A family celebration

It is difficult to take a trip around the world in 80 days. But how about galloping over Europe in a single day? This year was the sixth opportunity for Ukrainians and their neighbors in Europe to get acquainted with each other during the celebration of Europe Day. The main feature of this event was the construction of a European town with tents representing the 28 EU member countries as well as candidate member states, including Ukraine.

During the morning opening Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Volodymyr Ohryzko greeted the participants and guests from underneath a large black umbrella. “I want to wish all of you a European mood, mentality, and prospects. The European Union is nearby; all our neighbors are part of the EU. We too want to live like Europeans. So this will be a celebration of communication and unification. But first of all, we must prove to ourselves that we are worthy of something.”

For the first time in six years Ukraine had its own tent on Khreshchatyk Boulevard and also took part in financing Europe Day. Romania’s Ambassador to Ukraine Traian Laurentiu Hristea expressed his admiration for Ukraine because of this and said that our state is growing with every year. “It is important to note that for the first time the EU and Ukraine undertook financial responsibility for the organization of this celebration. Ukraine thus became a co-owner,” the diplomat underlined.

In keeping with a presidential edict, Europe Day is a national holiday, but an apolitical one. Nevertheless, Khreshchatyk Boulevard, with its large crowds of people, was too big a temptation, and the Party of Regions could not help putting a fly into the ointment. The “European town” was encircled by party supporters bearing flags and symbols, not all of whom even knew what event they were attending. One man told The Day that he thought the event was focused on environmental protection.

Every country represented by its own pavilion on Khreshchatyk followed the principle of “show yourself (the main priority) and take a look at others.” The Austrian tent had the most stringent demands: visitors eager to get their hands on an information brochure had to ask for the materials in German or English with a clear English or German accent. Other countries’ representatives were not so strict and freely handed out brochures to anyone who asked.

In the German tent visitors were invited to test their knowledge and answer some questions about life in Germany. Those who answered all the questions received souvenirs from the country of Heine.

Great Britain also had a few questions for Ukrainians: there was a quiz about tea, the favorite beverage of Englishmen in particular. The Czech Republic took a different tack, inviting visitors to draw a map of the country.

Ukrainians especially liked the Irish pavilion, where they were invited to taste Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur. Many visitors were eager to taste it despite the high price of 15 hryvnias for 100 grams. In Spain’s tent glasses of Sangria and servings of paella or Spanish omelet were on offer. The feasting was accompanied by Spanish guitar music.

The Ukrainian pavilion was literally hopping: dances ranging from the hopak to acrobatic numbers and singing kept visitors riveted. The staff did not take a break for even a minute. “This is wonderful for Kyivites. What I like the most is that people are not leaving. They are really interested,” said Kateryna Ruhol, one of the representatives of the Ukrainian pavilion.

Slovenia, the country that holds the presidency of the European Union, had much to offer visitors. The Slovenian Ambassador to Ukraine Primoz Seligo assessed Ukraine’s dialogue with the EU in the following way: “In the last while Ukraine has moved much closer to the EU. Soon a new stage of negotiations between Ukraine and the European Union will be launched, so everything is going well. But it is difficult to say when Ukraine will join the European Union, to define an exact date for this. Slovenia, for example, had to conduct negotiations for 12 years.”

The School of European Languages has begun preparing Ukrainians for communicating with their European neighbors. Every half-hour visitors to this tent had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with Danish, Turkish, Finnish, Dutch, and other languages. Although you won’t start talking with an Estonian after a 30-minute lesson, you feel a head taller.

Maria Trofimova, a schoolgirl from Mykolaiv, attended every last event on Khreshchatyk and was waiting impatiently for the evening rock concert on the Maidan. “This is a window into Europe for Ukraine,” she said. “I came from Mykolaiv especially for this event. Here many countries are being discovered in a new way, especially when you don’t have a chance to travel.”

Ex-foreign minister of Ukraine Anatolii Zlenko also talked about his “European” feelings: “It is gratifying to note that this tradition, which was initiated in 2003, is being maintained and celebrated on an increasingly wider scale in Ukraine. With this celebration we would like to confirm our devotion to the European idea and attest to the fact that Ukraine is not changing its European course but is realizing it with the help of such events.”

Both the visitors to the European town and its hosts were impressed by the opportunity to get to know each other. “Our country was also represented by a tent, and I was very pleased to see many people coming to ask us about Sweden. This is how very beneficial dialogues for both sides are launched,” Sweden’s Ambassador to Ukraine John-Christer Ahlander told The Day.

In the evening rock musicians from Italy, Lithuania, and Ukraine provided conclusive proof that the borders between Ukraine and its neighbors in Europe are provisional. No international, interethnic, and intercultural difference exist when people are united by music. Oleh Skrypka and his group VV, Italy’s Vanilla Sky, and Lithuania’s InCulto put on a brilliant show on the Maidan, the final chord of Europe Day.