Olga and Sasha are two Ukrainian sisters. The first is 35 years old and is a wine merchant in Paris, where she has lived for seven years. The second, aged 33, lives in kyiv with her parents and grandmother. The two sisters have accepted, since the beginning of the conflict, to keep their logbook to M. This week, Olga went to Vendée to sing with her choir the soundtrack of the Gladiator, by composer Hans Zimmer, but the heart is not really there. No more than in his shop, where the “Christmas spirit” only has meaning for his customers. In Ukraine, it is the Symphony No. 5 by Antonin Dvorak that resonates for Sasha. She welcomes the award in Oslo of the Nobel Peace Prize to Oleksandra Matviichuk, President of the Center for Civil Liberties, a Ukrainian NGO. But power cuts, lack of water and heating are undermining the morale of those close to him.
Tuesday, December 6
Olga : I don’t know what to write anymore. I feel empty. Too far from Ukraine, from my family. I’m alone. I know that Yanis is there for me, but we are always face to face with these misfortunes. All day, I tidy up and clean the apartment: I need it to sort out my thoughts. I arrive there in a very rough way… I prepare my departure in Vendée, tomorrow. With the Cinephonia choir, I will sing music by Hans Zimmer composed for the film Gladiator. I love this project. I hope this will change my mind.
“Before, there were only holidays established in Soviet times, the uniquely Ukrainian traditions were erased during the decades of Soviet dictatorship. » Sasha
Sasha: I wake up very early with the sun, it’s rare now, I take advantage. I have classes. Today is a big party, even two big parties: that of the armed forces and that of Saint-Nicolas, our equivalent of Santa Claus. I see nothing but speeches of thanks for our army; this is the first time since this holiday was set up, in 1993. Before, there were only holidays established in Soviet times, the proper Ukrainian traditions were erased during the decades of dictatorship Soviet. Throughout our childhood, we celebrated Red Army Day, February 23. Fortunately, this party no longer exists, it was only canceled in 2014. It’s the same for winter parties. We only thought of Ded Moroz, “Grandfather Frost”, this character imposed on us by the USSR. For some years now our traditions have been returning, and now Ukrainians consciously reject everything Soviet. Today, we offer “mykolaichik” – these gingerbread cookies with postcards of Saint-Nicolas.
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