Tradition of celebration of the Kyiv Day began in the Soviet times. In those times there was developed a complex program of celebration: there were renovated cozy streets, organized concerts, where participated a huge number of street musicians. It all created special atmosphere of unity and pride for their own capital.
Khreshchatyk Street, 1966
But real and deep rethinking of that unity happened nowadays. Since the full scale invasion, Kyiv changed a lot, because of people’s loss, destroyed homes and broken dreams. After Kyiv outstanded, it turned from the capital into the symbol of unity. All events, that took place in Kyiv, united Ukrainians, regardless of region of their residence. At the same time, began cultural elevation, when more and more people started to speak Ukrainian, visit museums and interested in the history of Ukraine.
Because of the war, people from different regions were forced to leave their homes and start their lives again. Very often they chose to live in the capital. More and more people appeared here from different regions of the country. So, Kyiv transformed into the center of cultural exchange and interaction of different Ukrainian regions. Internally Displaced Persons started to open cafes and restaurants to share with others their regional cooking culture, which was common in their own cities and villages. So, in this way, they tried to save their own traditions and, in the same time, made Kyiv diversified.
At the same time, the city influenced Ukrainians too. In Kyiv museums, from time to time, appeared new projects, which highlight important questions about Ukrainian past, present and future. Such exhibition, named «Kyiv amulet», took place in the Museum of Kyiv History last year. It highlighted very important present questions about symbolic things, which connect soldiers with their families: things from homes, and ware, created by native people. In partnership with the Civil Voices Museum there were demonstrated personal amulets and video stories of Ukrainians, survived the occupation. Thanks to such actions, Kyiv continues to remind loudly about crimes, caused by Russian soldiers against Ukrainians.
In the last century atmosphere of unity around the capital was formed mainly through the official festive programs and mass events. But today, this unity is much more natural, caused by the war. Nowadays the city not just preserves history, but unites voices of the whole country. It affirms national memory as the main weapon in the fight for the future.
Olesia KHABLAK