I recently had the honour of interviewing a number of Ukrainian families in the District. They shared with me some of their favourite traditions, which they still practice, from Ukraine.
Ukrainian Christmas is a heartfelt holiday, with Christmas Eve being on January 6th. A twelve course meatless meal is served. This meal consisting of fish (often salmon and pickled herring), Kutia (wheat with a bit of honey) borscht, pyrophy (with several types of fillings) holubtsi, broad beans, sauerkraut and peas, kolach, pidpenky (mushrooms), stewed dry fruit, kolach, makivanyk, or zavyvanets, pampushky and buns with various fillings and a beverage.
Although some of these dishes may be unknown to many, they are still very much enjoyed, as time passes it is sometimes difficult to get the ingredients (for example wheat but you can be sure the best substitute is made to enhance their traditional Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day follows with church services and celebrations of the Ukrainian faith with family and friends.
Christmas caroling, another beloved tradition, has taken place for over sixty years. This was still happening up to the time of Covid, two years ago.
At one time twenty or more carolers (in several groups) would go from home to home of Ukrainian families. In the past the carolers would also entertain at Rainy Crest.
Traditional Ukrainian Christmas carols would be sung.
Although the number of singers was down to about six, the last time caroling took place, it is still heartfelt and enjoyed by all.
Easter comes to the Ukrainian people with the celebration of the church services plus the making of Easter bread (Kolach). This is a rich bread made with saffron, and is still made today by many Ukrainian people.
The blessing of the Easter Baskets
Ukrainian families for many, many years and still today make a basket full of food consisting of Easter breads, pork or ham, garlic sausage, kielbasa, boiled eggs, cottage cheese and beet relish. These baskets are decorated to look pretty.
At the Easter service the priest blesses them. This would take place outside when the weather was nice. The baskets are then taken home and enjoyed for lunch.
The decorating of beautiful Easter eggs was done by many Ukrainian people, and most homes have a beautiful arrangement of decorative eggs that they treasure.
Ukrainian dance, another beloved tradition, many Ukrainian people , their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have learned the beautiful Ukrainian dance.
This was taught for many years by Walter Andrusco. After Walters many years of commitment Mark Kowalchuk taught Ukrainian dancing.
The above traditions shared with me during my recent interviews with local Ukrainian families, touched my heart as you could feel the importance of these traditions being as important to people as much as life itself.
