A Scottish Celebration

Erik Sviatchenko is looking forward to his first Christmas as a father, and enjoying festive family fun in a new country.

- Martin Dalziel

CHRISTMAS 2016 will be a festive season of ‘firsts’ for Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko as he prepares to spend his first yuletide in Glasgow, and bring in his first Christmas and New Year as a Dad.

The Hoops star – a Danish internationalist of Ukrainian descent – will celebrate December 25 with his partner Anne and their son, William, together for first time but he’ll also enjoy a string of special gatherings that acknowledge his cultural heritage.

For followers of the Russian Orthodox Church that the Sviatchenko family identify with, New Year’s Eve is the big day in the family, which is funny as there are a few Celtic fans who will be looking for cause to celebrate December 31 this year as well…

Christmas Eve also takes precedence in his native Denmark, so there will be food and festivities all round for the Sviatchenko family once the Celtic defender returns home from the champions’ visit to Hamilton, giving him a full week of celebrations to look forward to at the end of the month.

“My family is from Ukraine and the Church calendar is somewhat different,” the 25-year-old explained to the Celtic View in an exclusive interview. “We’re Russian Orthodox so that’s why it’s a bit different.

“We celebrate New Year’s Eve more than we celebrate the 24th or the 25th. In Denmark the big day is the 24th so we’ve been in Denmark for so many years that we celebrate Christmas Eve as well and always have been eating all the Danish food, but with a touch of Ukrainian tradition to it.