Christmas Village appeared on Khreshchatyk Street pn Dec. 8. The new project from the Kyiv mayor's office will delight visitors for 44 days – up until Jan. 19 next year.
Members of
the Kyiv Municipal Brass Band dressed up in Santa hats at the opening of the
fair. Children dressed in beautiful folk costumes, sang Christmas folk songs
and danced. Wooden pavilions with a wide range of treats were set up.
There is also
the possibility to take part in interesting activities. The Ukrainian
craftsmen’s workshop near the Main Post Office will provide master classes on
straw-knitting and felting toys for adults and children alike.
Just for
the smaller attendants there were attractions like a carousel or the Saint
Nicholas train. But the biggest thrill came from a mini-zoo located next to the
metro station Khreschatyk.
“I like the
idea of a fair … it is always good especially for children. The carousel,
animals are real fun,” said Daria Silantyeva, visitor holding her small
daughter.
But others
had mixed feelings “(I feel) sorry for the animals, honestly,” sighed Iryna
Roshchina, looking sadly at a small enclosure for ostriches.
Zoo-keeper
Alexander Lopukhov insists the ostriches don’t suffer from the bitter cold,
with young ostriches heated with UV lamps in a tent.
The ponies,
goats, rabbits and sheep present also look fine, and will soon be joined by
Vietnamese piglets. Charitable contributions will go for forage for those
animals which remained at their home farm because of the cold weather.
Christmas
Village. Dec. 8- Jan. 19. 11.00-21.00 on
weekdays, 11.00-23 on weekends. Entrance free. Along
Maidan Nezalezhnosti and Khreshchatyk Street.
Story by Daria
Zadorozhnaya
can be reached at [email protected]
