Yes, Anna: I was told by another Ukrainian native that the Christmas celebration was persecuted & forbidden under the boot heel of the Soviet Union. She said they moved Christmas traditions to New Year's Day. When I was in Donetsk for New Year's, the population gathered around a huge decorated evergreen tree with much singing, music & celebration.
Not just Christmas. Religion was seen as "opium for the people", like Anna said. Particularly stalin was opposed to religion. Churches were given new purpose, or were destroyed and priests were persecuted. Now, the orthodox church - as persecuted as any church - blesses resurrected statues of stalin. Go figure!
Merry Christmas from the Netherlands. Thank you for all the lessons about Ukraine, its History and the Human aspect of this awful war. Slava Ukraine!.💙💛💙💛
It is hard to imagine the horror inflicted on so many. Christmas is many things and all should be positive and permitted for all people. I pray you have a positive holiday and everyone can be uplifted by the spirit of each other. Slava Ukraini
Merry Christmas Anna, my little sister. I hope you have the best Christmas this year. We all love you for what you are doing for your country, telling us American people the history of Ukraine. 🇺🇦
Hello Anna. In Ukraine my opa was "disappeared" because he once preached in his church and my uncle was "disappeared" because he led a youth choir. They were declared enemies of the state and executed. These are the ones I know, thanks to Ukraine. Those were hard times for anyone of faith. Let's not forget our history so that we don't repeat it. Thanks for your video.
Merry Christmas Anna. I pray for you and all Ukrainian daily for safety. God bless you Anna and your family and all Ukrainian. Love you always Anna have a Merry Christmas. Prayer is all I can offer. ❤❤❤
"Can you think of a country where Christmas is forbidden?" Yes. Puritan England under Oliver Cromwell. We got rid of them, restored the Monarchy, and got the freedom of choice back. You got rid of the Soviets, and regained your right to choose. Stay safe, Anna. Merry Christmas, and Slava Ukraini! 💛💙
Depends what you consider Christmas to mean. As a time of contemplation and remembrance it was not forbidden. It did attempt to ban the Bacchanalia that is Christmas but was largely ignored anyway. Christmas today, ostentatious displays, Father Christmas = the obligation of 'gifting' = the worship of Mammon , libidinous display e.g. kissing under the mistletoe. An historic reflection of modern discussion of the (over-)commercialisation of Christmas. Not being too serious but I was brought up with a heavy Puritan influence, they say we object to sex because it can lead to dancing and other frivolous pursuits :-) Distractions from a mindfulness of God. You didn't 'get rid of' i.e. kill all of us, a bunch went and beat up some Indians and in the process 'discovered' then spread the knowledge of turkey.
There is a Ukrainian traditional song that is well known all over the world, It is called “Shchedryk” in Ukraine, but is also well known as “Carol of the Bells”, in other countries, mainly in the UK, Canada and the USA, "Carol of the Bells" is a popular Christmas carol, which is based on the Ukrainian New Year's song "Shchedryk” The music for the carol comes from the song written by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914; the English-language lyrics were written in 1936 by Peter Wilhousky. The conductor of the Ukrainian Republic Capella, Oleksander Koshyts commissioned Ukrainian composer Leontovych to create the song based on traditional Ukrainian folk songs/chants, and the resulting new work for choir, "Shchedryk", was based on four notes Leontovych found in the Ukrainian anthology. The original Ukrainian folk story related to the song was associated with the coming New Year, which, in pre-Christian Ukraine, was celebrated with the coming of spring in April. The original Ukrainian title translates to "the generous one", or is perhaps derived from the Ukrainian word for bountiful (shchedryj), and tells a tale of a swallow flying into a household to proclaim the bountiful year that the family will have. With the introduction of Christianity to Ukraine and the adoption of the Julian calendar, the celebration of the New Year was moved from April to January, and the holiday with which the chant was originally associated became Malanka (Ukrainian: Щедрий вечір, Shchedry