Spirit of celebration in the deoccupied territories: ‘Christmas Together’ film released in Ukraine

The focus is not only on rebuilding the infrastructure of communities that have experienced occupation but also on providing mental and cultural support to residents, as reported by Channel 24.

To bring a bit of warmth to the inhabitants of deoccupied territories, the Ukraїner team assembled three nativity scenes that helped create a celebration, allowing people to experience the spirit of Christmas and Malanka. Caroling echoed through Slobozhanshchyna and Donbas. With wishes for peace and victory, the nativity scene performers went from house to house in Balakliia, Izyum, Trostianets, Okhtyrka, Maliy Rogan, Derhachi, and other cities.

"We came up with the ‘Christmas Together’ initiative in a very short time. In mid-December 2022, we posted that we were looking for nativity scenes willing to travel to deoccupied territories and communities ready to host them. In the first days of the new year, we started collecting funds to cover logistical expenses. In a day, we raised the funds, and on January 6, the first nativity scene left Kyiv for the Derhachi community. For us, it was crucial to find daring individuals willing to bring the holiday and revive Ukrainian tradition where it was attempted to be destroyed and replaced by other narratives," shared the film’s producer, Khrystyna Kulakovska.

Film editing director Kateryna Tsvigunova admitted that tears often flowed during the work. People who had experienced occupation hadn’t lost the desire to have a celebration. Now, it has gained a sacred significance. In every city, people were caroling, performing traditional Ukrainian rituals. Ukrainian traditions echoed where they were once scarcely known.

For every Ukrainian, Christmas is a holiday of awaiting miracles and the spiritual birth of every person. We all perceive it differently, but it holds significance for all of us, emphasized Kateryna.

"Christmas Together": Watch the Film Online