A Long Lens at Ukrainian Christmas
I’ve always loved this time of year, a time to celebrate and once more, revel in the traditions of “English” and “Ukrainian” Christmas. Even though my faith has been challenged, I still regard this as a spiritual time. A time for reflection, for slowing down, for putting my writing aside and focussing on family. I also look upon this holiday with a long lens, reaching back to childhood.
Growing Up
Growing up in an immigrant family, I called Dec. 25th English Christmas and January 7th (on the old Julian calendar) Ukrainian Christmas. On English Christmas, Santa Claus came and we opened gifts. On Ukrainian Christmas Eve, we didn’t eat all day until the first star came out. We then went to church to visit the nativity in the nave. Afterwards, we had supper at home, a glorious feast of 12 meatless dishes.
On Christmas day, we went to church, where the choir sang the most heavenly carols. At the entrance, we were given a bit of cedar fastened with a red ribbon to fasten to our coats.
Ukrainian Christmas Traditions
What I loved about celebrating both Christmases was enjoying the gift giving of one and the spiritual significance of the other. The story of Jesus’s birth and what it promised was both magical and inspirational. Because of work schedules and travel, our family now celebrates all our traditions on the Gregorian calendar, Dec. 24th and 25th.
On Christmas Eve, we’ll celebrate as if it’s January the 6th. I’ll light a candle in the window, inviting anyone who is in need of a meal to stop in. Fat chance of anyone seeing it, as our window faces the ocean and the back window is blocked by the garage behind it. But it’s tradition, so I’ll do it.
Where I live now, the nearest Ukrainian Orthodox church is an hour and a half away. There isn’t a Ukrainian Catholic one close by either, or else I’d go, just to hear the carols and reflect on my upbringing. But I have an old cassette tape of St. Mary the Protectress church choir singing carols, which I’ll play on Christmas Eve. And we’ll have 12 meatless dishes as is the custom. I’ve already made vegetarian borscht, and kutya, a grain dish.
Before we start eating any of the main dishes on Christmas Eve, we’ll say a prayer and then each take a spoonful of kutya. All the grains represent family members, living and deceased.
As an extra treat this year, I made a poppyseed roll, as one of the sweets following the Holy Supper.
William Kurelek
Later, after dinner, we’ll gather and sing carols by the Christmas tree. And we may take turns reading from A Northern Nativity, by William Kurelek, a Ukrainian-Canadian painter. He wrote stories that show the Christ child in different settings: an igloo, a barn, a grain elevator, a box car.
In looking over his biography, I was excited to find that William Kurelek attended St. Mary’s the Protectress and Rev. Mayevsky was the first adult to encourage his art. (Father Mayevsky married my mom and dad in 1938. He was turfed out of the church because of his liberal views, though Mom and Dad refused to sign the petition for his removal. Because he was thrown out, they had to get married again by another priest.)
We also plan to go to Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens in Merville for a walk in the woods to hear the Cantiamo Chamber Ensemble sing Christmas carols.
Last week, Robert and I also celebrated Hanukkah, as he discovered through DNA testing he has some Jewish roots. We lit the menorah and I made latkes and beef brisket for our wee family here.
This year, we feel blessed because both of our daughters, their husbands and children will be here celebrating Christmas and New Year’s with us.
Another Long Lens
And in early January, I’ll be announcing the spring date for my next novel, SUNFLOWERS UNDER FIRE, and showing you my book cover. And yes, because this family saga is set in Ukraine, there’s a Ukrainian Christmas scene in this story too. So, lots to look forward to with another long lens.
If you’re interested in finding out more, you can sign up for Diana’s Book News. I tend to write in different genres, as shown on my Books Page.
Best Wishes
Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays or at least a joyous time and a Happy New Year! How are you celebrating this time of year? Do you have traditions you follow?
How wonderful that you got to share two Christmas traditions each year! Some of my favourite childhood memories are of Christmas and the way everyone was so happy and kind to one another. Merry Christmas, Diana. All the best to you, Rob and your family at this special time of year.
Thank you Jo-Anne. Yes, I feel truly lucky to have those warm memories.
What wonderful traditions you had and have adopted! I like to use Happy Holidays because it seems to include all the holidays in and around December and January. You are fortunate to have all of your children and families home.
Our Hispanic neighbors have all the relatives in on Christmas Eve and have an abundance of food and have a rosary. These days Husband and I have tamales, chili and margaritas on Christmas Eve; if we are lucky we have some family here too. Not very spiritual, I know. Cheers for 2019 and your new book!
Yours sounds like fun too Jo. It works with where you live. We’ll actually be stopping for several hours in Houston mid-January enroute to San Miguel de Allende Mexico. We’ll have some tamales in SMA. 🙂 I have a cousin in Houston who I haven’t seen since I was a child. We’re planning on meeting at the airport for a few hours. Looking forward to that as well. And thank you for your wishes on my new book. Appreciate your support. xo