vechir), the eve of the Julian New Year (the night of January 13-14 in the Gregorian calendar). The songs sung for this celebration are known as Shchedrivky. The song was first performed by the Ukrainian students at Kyiv University in December 1916. It was introduced to Western audiences by the Ukrainian National Chorus during its 1919 concert tour of Europe. It premiered in the United States on October 5, 1922, to a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall and the American audience fell in love with the Ukrainian song. The original work was intended to be sung a cappella by mixed four-voice choir. Two other settings of the composition were also created by Leontovych: One for the women's choir (unaccompanied) and another for the children's choir with piano accompaniment. These are rarely performed or recorded. English lyrics versions Wilhousky rearranged the melody for the orchestra with new lyrics for NBC radio network's symphony orchestra, centred around the theme of bells because the melody reminded him of handbells, which begins "Hark! How the bells". It was first aired during the Great Depression, and Wilhousky copyrighted the new lyrics in 1936 and also published the song, despite the song having been published almost two decades earlier in the Ukrainian National Republic. Its initial popularity stemmed largely from Wilhousky's ability to reach a wide audience in his role as arranger for the NBC Symphony Orchestra. It is now strongly associated with Christmas because of its new lyrics, which reference bells, carolling, and the line "merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas". "Ring, Christmas Bells", an English-language variant featuring nativity-based lyrics, was written by Minna Louise Hohman in 1947. Two other versions exist by anonymous writers: one from 1957 titled "Come Dance and Sing" and one from 1972 that begins "Hark to the bells". American recordings by various artists began to surface on the radio in the 1940s. The song gained further popularity when an instrumental was featured in television advertisements for Andre champagne in the 1970s. "Carol of the Bells" has been recorded into over 150 versions and re-arrangements for varying vocal and instrumental compositions. So whenever you hear this beautiful song, just stop and take time to remember what it must be like to try to celebrate Christmas in Ukraine this Christmas, when you have a country like Russia that wants to destroy and ruin it, plus try to take away all your other faiths & traditions that you celebrate, that Russia doesn’t agree with, 🇺🇦😔
Thanks Anna and Sasha! Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you both! Hope you have a great holiday season celebrating together with family and friends. I'm glad we get to officially celebrate together this year. It's great to see Ukraine shedding old soviet traditions. Щасливого Різдва!
Merry Christmas Anna and Sasha it's Xmas day here in NZ much love and light to everyone in Ukraine and those serving on the frontlines defending freedom and democracy. Дуякю! 🙏🎄🇺🇦🇳🇿
Thank you Anna for a very interesting vlog,, I can remember a lot about the Soviet Union growing up here in the United states , I had to do a high school report on it 52 years ago ,, Thank you for reminding me of the awful life that people had to endure in those days in the Soviet communism system and I would say this is just one of the reasons the Soviet empire didn't last,, and free nations of the world needs to make sure it doesn't ever exist again, ,🇺🇸🇺🇦❤️🎄
Merry xMas, Anna! I wish you safe skies and victory next year - thank you, for daily episodes on Ukraine and Ukrainian! 🇺🇦 Заради життя кожного українця! 🇺🇦
Thank you Anna & Sasha for the video! After watching I think I know where Dr. Suess got his inspiration for "The Grinch". Merry Christmas Anna & Sasha and enjoy the holidays! Stay Safe! Slava Ukraini!💙💛👍
Your discussion of Christmas under the Soviet Union reminded me of my Christmas in 1977. I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on the East German Border near Mellrichstadt with my Cavalry Platoon. It was the during the Cold War and there was an active presence of the Soviet Army along with East German Border Guard units. Christmas Eve, an East German baker, left his family, and walked across the border to seek freedom in the west. It is a Christmas that I will always remember. I have hope in victory for Ukraine.
