On Christmas Eve, employees of the Donetsk Regional Art Museum held a creative workshop in Chernivtsi for internally displaced persons from Donetsk region on how to make a traditional amulet decoration – a Christmas wreath decorated with a straw angel doll.
Participants learned the technique of working with straw and discovered that in Ukrainian tradition, it is associated with the sun. Its golden color and ability to give warmth were considered a sign of light and vital energy. That is why straw decorations were often used during winter holidays, when people waited for the return of light.
The handmade angel dolls became the central part of the decorative wreaths, which the participants decorated with ribbons featuring traditional Ukrainian folk motifs and natural materials.
The event became an art-therapeutic creative space where those who were forced to leave their homes not only had a positive experience, but also felt a connection to Ukrainian customs and rituals, a spirit of unity, and immersed themselves in the atmosphere of the Christmas holidays.
In these difficult times, intangible heritage sounds like a quiet prayer that supports the soul, returns us to our roots, and unites us in a shared sense of home. May the straw angels become bright talismans of our homes and hearts, and may Christmas night bring peace, warmth, and hope for a bright tomorrow for Ukrainians.