United to win: caroling parade in Lisbon brings attention to Ukrainian POWs in Russia

On December 21, Ukrainian carols could be heard on the streets of Lisbon as the Ukrainian carol procession brought together the community, visitors of the capital, and advocates of Ukrainian culture for the third year in a row.

The Embassy of Ukraine in Portugal reported this on Facebook.

What's the problem?

This year's event aimed to popularize ancient traditions and support those who need the most attention now.

A separate action was dedicated to the defenders of Ukraine who are in Russian captivity #FreeUkrainianDefenders.

What is the solution?

"There are no holidays in captivity, but we must unite and be the voices of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

The march espoused this idea, inspiring everyone to join the fight for freedom and truth," the embassy said.

How does it work?

According to the report, the Litá Folk group gave the participants real musical magic with its incendiary performance of Ukrainian carols.

The city streets were filled with a festive mood as the sounds of the violin and bandura, the rhythms of folk songs, and harmonious voices echoed through the air.

^{Photo: Facebook / Embaixada da Ucrânia na República Portuguesa}

"Traditional costumes, a symbolic Christmas star, and folk songs vividly reflected Ukrainian Christmas. This event once again demonstrated the richness of Ukraine's cultural heritage, which, even far from its homeland, continues to inspire and unite people," the diplomatic mission added.

All funds raised during the event were transferred to the Come Back Alive fund, which competently assists the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

The embassy separately thanked:

• the head of the Union of Ukrainians in Portugal, Pavlo Sados,
• Olena Lastivka,
• Roman Varyvoda.

They were the ones who put in the effort to organize this event because, thanks to their energy and dedication, "the event became a true example of unity and support."

In addition, gratitude is expressed to all the participants, whose enthusiasm and love for traditions made the event special, and to the Litá Folk group, whose talent and inspiration made the day unforgettable.

For reference:

On Sunday, December 22, carols were sung at the base of the Motherland monument in the capital. The "Kyivska Koliada" group has performed traditional holiday songs for the seventh consecutive year to entertain Kyiv locals and visitors.

It was also announced that the Olena Zelenska Foundation has organized an interactive performance called "Those Who Listened to Eternity Speak" at the National Reserve Sofia Kyivska. Over ten days, more than 3,600 children and adults will view the performance.

There were also reports that the Zagoriy Foundation released the third installment of their "Origins" series, which focuses on Ukrainian winter holidays and customs. The "Origins. Winter Cycle" guidebook seeks to incorporate traditional practices into corporate culture.

As Rubryka mentioned, the New Year is a time of wonder, presents, and family festivities. However, the celebration often results in much waste and unnecessary spending. For some easy pointers from Let's Do It Ukraine on planning an environmentally-friendly New Year, take a look at Rubryka's article "Celebrate with Awareness: An Ecologically–Responsible New Year."