Peace on earth and goodwill! That's the true meaning of Christmas. It's not surprising that russia would ban the birthday of the Prince of Peace. Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas Anna & Sasha! It was an interesting window into Soviet winter celebrations, a window that hopefully will remain forever frosted over! 😊 Victory for Ukraine!! 🎁🗽🇺🇦🇺🇸✌️✳️🎄🛷🕊️🕯️🌻🌎
Hi Anna, How dare they think they have the right to dictate what other human beings can celebrate. Thank you Anna, very interesting! Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦🇬🇧
to Santa Claus today I wish that Ukraine can celebrate a Christmas in peace and quiet I wish everyone in Ukraine Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year greetings Sweden..PS of course I wish that all countries in the whole world have Peace on our earth
I was just reading about Ukraine now Celebrating their first Christmas this year on the 25th December with the rest of the world, when RUclips notified me that you uploaded this video, Since changing from the Julian Calendar, (which was used during the Soviet Union, and is still used by Russia), on the 1st September 2023, It mentioned that Ukrainians have still saved and held on to its past traditions, many of them are kept for Christmas, That Christmas Eve is called “Sviatty Vechir” (Holy Evening), in Ukraine, where Ukrainian families sit around the table and share 12 dishes resembling the 12 apostles of Jesus and the 12 months of the year, The main dish is called “Kutia”, which is a ceremonial grain dish with sweet gravy, like honey. Ukrainians also have “Vertep”, a portable puppet theatre and drama and “Koliadka”, which are traditional songs, as well as other traditions, Ukrainians cherish their culture and are happy to share this holy tradition with the world, Wishing Ukraine a Merry Christmas from the UK & the rest of the world that also celebrates the holy day of Christmas together, 🌨️❄️🎊🪅🪅🎊❄️🌨️ ☃️🎄🎁🎅🏼🤶🏻🎁🎄☃️
Traditionally on Christmas Eve in Ukraine, the children had to watch outside for the first star in the sky as darkness fell. Then the celebrations could begin.
Anna, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Ironically, it is the most one can wish for bearing in mind the circumstances. Go to the park, look up at the stars and shout as loudly as you can your hunger for peace and happiness for yourself, all Ukrainians and for everyone else who's freedom is currently at stake here in Europe as well as in the USA, Hold your fists tight and shout "WE SHALL WIN"! Take care. 💪💪🕊🕊
Feliz Navidad, Señorita Anna, les deseo paz y prosperidad. Cuídense, que durante el nuevo año ese deseo se cumpla… abrazos fraternales y los mejores deseos hoy… SLAVA UKRAINI, HEROYAM SLAVA… 🫶🙏🫡🇺🇦🐈⬛
I vaguely remember something about Saint Nicholas being from Greek history. Then the Coca Cola corporation had a hand in the creation of the modern Santa Claus supposedly . But but but the actual celebration was in Roman times done along lines of slaves of the house and the master changing places for the day . There's an episode of ,,Mash,, where we see this in the British army between officers and the lower ranks . It's the solstice for one thing . Have a merry solstice Anna.
President Reagan spoke about the USSR's ban on Christmas in one of his radio addresses (specifically mentioning the rewriting of one carol -- I think called "The Glorious News has come" -- changing the news from about the Nativity to replace it with 'the Soviet Revolution').
Merry Xmas, Anna 🧑🎄🙏 Love will prevail over Russia’s evil. Even Russia is starting to realize this. Putin and his thugs will go down in 2024 - that’s my prediction 🙏🇺🇦💪
Merry Christmas! I remember hearing from a visitor to a Russian church in the 70S that he snuck into a church meeting and soon 2 guards appeared and the visitor was asked to speak. He was scared he would be jailed if he said the wrong thing. After he spoke the guards walked with him to his car, made sure he had his things and escorted him to the airport.
When I came to Estonia 30 years ago (in 1993, a year after the country regained independence from soviet rule) I remember that there was no Christmas decorations to be seen anywhere. I made a remark about it to my Estonian friends, who replied: "did you not see the light in the shopping windows on December 24?" I did see them. "That was FORBIDDEN in soviet times". In church I met an old man. He told me, that during soviet times people were arrested if they had gone to church on December 24th. He too was arrested. When confronting a commission and threatened to be sent to GULAG he replied: "My God is stronger than your entire communist party!" He was right. He won and the communists lost. Merry Christmas to Everyone from Estonia and a wish of progress and victory for Ukraine in the next year!
Anna, from The Netherlands I wish you a very Happy and Merry Christmas. Though it unfortunately won't be a peaceful Chrismas I wish you piece of mind.. not only during the Season, but the entire year. Slava Ukraini !! 💙💛💙💛
Cromwell banned Christmas in Scotland. When I was a lad in 1950s New Year was still the primary celebrations. When I arrived in England after military service during the 'cold war' with your Orcs of the 1970s we started to find Christmas as the main event. Nowadays I personally observe both celebrations. Thank you Ukraine for allowing us to still do this.
I am continuously impressed with Anna's dedication, determination, and the work that goes into her keeping us updated from Ukraine every day. Merry Christmas to the heroic men and women of the Ukrainian Defense Force, to all Ukrainians, and to Anna. Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦🇺🇸🎄
Happy Christmas Anna, we can see it is cold where you are. We live on Golden Beach SE Queensland Australia. The weather is 30 degrees C + a lovely summers day. Take care and stay strong.
