraid, and now she sincerely hopes that next year Christmas will be without war at home.

"They don't feel Christmas and its atmosphere, but mom cooks something, definitely some dishes. However, there is nothing interesting and nothing good there: the electricity has been turned off, parents say that sirens are wailing. I wanted them to come to Poland, but they are elderly people, you can't persuade them. They sit and wait. For them and for me, it's Christmas in separation, nervous. We have to do everything to make it a little different and festive," emphasizes Natalya.

Ukrainian refugees admit that they have more than hay on their Christmas table under the tablecloth.

"We also put money and poppies, because they promise wealth, and garlic, which is supposed to ensure health. Of course, we also put a Christmas tree, pick it up and wish each other... This year, the main wish is one thing: the

dream of every Ukrainian is the end of the war and peace

," Natalya adds.

"The first day of Christmas, according to the Ukrainian tradition, is spent with an early morning mass, meetings with family and friends, evening caroling and visiting neighbors.

In past years, it was a fun day, full of singing, meetings, a carefree, long-awaited day of freedom. We want it to return , we dream about it

, "- the citizens of Ukraine add.

We will remind, in Poland, the prices for the New Year's table in Ukraine and their country were analyzed.

It turned out that in Poland a festive table for the New Year 2023 cost Ukrainian refugees 2,422 hryvnias, in Ukraine the cost of a feast is 2,476 hryvnias.

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