CHRISTMAS is not the same during a war.
The constant threat of violence means most festivities cannot happen as they should.
One of the best-loved Christmas traditions is Santa’s grotto – normally a fun, bright space where children can delight in the thrill of the season.
But normally, Santa’s grotto doesn’t need to be missile proof.
This year, the grotto in the village of Nerubayske, Odessa, southern Ukraine, has been set up 46 feet below ground in a cave network.
The Odessa catacombs are a 2,500km labyrinth of natural caves and 200-year-old limestone mines.
Father Christmas is called St Mykolay in Ukraine, and a series of winding, dimly lit corridors lead to his subterranean residence in Nerubayske.
Sparse decorations do little to disguise the fact you are journeying through underground passages.
The ceilings are low and damp, and there are vast stretches of bare yellow stone – the same limestone used to build the city above.
Entering the main grotto, however, you are transported to a perfect Christmas scene, surrounded by the sound of traditional Ukrainian carols.
Thick gold and green fabric has been draped to hide every inch of the bare stone walls.
Red stockings hang above a replica hearth and lamps bathe the space in a soft glow of light.
A Christmas tree sits in the corner decorated with large baubles, bows and twinkling fairy lights.
A traditional nativity scene is gathered in another alcove, surrounded by bright, fluorescent plants and flowers.
You could almost forget about the violence wreaked by Putin’s Russia marring the city above.
Lana Vetrova, who is involved in organizing the event and leads the National Register of Records of Ukraine, expresses that children are able to share their wishes with St. Mykolay and immerse themselves in a whimsical ambiance, fostering their belief in miracles despite the ongoing war.
Lana says this is the world’s largest Santa’s grotto in underground caves.
“Now we can officially state that there is nothing like this anywhere else in the world.
“The residence is located in a unique art space created in the catacombs.
Adjacent to the event site, there is a enchanting Garden of Wonders along with an underground art exhibit showcasing paintings created using phosphorescent paints that illuminate in darkness, leaving a breathtaking impact on visitors.
The organisers expect more than 1000 children to journey underground to meet St. Mykolay before the end of Christmas.
These caves have served as hideouts for various different groups over the years.
In the 14th century, outlaws and gangsters used the caves as warehouses for smuggled goods and to evade police.
During the Nazi occupation of Odessa in WWII, they became the headquarters of the Soviet resistance movement.
Since Putin’s launched his war against Ukraine, they have provided shelter from the raining Russian bombs.
This Christmas, they are being used for something more positive – an escape from the grim reality of war for Ukraine’s battle-scarred children.