A verse from the Christmas carol “It Came Across the Midnight Clear” Yet with the woes of sin and strife The world has suffered long Beneath the angel-strain has rolled Two thousand years of wrong And man, at war with man, hears not the love song that they bring I hush the noise, ye men of strife And hear the angels sing. Happy Christmas to all Ukrainian Christians. Let the angels sing
Merry Christmas Anna!!! My prayers are with you and your fellow Ukrainian countrymen... I sincerely hope and pray that your 2024 may be much better than 2023... take care!
Hello Anna, we have been watching you from the beginning on TV. I want to give Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you and your family and to all of Ukraine... from us here in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. You will win this war. Thank you for all your insight. Love to hear what you have to say. Stay safe.
Yes, Anna: I was told by another Ukrainian native that the Christmas celebration was persecuted & forbidden under the boot heel of the Soviet Union. She said they moved Christmas traditions to New Year's Day. When I was in Donetsk for New Year's, the population gathered around a huge decorated evergreen tree with much singing, music & celebration.
Not just Christmas. Religion was seen as "opium for the people", like Anna said. Particularly stalin was opposed to religion. Churches were given new purpose, or were destroyed and priests were persecuted.
Now, the orthodox church - as persecuted as any church - blesses resurrected statues of stalin. Go figure!
Merry Christmas from the Netherlands. Thank you for all the lessons about Ukraine, its History and the Human aspect of this awful war. Slava Ukraine!.💙💛💙💛
Blessed Christmas, Anna, Reg and all others!
More greetings from the Netherlands.
Orthodox have Christmas on 7th January. I kindly remind that in 1914 it lead to fail of Christmas truce on Easter front.
All the Greatness of Christmas wished for Ukraine in midst of the nightmare. HE is the light for us all. Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦💛❤🇺🇸🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
Our thoughts are with all Ukrainians this season, Merry Christmas, Anna.
It is hard to imagine the horror inflicted on so many. Christmas is many things and all should be positive and permitted for all people. I pray you have a positive holiday and everyone can be uplifted by the spirit of each other.
Slava Ukraini
Merry christmas Anna, and to all the men on the front who are fighting for the freedom and values of the entire Western world.
Merry Christmas!
Slava Ukraine!
Merry Christmas Anna, my little sister. I hope you have the best Christmas this year. We all love you for what you are doing for your country, telling us American people the history of Ukraine. 🇺🇦
Excellent insights and stories.
Hello Anna. In Ukraine my opa was "disappeared" because he once preached in his church and my uncle was "disappeared" because he led a youth choir. They were declared enemies of the state and executed. These are the ones I know, thanks to Ukraine. Those were hard times for anyone of faith. Let's not forget our history so that we don't repeat it. Thanks for your video.
Merry Christmas Anna! How wonderful you represented your country this year. Keeping us informed around the world. God Bless You.
Merry Christmas Anna. I pray for you and all Ukrainian daily for safety. God bless you Anna and your family and all Ukrainian. Love you always Anna have a Merry Christmas. Prayer is all I can offer. ❤❤❤
"Can you think of a country where Christmas is forbidden?" Yes. Puritan England under Oliver Cromwell. We got rid of them, restored the Monarchy, and got the freedom of choice back. You got rid of the Soviets, and regained your right to choose. Stay safe, Anna. Merry Christmas, and Slava Ukraini! 💛💙
Depends what you consider Christmas to mean.
As a time of contemplation and remembrance it was not forbidden.
It did attempt to ban the Bacchanalia that is Christmas but was largely ignored anyway.
Christmas today, ostentatious displays, Father Christmas = the obligation of 'gifting' = the worship of Mammon , libidinous display e.g. kissing under the mistletoe.
An historic reflection of modern discussion of the (over-)commercialisation of Christmas.
Not being too serious but I was brought up with a heavy Puritan influence, they say we object to sex because it can lead to dancing and other frivolous pursuits :-) Distractions from a mindfulness of God. You didn't 'get rid of' i.e. kill all of us, a bunch went and beat up some Indians and in the process 'discovered' then spread the knowledge of turkey.
