On 18 December 2025, at the traditional venue “Levent” in Ruse, Bulgaria, the intercultural children’s theatrical event “The Little Christmas Baba Yaga” was successfully held, bringing together children and families from the Bulgarian and Ukrainian communities in a festive and inspiring atmosphere.
The event was dedicated to presenting and sharing Bulgarian and Ukrainian Christmas traditions, history, and folklore through theatre, music, and joint festive activities. The main highlight of the program was the children’s theatrical performance “The Little Christmas Baba Yaga”, performed by children from Ukraine and Bulgaria, which attracted great interest and received very positive feedback from the audience.
The performance presented a fairy-tale story combining elements of Bulgarian and Ukrainian folklore, Christmas symbols, and universal messages of kindness, friendship, mutual support, and understanding. Through their participation, the children demonstrated not only artistic talent but also the power of cultural dialogue and shared values.
The event was officially opened with welcome addresses by Mr. Artur Horasandzhyan, Project Manager of ISRICM-EU: Innovative Approaches to Mitigate the Societal Consequences of Russia’s War of Aggression Against Ukraine within EU Countries, and Ms. Kristina Kayrak, Representative of the Ukrainian Consulate in Ruse. A welcome letter from Mr. D. Draganov, Regional Governor of Ruse Region, was also read.
Prior to the theatrical performance, Ms. Evgeniya, creator and rehearsal coach of the theatre group, introduced the participating children, the creative process, and the main message of the performance to the audience.
Following the theatrical part, the festive program continued with an interactive Christmas musical program led by DJ Vladi, in which both children and parents actively participated. Traditional Bulgarian and Ukrainian Christmas customs were presented, and the audience joined in songs, dances, games, and festive activities.
The evening continued with a festive Christmas dinner, featuring traditional Bulgarian and Ukrainian dishes, providing an opportunity for informal interaction, cultural exchange, and shared experiences among families. The event concluded with karaoke and a festive disco, filled with Christmas and folk music, joint singing, and dancing.
The intercultural children’s theatrical event “The Little Christmas Baba Yaga” was implemented within the framework of the ISRICM-EU project, funded by the European Union, and contributed to the promotion of social inclusion, integration, and intercultural dialogue among children and families from different communities.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
