We’ve already talked about the authentic carolling team before, but today we’re going to share our impressions of the youth team: the wonderful volunteers of the Bohuslav Volunteer Headquarters organised a theatrical performance with characters and costumes, songs and musical instruments, and most importantly, with incredible enthusiasm and a desire to commit good deeds.
Diana Shamrai, Maksym Karpenko, Oleksandr Siryk and Anastasiia Seletska were in charge of the overall preparation of the carollers’ team: the concept, script, etc.
“The ‘carolling’ started long before the event itself,” volunteer Yevhen Bahniuk recalls with a smile. He was involved in the selection and creation of costumes. “I was most impressed when I went to ‘carolling’ for clothes, or better to say, fabrics. I came to the market and saw a woman with a roll of fabric that would fit us to make bags. I approached her and asked: “What can I do to get you this fabric? Do you want me to plough the garden for you in the spring?” I say that I need 6 metres of this fabric. She replied that she only had 3.5 metres. She gave us what she had. I promised to come back to pay for it. When we were looking for fur for a devil costume, the man who was selling it, when he found out that it was for volunteers for charity carols, simply gave a huge piece of the material we needed, “for good causes”. Similarly, people brought us old shawls, and did not even ask us to return them.”
The carollers had very positive impressions of the hosts. For example, they fondly recall carolling at the House of Culture in Khokhytva and are very grateful to the local headman Volodymyr Kharchenko for the warm welcome and help in logistics.
The carollers also say that they remember their visit to the Charitable Society for People with Intellectual Disabilities. They received them very warmly and sincerely, with treats. And after the carols, they didn’t let them go, because the whole group sang modern Ukrainian songs together with the community!
“There were some worries, but everything was very fun and great! The whole bunch of people who came together were very cool. We met a lot of people. Everything was very interesting, we tried many things for the first time. For example, I have stage fright, but here I was not afraid at all, with such a company, with such support!”, Natalia, a member of the carolling group, enthusiastically shared her impressions.
The girls-carollers also recall that these were some of the brightest and most pleasant emotions and best memories of 2022. In general, as Yevhen Bahniuk noted, the whole company is amateurs. But the main thing is the desire. And people who couldn’t sing – sang, people who did not know how to play musical instruments played, and then they took over with their mood, energy, charisma and improvisation! And they certainly managed to do it. And the rhythm and mood were supported by Bohdan Krasnoshchiok with his guitar.
During the two days of carolling, the volunteers recall, they delivered carols to about 40 households in Bohuslav and the surrounding villages. They also sang carols at the market, in shops, cafes, and at the post office. The main thing is that people greeted them joyfully and openly. They often sang along with the carollers.
The carollers are also very grateful to the youngest member of their group, Nazar. He was very dedicated and steadfast in his carolling both days, because even children know how important it is to unite now and do everything possible for our victory!
We also carolled at the ‘Peremoha’ (Victory) factory, where people even stopped working and put away their equipment to listen to Ukrainian carols.
There were also some funny stories, but they had a good ending, says Yevhen Bahniuk: “On the first day we were carolling at the market, our star cracked. And while we were trying to fix it, some of our group carolled at a woman’s house… and came back with mackerel!” At the same market, they also had to fight back the Devil from the local dogs. Those dogs really liked the devil’s costume and literally did not want to let him go. But Koliada (Carols) won: everyone remained in their costumes, in a good and cheerful mood, and continued their festive carolling route.”
And they are continuing it now, as tomorrow, 7 January, the youth carolling team will continue to sing carols for residents and visitors of Bohuslavshchyna and raise funds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