Ah yes, those Puritans. The ones that got kicked out of England and founded the US.
🤔🇬🇧
@@vickisnemeth7474I was wondering if England might take them back…
@@grahamstrouse1165 Only if they learn to drink tea properly! ;-)
Super new Soviet myth debunked, Anna, against forgetting. Happy Christmas to you and your dear ones 💙💛
There is a Ukrainian traditional song that is well known all over the world,
It is called “Shchedryk” in Ukraine, but is also well known as “Carol of the Bells”, in other countries, mainly in the UK, Canada and the USA,
"Carol of the Bells" is a popular Christmas carol, which is based on the Ukrainian New Year's song "Shchedryk” The music for the carol comes from the song written by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914; the English-language lyrics were written in 1936 by Peter Wilhousky.
The conductor of the Ukrainian Republic Capella, Oleksander Koshyts commissioned Ukrainian composer Leontovych to create the song based on traditional Ukrainian folk songs/chants, and the resulting new work for choir, "Shchedryk", was based on four notes Leontovych found in the Ukrainian anthology.
The original Ukrainian folk story related to the song was associated with the coming New Year, which, in pre-Christian Ukraine, was celebrated with the coming of spring in April.
The original Ukrainian title translates to "the generous one", or is perhaps derived from the Ukrainian word for bountiful (shchedryj), and tells a tale of a swallow flying into a household to proclaim the bountiful year that the family will have.
With the introduction of Christianity to Ukraine and the adoption of the Julian calendar, the celebration of the New Year was moved from April to January, and the holiday with which the chant was originally associated became Malanka (Ukrainian: Щедрий вечір, Shchedry vechir), the eve of the Julian New Year (the night of January 13-14 in the Gregorian calendar).
The songs sung for this celebration are known as Shchedrivky.
The song was first performed by the Ukrainian students at Kyiv University in December 1916.
It was introduced to Western audiences by the Ukrainian National Chorus during its 1919 concert tour of Europe.
It premiered in the United States on October 5, 1922, to a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall and the American audience fell in love with the Ukrainian song.
The original work was intended to be sung a cappella by mixed four-voice choir.
Two other settings of the composition were also created by Leontovych: One for the women's choir (unaccompanied) and another for the children's choir with piano accompaniment.
These are rarely performed or recorded.
English lyrics versions
Wilhousky rearranged the melody for the orchestra with new lyrics for NBC radio network's symphony orchestra, centred around the theme of bells because the melody reminded him of handbells, which begins "Hark! How the bells".
It was first aired during the Great Depression, and Wilhousky copyrighted the new lyrics in 1936 and also published the song, despite the song having been published almost two decades earlier in the Ukrainian National Republic.
Its initial popularity stemmed largely from Wilhousky's ability to reach a wide audience in his role as arranger for the NBC Symphony Orchestra.
It is now strongly associated with Christmas because of its new lyrics, which reference bells, carolling, and the line "merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas".
"Ring, Christmas Bells", an English-language variant featuring nativity-based lyrics, was written by Minna Louise Hohman in 1947.
Two other versions exist by anonymous writers: one from 1957 titled "Come Dance and Sing" and one from 1972 that begins "Hark to the bells".
American recordings by various artists began to surface on the radio in the 1940s.
The song gained further popularity when an instrumental was featured in television advertisements for Andre champagne in the 1970s.
"Carol of the Bells" has been recorded into over 150 versions and re-arrangements for varying vocal and instrumental compositions.
So whenever you hear this beautiful song, just stop and take time to remember what it must be like to try to celebrate Christmas in Ukraine this Christmas, when you have a country like Russia that wants to destroy and ruin it, plus try to take away all your other faiths & traditions that you celebrate, that Russia doesn’t agree with,
🇺🇦😔
Thank you, very interesting and detailed.
🎄Merry Christmas, Anna! ✨ Thank you so much for yet another informative history lesson. Sending many hugs, and much love! 🫂💛💙 Слава Україні! 💪🇺🇦🌻
Hugs back across the pond and up to the mountains...❤❤❤😊😊😊
@@eamonnclabby7067 Hello E! 🎄🌟🎄 May your holiday festivities there in Clabby Towers be joyous and peaceful! 🙏✨❤️🌟🥰🕊️
@@meredithf.1022....😊...
