This iconic Christmas song has roots in Ukraine — and Russia has blown the composer’s hometown to pieces

And it was around that time that he repurposed a local folk tune to write Carol of the Bells — then called Shchedryk — and after World War I it became the anthem of Ukrainian nationalists hoping to gain independence from Russia, which had controlled the country’s people for centuries. In Pokrovsk itself, in the past few weeks, we were able to regain control of about 16 square kilometers in the northern part of the city,” Ukrainian Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote in a Dec. 13 Telegram post, vowing to continue resisting the scores of Russian troops trying to overtake the city. Moscow has not yet replied to the offer, but Ukraine says it is prepared to keep up the same fight for independence that inspired Leontovych to write Carol of the Bells — and defend their home with the fervor of Kevin McCallister.

Author: Alex Oliveira

---