"Shchedryk" was heard in the central squares of Mariupol and Bakhmut: what carols were like in Donbas before the arrival of the "Russian world". Video

Before the arrival of the "Russian world" in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas, carols were sung in Ukrainian during the holiday season in Mariupol, Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, and Bakhmut. Russia has not only destroyed cities, but is also destroying Ukrainian identity.

The Donbas.Realii Facebook page (a project of Radio Liberty) shared a touching video of how carols were performed in the east of our country before Russian aggression. The video was released on Christmas Eve, December 24.

In 2022, Mariupol festively decorated the square in front of the Drama Theater. On March 16, 2022, it was destroyed by Russian bombs. The occupation forces killed about 600 people there.

Before the outbreak of the Great War, a Christmas tree and festive installations were set up on the square. Christmas songs were played, and people sang "Shchedryk."

In 2019, Lysychansk hosted a parade of nativity scenes. Teams from Sievierodonetsk, Svatove, Starobilsk, Zolote, and Vrubivka marched down the main street.

In Sievierodonetsk in 2020, a video was shot of people singing "Rejoice" in a shopping center. Passersby sang along to the carol in Ukrainian.

In Mariupol that year, a Ukrainian military band sang "Rejoice" on video.

The journalists also found a video from Bakhmut filmed in 2020. Children from Zvanivka were caroling in Ukrainian costumes.

Donbas.Realii noted: Russia, "liberating" Ukrainian cities in Donbas, left ruins in their place.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported:

- Most Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25, although scholars say that in the first few centuries of Christian reckoning, few people had any idea of the exact day or year of Jesus' birth.

- Why the date of Christmas is set for December 25 and when Jesus could have actually been born - read the article here.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!