The Washington Diplomat

Receiving Line

A New Year and a New Currency

Ambassador Guenter Burghardt of the European Union rang in the New Year the “euro” way by welcoming guests to a late afternoon party on Dec. 31, commemorating the launch of the new euro currency in Europe. With more than 300 million people in 12 countries converting to the new common currency, the introduction of the euro marks the largest money changeover ever.

On the eve of the historic event, hours before the New Year’s Eve festivities began in Washington, D.C., guests got the chance to witness the euro switchover firsthand thanks to a live satellite feed and the three-zone time difference between the United States and Europe.

Ambassador and Mrs. Burghardt and their guests enjoyed live television coverage of the celebrations in Helsinki, Athens, Frankfurt and Brussels as they toasted to a new era in European currency and bid goodbye to the francs, lire, marks and schillings of the past.

A Russian Christmas

Ambassador and Mrs. Yuri V. Ushakov of Russia, along with Father Frost, Santa Claus, Baby New Year and a lot of ecstatic little children, participated in the annual Russian Christmas Tree Festival, known as the “Yolka,” at the Russian Embassy. The event benefited Washington, D.C.’s Frank Foundation Child Assistance International, which provides medical treatments, adoption services and other types of assistance to children throughout the world.

Perched under a net that held hundreds of colorful balloons, children and adults alike awed at the enormous Christmas tree that stood in the embassy’s regal gallery. Audiences were then treated to dancers dressed in ornate costumes and a wonderful performance by the renowned Satira Theater group from Moscow. The troupe delighted the crowd with an original play featuring the beloved Russian characters “Snegurochka,” the Snow Maiden, and “Dyed Moroz,” Father Frost.

Mrs. Ushakov, who helped organize the elaborate festivity, got the children riled up for the performance, joking that “we Russians are very lucky. We have two Christmases and two New Years,” referring to the Orthodox calendar celebrations.

Then the lights dimmed and Father Frost and his “brother,” Santa Claus, came roaring through the halls, along with a myriad of fairies, dancers, soldiers and princesses. The jam-packed show also included a performance by the Washington School of Ballet.

In the breathtaking finale, Father Frost and his granddaughter lit the Christmas tree, casting a dazzling glow over the entire room. With the lights dancing on the ceiling, the hundreds of balloons were then dropped, raining down on the excited children, who quickly proceeded to pop each balloon.

A silent auction was held after the performance to raise money for the Frank Foundation. Mrs. Ushakov praised the success of the evening’s program and expressed her commitment to keeping the Russian cultural heritage alive for the Russian children adopted into the United States with the help of the Frank Foundation. She called these adoptees “tiny diplomats—symbolic of a harmonious union between Russia and the United States.”