As war rages back home, Ukrainians in Ottawa unite for Christmas march

Members of Ottawa’s Ukrainian community braved the cold Sunday to close out the Christmas season and show solidarity with loved ones facing far harsher conditions back home.

Dozens marched down Sparks Street to Parliament Hill, displaying brightly coloured decorations and singing Ukrainian Christmas carols.

“We wanted to gather our people,” said Maryna Shum, who arrived in Canada in April 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine. “We wanted to share these traditions because they are beautiful and kind.”

While Christmas Day has passed, the festive season continues in Ukrainian tradition, Shum said, with Sunday's march marking its conclusion.

But this year, the ongoing hardships facing people in Ukraine give the celebrations a deeper meaning. 

“They don’t have heat, they don’t have power, they don’t have electricity,” she said. “It’s really very difficult to live right now there.”

Despite the conditions back home, Shum said Ukrainians abroad remain united and resilient. 

“Anywhere, any place, still we are Ukrainian and we cherish and we support our traditions and our people.”

'We are united'

Those who gathered Sunday sang traditional carols and waved decorations, masks and star-topped staffs in the air.

Organizers said they were trying to incorporate elements of how Christmas is celebrated in Ukraine, where groups travel from house to house, singing and performing. 

They said they chose to march through the downtown to remind onlookers of the ongoing war.

Khrystyna Serbinova said she misses those traditions, adding that the winter holidays are one of her favourite times of the year. 

“Traditionally, Ukrainians are celebrating with a lot of songs, gathering together, sharing our warmth,” she said.

But Serbinova said celebrating is emotionally complicated for her, especially while her neighbours in Ukraine suffer.

“No matter what is happening, we are always together. We are united.”