**Ukrainians in Cornwall Prepare for Third Christmas in Exile**
A Ukrainian family who fled to south-west England after Russia’s invasion of their country is preparing to celebrate their third Christmas here. Serhii Kyrychenko, his wife Ira Ternovska, and their son Denys escaped to Cornwall with just a suitcase.
Serhii said it was scary for them to leave everything behind and go somewhere new. “We didn’t know what to expect,” he explained. His wife Ira added that she had initially been reluctant to leave but understood the importance of keeping her son safe.
The family is now settled in St Austell, Cornwall, and is preparing for Christmas with a traditional Ukrainian feast on Christmas Eve. They will make at least 12 vegetarian dishes, as per their tradition. Serhii explained that this was a time to come together with family and friends, without meat or any other restrictions.
On Christmas Day itself, the family plans to celebrate in a similar way to the British tradition – eating whatever they like, drinking what they want, and then… taking care of their stomach! Twelve-year-old Denys is excited about opening his presents, but also looking forward to some time off school.
The family will use the internet to stay in touch with friends and family they had to leave behind. Serhii reflected on how hard it was for them to be apart from loved ones during the holidays. “It’s kind of sad,” he said. Ira added that she missed her brother, mother, father, friends – and even the snow.
In Ukraine, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th, but some Ukrainians have started to adopt the Western calendar, which brings their celebrations in line with those in the UK.
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