On December 21, iconic locations around the world will turn off their Christmas lights in solidarity with Ukraine and to raise funds for generators for Ukrainian hospitals.
The lights on Sofia’s Christmas tree, located in front of the Ivan Vazov National Theater, will be turned off at 6 p.m. Thus, Sofia will respond to the call for institutions and people around the world to turn off the holiday lights in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, who, due to the Russian invasion, are facing blackouts this winter.
The initiative is also part of the campaign to raise $10 million to provide 1,000 generators for hospitals across Ukraine through the Ukrainian national fundraising platform UNITED24.
About 10 million people are without electricity in Ukraine, almost 50% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been damaged.
The day is symbolic – on December 21, the astronomical winter begins, the day is the shortest and the night the longest. The LightUpUkraine campaign unites many cities around the world, including iconic locations – the tree in front of Rockefeller Center in New York, the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square in London, Paris City Hall, Canterbury Cathedral and the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the tree in Prague, the Market Square square in Wroclaw and many others.
The first place to join the LightUpUkraine campaign was Carnegie Hall in York. The hall turned off its lights on December 4 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Christmas carol “Shtedrik”.
Ukrainian President Zelensky calls for solidarity with Ukraine and its people.
“When the light goes out, you always take it as something unusual. But when you spend four, ten, twenty hours or even days without it, and you start to get used to the darkness – that’s the worst thing. This means that the light is not the only thing they want to take away from you. They strive for everything that is part of your life,” said Zelensky.
“This is how we live in Ukraine right now – defending ourselves against an enemy who has come to destroy us. Therefore, I now turn to you, true friends of Ukraine. We need your support! Any doctor who is forced to work in the dark. Every father and every mother who does everything to provide their families with what they need – even in the dark. Every Ukrainian who has faith in freedom, despite the darkness. Together we will stop this war! Please look for new ways to help Ukraine! And thank you to everyone who cares for freedom!”, the Ukrainian president also said.
Tags: LightUpUkraine Cities world including Sofia turn Christmas lights
