Ukrainian community enjoys traditions at Christmas celebration in Digby

Members of the Ukrainian community in DigbyCounty took a day off from worrying about war in their homeland to celebrate Christmas and some treasured traditions.

Many Ukrainians follow the Julian calendar, whichcelebrates Christmas Day on Jan. 7.

About 200 people showed up on Saturday afternoon for a Ukrainian Christmas potluck in Digby, according to organizer Diane Axent.

Ukrainian Denys Saiechnikov, whoimmigrated to Nova Scotia in August,described the event as an "amazing experience."

He said Ukrainians from the area were enjoying their time together and many had brought their children.

"We talk with each other and it's so nice,"Saiechnikovsaid. "Mostly people have been enjoying the time and we don't discuss about the war."

Saiechnikovsaid it was a traditional Christmas with people sharing food they cooked, includingperogies and borscht, and chatting about things like their jobs and what they do in their free time.

Axent, a first-generation Ukrainian-Canadian,told CBC Radio's Mainstreet N.S.that she has been observing the holiday in Nova Scotia for over 40 years.

This year she decided to turn her family event into a community gathering with a little assistance from the provincial government, Axent said.

She said some of the people attending were refugees.

Axentsaid she has been helping some of the recent arrivals with resums and finding jobs in the community.

The war remains an everyday presence in their lives, she said, but the event was a chance to put it aside for a short time and just celebrate being together.

"The purpose of today is to remember that this is their community now, and they're bringing into our community their tradition," she said.

Axent said the event was also a chance for people to exchange contacts and have conversations.

According to Axent, Saturday's celebration marked a new tradition and she was honoured to be part of it.

She said her 85-year-old uncle, George, lives in Winnipeg and he was moved to tears when he heard about the event.

He told her Canadianswelcomed the family into their homes and their country 75 years ago and she was doing the same for others now.

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