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As the sun is out at last, my small medieval Swiss town of Stein am Rhein is buzzing with life again. Known for its Christmas market and the deep blues of the Rhein riverside, Stein am Rhein is dead between January and March. Very few shops and cafes remain open year-round. The messengers of spring revival here aren’t only birds and snowdrops, but also cyclists. Whenever they descend on the town, you know the tourist high season is around the corner. With that, charity shops

This Easter, instead of preparing for Ukrainian traditions, I immersed myself in creating a flawless panettone. No vyshyvanka, no pierogies, no Paska—just the routine of everyday clothes and the absence of my childhood customs. As I moved through the day, I was painfully aware of traditions left behind, their absence amplifying my ever-present grief at what my country could have been if it weren’t for its tortured history and geography. Panettone’s long fermentation process p