Thank you for this very sad vlog about Soviet evil. I knew part of it but not all of it. Merry Christmas to you!
Thanks Anna and Sasha! Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you both! Hope you have a great holiday season celebrating together with family and friends. I'm glad we get to officially celebrate together this year. It's great to see Ukraine shedding old soviet traditions. Щасливого Різдва!
Ukrainian treasure Anna throwing facts 🇺🇦👍
Merry Christmas Anna and Sasha it's Xmas day here in NZ much love and light to everyone in Ukraine and those serving on the frontlines defending freedom and democracy. Дуякю! 🙏🎄🇺🇦🇳🇿
Thank you Anna for telling this important piece of history.
З Різдвом Христовим !
Thank you Anna for a very interesting vlog,, I can remember a lot about the Soviet Union growing up here in the United
states , I had to do a high school report on it 52 years ago ,, Thank you for reminding me of the awful life that people had to endure in those days in the Soviet communism system and I would say this is just one of the reasons the Soviet empire didn't last,, and free nations of the world needs to make sure it doesn't ever exist again, ,🇺🇸🇺🇦❤️🎄
Merry xMas, Anna! I wish you safe skies and victory next year - thank you, for daily episodes on Ukraine and Ukrainian!
🇺🇦 Заради життя кожного українця! 🇺🇦
Very well put...E...
@@eamonnclabby7067 Hello Eamonn! A merry xMas to you on the Wirral peninsula. Hope, you have a nice evening. 🤗
🇺🇦 Слава партизанам! 🇺🇦
Anna, all the very best to you and yours, even Putin cannot control thoughts and wishes inside your head. Stay strong and safe. Slava Ukraini.
Thank you, Anna. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦 💙 💛 🎅🏽🎅🏽🎅🏽
Thank you Anna & Sasha for the video! After watching I think I know where Dr. Suess got his inspiration for "The Grinch". Merry Christmas Anna & Sasha and enjoy the holidays! Stay Safe! Slava Ukraini!💙💛👍
Poursuivi pour un sapin de Noël. N'importe quoi. Joyeux Noël Anna et Sacha. 💙💛❤️🤞✌️
This is a really good series and really important. Thanks for sharing, Anna. Slava Ukraine!
Your discussion of Christmas under the Soviet Union reminded me of my Christmas in 1977. I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on the East German Border near Mellrichstadt with my Cavalry Platoon. It was the during the Cold War and there was an active presence of the Soviet Army along with East German Border Guard units. Christmas Eve, an East German baker, left his family, and walked across the border to seek freedom in the west. It is a Christmas that I will always remember. I have hope in victory for Ukraine.
Best Wishes to you and Ukraine for this Christmas time and the New Year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Merry, and SAFE Christmas to you and ALL Ukrainians.
Very interesting video, Anna! Thank you for talking about the forbidden Christmas traditions in Ukraine.
Merry x-mas from snowy Sweden 🙋
Take care Anna 🤗❤
The more I listen to your channel, the more I fall in love with your country.
Yeah 👍😊. Nothing beats Christmas ham 2AM feasting in the kitchen 😊. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 😊
Peace on earth and goodwill! That's the true meaning of Christmas. It's not surprising that russia would ban the birthday of the Prince of Peace. Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas Anna & Sasha! It was an interesting window into Soviet winter celebrations, a window that hopefully will remain forever frosted over! 😊 Victory for Ukraine!! 🎁🗽🇺🇦🇺🇸✌️✳️🎄🛷🕊️🕯️🌻🌎
Thank you so much Anna for your daily updates.. Merry Xmas to you and your family.. our thoughts are with all Ukraine families.. Slava Ukraine.. x
Merry Christmas Ms. Anna! 🇺🇸🎄🇺🇦
Hi Anna, How dare they think they have the right to dictate what other human beings can celebrate.
Thank you Anna, very interesting!
Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦🇬🇧
Anna .. it's Christmas ! ..all the best for you and all Ukraine ..! ❤
merry Christmas, dear Anna! Stay strong and safe. Best wishes from Switzerland ❤
Merry Christmas to you Anna and to those around you.
to Santa Claus today I wish that Ukraine can celebrate a Christmas in peace and quiet I wish everyone in Ukraine Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year greetings Sweden..PS of course I wish that all countries in the whole world have Peace on our earth
I was just reading about Ukraine now Celebrating their first Christmas this year on the 25th December with the rest of the world, when RUclips notified me that you uploaded this video,
Since changing from the Julian Calendar, (which was used during the Soviet Union, and is still used by Russia), on the 1st September 2023,
It mentioned that Ukrainians have still saved and held on to its past traditions, many of them are kept for Christmas,
That Christmas Eve is called “Sviatty Vechir” (Holy Evening), in Ukraine, where Ukrainian families sit around the table and share 12 dishes resembling the 12 apostles of Jesus and the 12 months of the year,
The main dish is called “Kutia”, which is a ceremonial grain dish with sweet gravy, like honey.
Ukrainians also have “Vertep”, a portable puppet theatre and drama and “Koliadka”, which are traditional songs, as well as other traditions,
Ukrainians cherish their culture and are happy to share this holy tradition with the world,
Wishing Ukraine a Merry Christmas from the UK & the rest of the world that also celebrates the holy day of Christmas together,
🌨️❄️🎊🪅🪅🎊❄️🌨️
☃️🎄🎁🎅🏼🤶🏻🎁🎄☃️
Traditionally on Christmas Eve in Ukraine, the children had to watch outside for the first star in the sky as darkness fell. Then the celebrations could begin.
Anna, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Ironically, it is the most one can wish for bearing in mind the circumstances. Go to the park, look up at the stars and shout as loudly as you can your hunger for peace and happiness for yourself, all Ukrainians and for everyone else who's freedom is currently at stake here in Europe as well as in the USA, Hold your fists tight and shout "WE SHALL WIN"! Take care. 💪💪🕊🕊
Stalin did bad things but died like everyone else. Christianity and Ukraine kept going.
Regrettably , Marxism kept going too.
Merry Chrismas to you all.
Слава Україні та її ґероям!
🇺🇦❤🇵🇱🇧🇷
Nedeleg Laouen! That's in Breton for Happy Christmas
Feliz Navidad, Señorita Anna, les deseo paz y prosperidad. Cuídense, que durante el nuevo año ese deseo se cumpla… abrazos fraternales y los mejores deseos hoy… SLAVA UKRAINI, HEROYAM SLAVA… 🫶🙏🫡🇺🇦🐈⬛
Here in New England the Puritans banned christmas because it's roots were pagan.
I vaguely remember something about Saint Nicholas being from Greek history. Then the Coca Cola corporation had a hand in the creation of the modern Santa Claus supposedly . But but but the actual celebration was in Roman times done along lines of slaves of the house and the master changing places for the day . There's an episode of ,,Mash,, where we see this in the British army between officers and the lower ranks . It's the solstice for one thing .
Have a merry solstice Anna.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and peaceful New Year! Slava Ukraini!🌲🎅🇺🇦🇨🇦🌻
Only an anti-Christ would try to ban christmas...I rest my case
Slava Ukraine
President Reagan spoke about the USSR's ban on Christmas in one of his radio addresses (specifically mentioning the rewriting of one carol -- I think called "The Glorious News has come" -- changing the news from about the Nativity to replace it with 'the Soviet Revolution').
Merry Christmas Anna.
happy holiday to you, your family and your ..correction..our countries...long live freedom and long live Ukraine! be warm and safe dear Anna,,,
Merry Christmas Anna and Ukraine.
Happy Cristmas and a good new year to all you out there!!😊😊
💙💛🪖🎅🎄✨
Happy Christmas to all of Ukraine!
Merry Christmas Anna!
Merry Christmas from way north Minnesota. 44*F and raining. STAY SAFE. 🎉
Merry Xmas, Anna 🧑🎄🙏 Love will prevail over Russia’s evil. Even Russia is starting to realize this. Putin and his thugs will go down in 2024 - that’s my prediction 🙏🇺🇦💪
Merry Christmas! I remember hearing from a visitor to a Russian church in the 70S that he snuck into a church meeting and soon 2 guards appeared and the visitor was asked to speak. He was scared he would be jailed if he said the wrong thing. After he spoke the guards walked with him to his car, made sure he had his things and escorted him to the airport.
I’m giving a gift of coffee for you Anna! Thanks for your kindness!
Lietuva.Kaunas 1000k❤️❤️❤️ Ukraine З Різдвом Христовим, Кохана Україно...Слава Україні!!!
