Ukrainians shift traditions, keep Christmas cheer alive during war

As the war in Ukraine marks its 10-month anniversary on Christmas eve, the Kyiv Opera Theater held a Christmas concert Saturday on a stage underground.

Artists sang Ukrainian versions of "Jingle bell rock" and "It's the most wonderful time of the year", among other internationally famous holiday songs.

The concert was held underground for safety reasons and to avoid interruption by the air raid sirens that ring out almost daily in the capital.

Many Ukrainians are shifting their traditions to break with the Russian orthodox church following the February 24 invasion.

The Kyiv Opera Theater used to hold Christmas concerts around January 7, but this year they changed it to December 24 and 25.

The theater has also scrapped Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky from its Christmas Day performance and replaced it with music by the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini.

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