– Come in, come in! Maryna Reva smiles broadly and beckons us into a warm living room. Behind her come Sviatoslav (4) and Solomiia (2) jumping and running wild. They proudly show off the Christmas tree they have decorated. Outside it is bitterly cold, quiet and starry. The Reva family’s home is high and airy in the tiny hamlet of Rønnekleiv in the Nordfjord village of Hyen. The road up here is narrow and winding. So winding that Solomiia has to wait with her breakfast until she comes to kindergarten in the morning. Otherwise there will be vomiting in the car, explains mum Maryna. Here there is a long distance between the houses and the gardens. Completely different from in Ukraine, explains the mother of two. The Reva family has settled in well in Norway, but they miss everyday life and life in Ukraine. Photo: arne stubhaug / news Here, between high mountains in Hyen, the family has found peace after fleeing Ukraine in February. – We took the last flight before everything closed down, says Volodymyr. For ten years he had commuted between Norway and Ukraine. But when the situation escalated in his home country, he took time off from his replacement job in Hyen and brought his family here. Running away was terrifying, says the father of two. Now they are one of five Ukrainian families living in the tiny village. Take Ukrainian Christmas traditions with you Almost 30,000 Ukrainian refugees now live across the country. This year’s Christmas will be different for all of them. – It’s like a bad dream, it’s still a bit unreal, says Volodymyr. Wife Maryna nods in agreement. Bombs, sirens and cities on fire. Seeing the photos and videos from the homeland at war is painful. In particular, elder Sviatoslav remembers what life was like in his hometown of Ladyzhyn. But my memories of the war have faded little by little. Now the four-year-old and the weasel sisters have a new weekday in Hyen with kindergarten and new friends. Sviatoslav (4) and Solomiia (2) enjoy Norwegian and Ukrainian Christmas traditions. Among other things, the family celebrates St. Nicholas, who was a saint for children, on 19 December. This means that the little ones get presents and candy on this day. Photo: arne stubhaug / news Maryna learns Norwegian during the day and every Wednesday the mother of two has language practice at the kindergarten in the village. They brought the Ukrainian Christmas traditions with them into their new homeland. In Ukraine, there are two official Christmas celebrations. Historically, Christmas is marked according to the Julian calendar on January 6 and 7, which is mainly found in the Russian Orthodox world. But a few years ago, the Orthodox Church in Ukraine opened for Christmas celebrations according to the Gregorian calendar. Thus, there are more people who now celebrate Christmas Eve on 24 December. For many, this is probably a way of distancing themselves from Russia’s influence over the country. For the Reva family, this year’s Christmas will be celebrated in December. The traditional twelve rights – as many as Jesus had with his disciples – must be ready. Among other things, there are cabbage rolls and mushroom sauce on the table. 30,000 Ukrainian refugees are in Norway and will celebrate Christmas in a new country. Photo: arne stubhaug / news Also the dish Kutia, a mixture of halibut grains, honey and raisins, is also needed for it to be Christmas. But we also want to celebrate Christmas as they do in Norway, says the father of two. He has become very fond of pork chops. – This year my wife will cook Norwegian Christmas food, he says. Maryna laughs well. – Hm … It was new information for me, she says, not as convinced that her husband’s dream is coming true. Mixed feelings From the top of the valley, the trip goes down to the center of Hyen. Here we find the school, the kindergarten, the community center and the shop in the village. At home in Ukraine, Andrii and his wife Olexandra had their own law firm. In Norway, the days are used, among other things, to learn Norwegian. Here with the two youngest children Artur and Anhelina. Photo: arne stubhaug / news Two children come walking, each well wrapped in their thick winter suits. Artur (3) and Anhelina (5) have a hand in mum Olexandra’s hand. In the other, they have a bag of stuffed cats that they have made in the nursery. A tradition the Hordiienko family had never heard of before they came here. They will meet Andrii, father of three, this afternoon. While the two youngest are in kindergarten and eldest son Andrii (8) is at school during the day, he and his wife are on a Norwegian course at Sandane. Andrii (8) Hordiienko enjoys school and learns Norwegian words every day. Here together with classmates Johan Loe Hope (left) and Oscar Holme Pettersen. They think it’s nice to have a new classmate with whom they can play. Photo: arne stubhaug / news Life in Hyen is in many ways similar, but also different, to everyday life in Ukraine. Especially now before Christmas. Normally, this would be a time of great joy for the family, he says. They shop for gifts and decorations and enjoy the festive season. At Christmas, they plan to go from door to door and sing carols to each other, a kind of Ukrainian Christmas carol. At home in Ukraine, grandmother Nataliya celebrates with her grandchildren. Here we see Artur and Anhelina. They celebrate Christmas this year in Norway. Photo: private – But this year there are mixed feelings, at least for the adults, says Andrii. We sit around the table in the family’s living room. The table is covered with traditional Ukrainian food and tea. A chain of lights illuminates the window. Andrii’s mother, Nataliya, came to Norway in November. She is happy to be close to her family. – We are grateful that we get to live in Norway and that we have a new home, says Andrii. A few weeks ago, grandmother Nataliya came to Hyen where her son Andrii and his family have lived since autumn. Here with Artur (3) and Andrii (8). Photo: arne stubhaug / news He translated questions and answers into English and Ukrainian. Korkje’s mother or his wife speak English. – Our children are safe here, but it is difficult to know that friends and family live dangerously in Ukraine. Some of the cities are bombed every day. We don’t know if they are alive or dead, says Andrii. The block of flats at home in Kyiv is bomb. They do not know whether their own flat is still standing. But the family knows one thing: they want to return when the war is over. But first Christmas in the new country is on its way. Hyen children’s and youth school has 41 pupils. The Ukrainian children are therefore welcome in the tiny village for several reasons. Here we see Andrii Hordiienko in a green and black winter suit at full speed. Photo: Arne Stubhaug / news The dream of school and snow With a view of the fjord and the mountains, a snowman stands by the neighboring house and scouts. It has seven-year-old Matvii Pat’s laga. – He wondered about two things before we came to Norway, says his mother Hanna Pat in their living room. – What time can I start school and what time will the snow come?, she laughs. Now Matvii has been able to do both since they came to Norway in August. The seven-year-old enjoys school. Today it was he who got to light candles during the Advent time in the classroom. Little by little he picks up Norwegian words. Matvii Pats (7) is happy about the snow and outdoor play in his new home. Photo: arne stubhaug / news During recess, sledding is done in the hill by the school. Hanna’s husband and Matvii’s father are back in Ukraine and working at a steel mill. They talked a lot about this election before Hanna and her son fled. It was a tough but right choice. – He works for the country’s best interests, and he wants to come as soon as he can, says Hanna. But the lack is great. There are a few tears every night, she says. Hanna and her son Matvii are looking forward to Christmas, even if the high season of the year is also painful. Photo: arne stubhaug / news Hanna says that the village has welcomed them. – Everyone asks if there is something we need help with. The people around us are good. We are safe here. In the window there is a Christmas stake and elves. Outside, they look straight at the fjord and over to the cornerstone company Brødrene Aa in the village. This Christmas will be different, but Hanna and Matvii are looking forward to it. But the war and the longing for loved ones in the homeland are also with them into the prime of life. Hanna wipes away some tears, but she says that she finds great comfort in the beautiful nature around them. Once the war is over, she will stay in Norway. – Thank God that we are here. I’m sure everything will be alright. Now we are just waiting for the new year, says Hanna Pats.
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Ukrainian refugees celebrate Christmas in Norway – news Vestland
