It is a very old Ukrainian folk festival which was celebrated this Saturday, January 11, 2025, at the Le Local socio-cultural center, in Poitiers. “Malanka is a pagan festival to mark the new year and renewal, explains Iana Iatsun, president of the Free Ukraine association. We hope that the Ukrainian lands will be fertile and that the harvests will be abundant. »
Maintain the link with the country
To celebrate this delayed New Year (historically, the Julian calendar is thirteen days behind the Gregorian calendar), around fifteen young Ukrainians, dressed in embroidered tunics and traditional headdresses, improvised actors and singers to perform a skit.
“Some children who arrived here three years ago now speak French better than Ukrainianrelieves Iana Iatsun. It is therefore important to maintain the link with our culture through this type of event. » The president of Free Ukraine also recalls that the war is unfortunately still ongoing and that the association therefore continues to collect donations to support the men on the front and their families. A Ukrainian flag signed by soldiers had also been installed on one of the walls of the Local.
On one of the walls of the Local, a flag signed by Ukrainian soldiers was hung.
© (Photo NR-CP Laurent Favreuille)
Among the thirty spectators, there were several Poitevins, such as Thierry, who gives French lessons to Ukrainian refugees in Vouglaisien, or Nadine, who helped a lot in the collection of medicine, clothing and food, at the start of the war. . After the show, everyone shared Ukrainian dishes, including traditional kutya, made from wheat, grapes, honey, walnuts and poppy seeds.