Seconded...
Thirded 🤗
Yes, Madam Anna! Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year to you, family & to all ukrainians! God bless you all!
When I came to Estonia 30 years ago (in 1993, a year after the country regained independence from soviet rule) I remember that there was no Christmas decorations to be seen anywhere. I made a remark about it to my Estonian friends, who replied: "did you not see the light in the shopping windows on December 24?" I did see them. "That was FORBIDDEN in soviet times".
In church I met an old man. He told me, that during soviet times people were arrested if they had gone to church on December 24th. He too was arrested. When confronting a commission and threatened to be sent to GULAG he replied: "My God is stronger than your entire communist party!" He was right. He won and the communists lost.
Merry Christmas to Everyone from Estonia and a wish of progress and victory for Ukraine in the next year!
Merry Christmas Darling Anna and Merry Christmas Beautiful Ukraine Bxxxxx
Merry Christmas Anna. What a depressing time it must have been.
Only once every year Christmas time so important for all . Happy Christmas anna to you and all of free Ukraine.
Anna, from The Netherlands I wish you a very Happy and Merry Christmas. Though it unfortunately won't be a peaceful Chrismas I wish you piece of mind.. not only during the Season, but the entire year.
Slava Ukraini !! 💙💛💙💛
Merry Christmas, Anna. Stay strong.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, please be safe 🙏. All the best in 2024❤ N.Bay.Ont.Can.
Anna ThanksMuch for sharing ! Merry Christmas !
Cromwell banned Christmas in Scotland. When I was a lad in 1950s New Year was still the primary celebrations. When I arrived in England after military service during the 'cold war' with your Orcs of the 1970s we started to find Christmas as the main event. Nowadays I personally observe both celebrations. Thank you Ukraine for allowing us to still do this.
Merry Christmas Anna! Merry Christmas everybody from 🇺🇸!
I am continuously impressed with Anna's dedication, determination, and the work that goes into her keeping us updated from Ukraine every day. Merry Christmas to the heroic men and women of the Ukrainian Defense Force, to all Ukrainians, and to Anna. Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇦🇺🇸🎄
Happy Christmas Anna, we can see it is cold where you are. We live on Golden Beach SE Queensland Australia. The weather is 30 degrees C + a lovely summers day. Take care and stay strong.
But Stalin's heart didn't grow three times that day!
Merry Christmas Anna and thanks for your Reports all year ❤👍🦘🇦🇺
Merry Christmas be safe ❤
Merry Christmas Anna 🎅🏻
Here in Scotland, the Christmas tradition is to get steaming drunk and wake up in a jail cell
Merry Christmas 🎄 and a Happier New Year to come.🎉
Merry Christmas, Doctor Anna!❤ 🎄🎁
A verse from the Christmas carol “It Came Across the Midnight Clear”
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long
Beneath the angel-strain has rolled
Two thousand years of wrong
And man, at war with man, hears not the love song that they bring
I hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing.
Happy Christmas to all Ukrainian Christians. Let the angels sing
Great lesson Anna ! It is hard for me to imagine such gratuitous brutality.
Merry Christmas Anna . Be safe 🙏
Got to say Anna love your cardigan slava Ukraine 🏴🇺🇦
Diakuyu. Merry Christmas
Hello Anna, I read somewhere that the Russian secret police became the checka when the Communists took over Russia🎉
❄️🍷Happy Christmas Anna🍷❄️ Father Forst and the snow maiden sound like a right couple 🙄. I hope you have a wonderful day ! 💙💛🧑🎄💙💛🧑🎄💙💛🧑🎄💙💛
Merry Christmas Anna. X
Merry Christmas, Anna! 🎄 Wishing you freedom and peace in the New Year.
Merry Christmas from Seattle.
Merry Christmas, Anna, and a much better new year to you and your country.
Kind Regards from Germany
🎄♥️🎄♥️🎄♥️🎄♥️🎄♥️🎄♥️🎄
Merry Christmas Anna!!! My prayers are with you and your fellow Ukrainian countrymen... I sincerely hope and pray that your 2024 may be much better than 2023... take care!
Hello Anna, we have been watching you from the beginning on TV. I want to give Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you and your family and to all of Ukraine... from us here in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. You will win this war. Thank you for all your insight. Love to hear what you have to say. Stay safe.