Chimney and Santa

This year the GABFEST Club’s  Xmas session club (at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk) was dedicated to the topic of “Chimney and Santa”.
We have learned that in American tradition Santa comes to the house through the chimney and fireplace. We have listened to several Xmas songs about Santa stuck in the chimney and the consequences of such misfortune. The young club member Sasha got involved into Xmas paper craft and made several Xmas stockings and Xmas trees for our fireplace. They look very nice on the mantelpiece of our paper fireplace.
Our American guests Joseph, Kathryn and Sam told us about the differences in Xmas celebration they have observed in Ukraine. The Ukrainian club members told the foreign guests about a classical Xmas novel by Nicolay Gogol “The evenings at Dikan’ka village”. The chimney is used by negative creatures in this novel – a witch and a devil.The club members shared their experience of celebrating Xmas in different countries. Foreign student Toby told about Xmas celebration in Nigeria, Kathryn – about Chile, Sam – about China. The Ukrainian club members demonstrated the You Tube videos with favorite Soviet songs about Winter holidays and explained their symbolism to the foreign guests.
This year’s White Xmas  in Dnipropetrovsk impressed our American guests, but they look forward to mild winters in California.
The session was a success and enjoyed by all the participants.
The number of participants – 29 persons.
Have a look at more pictures, please