On the 13-th of December in Kyiv some traditional Swiss holiday, Saint Lucia Day, was celebrated.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden to Ukraine Martin Hagstriom greeted everybody and congratulated with this holiday. As well, he told about the history of this date. It is considered as the unique Swiss tradition as nowhere else is it celebrated in such an ambitious manner.
The celebration welcomed the Heads of diplomatic missions from such countries embedded in Ukraine as Azerbaijan, Canada, Finland, Croatia, Slovenia, etc.
It is said that night of Saint Lucia day is the longest in the year. Such an opinion was put forward in times when in Sweden people used Julian calendar. The 13-th December was marked with the day of winter conjunction. When in 1753 the country switched to Gregorian calendar, the conjunction was moved to the 21-st of December, but night of Saint Lucia kept its meaning of the longest and darkest one. Since the time of Medieval Ages in Sweden the great holidays have been organized. Sweden Lucia has several guises. One of them represents a little girl dressed like an angel who gives presents. It is often depicted in the wreath with candles.
Only in the XX century the holiday got its current look. Today Lucia wears long white dress with red silk belt with the five-candle crown on her head. She brings coffee and special buns with saffron called luccecatter. In Sweden the holiday is celebrated in schools, kindergartens, and different organizations.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Ukraine Samat Ordabayev organized an event on the occasion of the presentation of the book of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev "The Era of Independence".
Eight Embassies of foreign states: Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, with the organizational assistance of the OUTLOOK project and with the support of the Culture Department of KSCA, invited the citizens of Kyiv, representatives of diasporas and national cultural societies to celebrate NOWRUZ International Day together. About how the celebration was held - in our new video.
The spouse of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Ukraine Irina Sultanishvili carried out a meeting of the Ambassadors Spouses Club, in the frame of which some traditional clothes was demonstrated.
In Kyiv under auspices of the Embassy of Belgium and personally Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Luke Jacobs there was a conference dedicated to the 100-th anniversary of residence of Belgium armored division in Ukraine, exactly the period of revolutionary events of 1917-1918.
In Kyiv academic theater of drama and comedy under support of Embassy of Belarus to Ukraine and Kyiv city governmental administration it was the play ‘Marriage contract’ of Minsk Film Actor’s Studio Theater. The performance was going in the frame of the tour in Ukraine.
In Kyiv on the 5-th of February Culture Days of Kuwait started. They are dedicated to the 25-th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries. All the events will go under the support of the Embassy of Kuwait to Ukraine and personally Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Mr Rashid Hammad Al Advani.
The 4th annual Nordic skiing competition for diplomats and all comers organized by the Ukrainian Ski Club in cooperation with the Embassies of Switzerland, Austria, Norway and Sweden under the auspices of Fischer, one of largest manufacturer of skis in Ukraine, took place on January 28 in the park of the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”.
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko accepted credentials from the ambassadors of several foreign countries: Netherlands - Eduard Hoeks, Lebanon - Ali Daher, Sudan - Mohamed Eisa Ismail Dahab.
The Embassy of Palestine in Ukraine and personally Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Mohammed Al-Assad organized a trip for journalists to Palestine. OUTLOOK team was among them. We launch a series of videos about this country and start with Bethlehem!
The mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klichko carried out traditional diplomatic reception in the city administration on the occasion of upcoming holidays, New Year and Christmas.
On the 13-th of December in National library of Ukraine for children the ceremony of giving books happened. Afterwards, in the residence the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Spain to Ukraine Silvia Cortes Martin organized diplomatic reception.
In honor of the 26-th anniversary of Republic Kazakhstan, in Kyiv the reception was carried out. In honor of this event in Kazakhstan as well as all around the world the important official and celebration events are going, such as conferences, round tables, diplomatic receptions.
In Kyiv it was the official reception coincided to National Finland Day. This year the country celebrated rough 100 years from the day of Independence announcement.
In the capital of Ukraine the diplomatic reception organized by the Embassy of Palestine to Ukraine was organized. It was coincided to one of the most important national holidays in this country.
Every first Saturday of December, for the past 25 years, a charitable project of the International Women's Club of Kiev – IWCK Charity Bazaar) has been held. The main purpose of the event is to collect financial aid for Ukrainians in need.
On November 30, in Kiev, was held a solemn event dedicated to one of the main Muslim holidays - Mawlid (the birth of the Prophet Muhammad). The Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine (RAMU "UMMAH") organized a number of official events to a significant date.
A presentation of the eighteenth issue of the scientific yearbook “Diplomatic Ukraine” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Diplomatic Service took place on November 30, 2017 in the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to Ukraine Cristian Leon Turkanu organized an official reception in honor of the 25-th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Romania and Ukraine. As well, he set up the exhibition of Romanian artists in Kyiv called ‘Art. Traditions. Baia Mare. Maramures’.
The Embassy of Turkmenistan to Ukraine organized the brief meeting for journalists on the occasion of the 22-nd anniversary of Turkmenistan neutrality and acceptance of General Assembly of United Nations Resolution on announcement of International neutrality day on the 12-th of December.
