Ukrainian refugee gearing up to celebrate first Orthodox Christmas in Saskatchewan

This year will be a very different Orthodox Christmas for Andrian Makhnachov.

The Ukrainian young adult moved to Regina in the summer after he was forced to flee the war in Ukraine.

Makhnachov lives in the Queen City with his two brothers and last month celebrated a typical North American-style Christmas on Dec. 24 and 25.

“I celebrated Canadian Christmas and bought some Ukrainian products and made a little Ukrainian dinner for Christmas,” he explained.

While he admitted it was nice to experience his first Canadian Christmas — calling it a “fun Christmas” — he said it still feels different compared to the last one he was able to experience in Ukraine a year ago.

“Last year I wasn’t in Canada, so it’s a very big difference. Canadian Christmas and Ukrainian Christmas are very different in terms of how you celebrate it and prepare for it,” he said. “This year was an interesting feeling.”

Makhanachov is originally from a small village not far from Lviv and said their way of celebrating includes going to church, eating traditional meals, praying and getting together with lots of family.

While Ukrainians mainly celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7, Dec. 24 marks the start of Orthodox celebrations in their country.

For Christmas this year, Makhanachov said he doesn’t have special plans, but mentioned he and his brothers want to do something to mark the occasion.

“For Jan. 7, I don’t know (what we’ll do), probably cook some Ukrainian dinner again,” he said.

While Makhanachov will be celebrating Orthodox Christmas in Canada, his father is back in Ukraine. His father is not on the front lines of the war, but Makhanachov said it has been difficult to reach him because of blackouts in the country, which have made things this holiday season a little lonely.

But Makhanachov said his father is still going to celebrate Christmas in some capacity and shared he is doing well.

Some Ukrainians might celebrate a more dialed-down holiday this year, but Makhanachov said he has heard from other Ukrainians in Saskatchewan who said they plan on celebrating like normal.

“I know that a lot of people will be making dinners and if they don’t have relatives, they’ll call some other Ukrainians for dinner, so it’s a good opportunity to get together for dinner,” he said.

Makhanachov mentioned there is one Ukrainian dish that he loves to have at Christmas — a special type of salad. It contains fish, potatoes and various different types of vegetables.

Despite Makhanachov being away from home for the holidays, he said he has been starting to feel more and more at home in Saskatchewan.

“I remember when I came it was really strange here, but everything around me now is Ukrainian,” he explained. “It’s Ukrainian stores (and) Ukrainian people. When I talk with some Canadians, they say, ‘I’m half Ukrainian’ or ‘My father is half Ukrainian.’

“I feel really at home here.”