Ukrainian culture is rich, diverse, colourful and steeped in tradition. Beyond a doubt the most colourful and lively expression of celebration is in dance.
The PRYVIT is a traditional welcome dance in which the dancers offer bread, salt and wheat to the audience. The belief is that this this will bring health and prosperity to guests. The actual practice of offering bread and salt to guests dates back through the centuries. Bread with salt is presented upon a "rushnyk" or ceremonial cloth while the host says " With this bread and salt we greet you". The recipient is expected to accept the offering by bowing slightly and kissing the bread after which they hand it back to the host. They could also break off a small piece, dip it in the salt and eat it and then return it to the host. The remaining bread can be consumed at the gathering or taken home by the guest. Bread represents hospitality, while salt represents eternal friendship, the meanings having their roots in ancient Greek times.
The HOPAK is a very lively dance where the girls twirl about while the men perform high flying acrobatics. The idea is to take turns and try to "outdo" the previous dancers. Traditionally this dance was only for men who were trying to impress the young ladies - something like a mating ritual in which they showed how agile and manly they were. The women, in contrast, dance gracefully. It concludes with individual or duet performances The dance itself originates from the "KOZAC" which was named after the Cossacks who would perform these movements as a way of exercising or warming up for battle. It was also used to celebrate victory in battle. Squatting low the male dancer folds his arms across his chest and kicks his feet outwards, maintaining an upright torso. Over the years other leaps and twirls were incorporated. The height and speed of the kicks indicate individual agility. In it's truest form the dancer wears leather boots and loose fitting red silk pants and a white shirt with embroidering down the front. His head is shaven clean except for a small portion on the top of the scalp.
The KOLOMYJKA dance gets its' name from the Eastern Carpathian town of Kolomyja. It is a very fast paced dance that is usually performed in combined circle and straight line formations with steps changing throughout the melody.
BUKOVINIAN dance includes a combination of high stepping and synchronized stamping of the feet. Coins are a feature of the costume and were traditionaly worn to ward off evil spirits
Dances from the VOLYN district are comprised of hopping movements and spinning, with emphasis on twirling skirts and jackets.
TRANSCARPATHIAN OR ZAKARPATIA dance is a little slower with a lot of clapping and slapping of the men's boots and bodies. Women's skirts are designed to swirl with the movement.
Dance from the POLISSA region is fast paced and involves a lot of tapping and stamping with a lot of high kicks.
HUTZULKA dances are mainly performed in a circle with a lot of lifting of partners and spinning movement. This dance originates in the Carpathian mountain ranges and the tight patterns reflect the restricted spaces in which they were often performed.
The BEREZNYANKA is a wedding dance performed by friends of the bride and groom to celebrate the occasion in which men carry decorated sticks and the women white handkerchiefs. Its' origins lie in the Zakarpatya region.
There are a number of variations of some dances, usually reflecting particular regional differences. None the less all dances are extremely graceful, agile and beautiful. Fortunately this tradition is maintained across the world through a number of lively and energetic youth who take pride in their ethnic heritage.
PYSANKI
One of the most colourful representations of Ukrainian culture is in the pysanka, the plural of which is "pysanki". Commonly referred to as "Ukrainian Easter eggs" they are found in almost every Ukrainian home and, while being extremely colourful, they are actually very intricate individual pieces of work with a long and equally colourful history. The word "pysanka" is derived from the Ukrainian verb "pysaty" which means "to write". As such each contains a written message through the use of unique symbols instead of the written word.
The actual art of the decorated egg dates back to pagan times, sometime around 4000 B.C. Folk tales reveal that people who lived in the region now known as Ukraine worshipped the sun. It warmed the earth and thus, was the source of all life. Eggs decorated with nature symbols were chosen for sun worship ceremonies and became an integral part of spring rituals, serving as benevolant talismans. With the acceptance of Christianity in 988 AD the decorated pysanka continued to play an important role in Ukranian rituals of the new religion. Many symbols of the old sun worship survived and were adapted to represent Easter and Christ’s Resurrection. Some of the more popular symbols and their meanings are:
Colours also have relevance. White, for examaple indicates purity. Green represents new hope and growth, blue represents the sky, yellow represents light and purity, orange represents strength and endurance, red represents happiness and black represents eternity.
For a more detailed discussion of pysanki visit the link below:
Ann Morash's "Learn Pysanky" website
Some "modern" pysanki have become much more abstract and it is hard to draw meaning from them. These are often artificial representations found in non traditional gift shops which have been produced in mass quantity and, while colourful as well , are not true to the art form. If you order a picture of your pet on an egg it is NOT a Pysanka!
Perhaps the most endearing quality of hand drawn pysanki is that , like snowflakes , no two are identical.
UKRAINIAN CHRISTMAS
The Roman calendar that was in use since the 8th century B.C. originally had only 10 months and the year began with the month of March. Eventualy two more months were added to the calendar - Januarius and Feburarius and the year was started in Januarius ( January ). The problem was that the year now only had 355 days and these 10 missing days played havoc with the relationship between the seasons and the calendar as years passed.
In 46 BC Julius Caesar had the Greek astronomer Sosigenes establish the length of the solar calendar at 365 and 1/4 days ( 365.25). Every fourth year was to add one extra day ( our leap year date of Febuary 29 th ) which would keep the calendar in line with the solar seasons. The year of 45 B.C. began on January 1 and was to last 365 days. In 354 AD Christmas , which had been celebrated on different dates , was fixed by Bishop Liberius of Rome at December 25 th.
Eventually it was established however that a true solar year was 365.2422 days and that the Julian calendar was determined to be out of pace by 11 minutes and 14 seconds per year, or one day every 128 years. This led Pope Gregory II to once again change the calendar in 1528 ( The Gregorian Calendar ). To make immediate corrections with the solar year the year 1582 had ten days eliminated from the calendar - March 12th to March 20th simply did not exist that year in Roman Catholic countries. When Protestant countries adopted the calendar in the 1700's they were already 11 days out of step. This calendar is the one used to this day - our modern calendar.
The Orthodox and Eastern Rite Churches have however maintained the Julian calendar for ecclesiastical purposes into the present day. Put simply the Julian calendar is still used for all religious celebrations. Because there are over 50 million Ukrainians who celebrate Christmas on January 7th it has become widely known as "Ukrainian Christmas", however the Greeks, Serbians, Bulgarians and Byelorussians also follow the same tradition. In spite of some pressure over the years to celebrate on December 25th instead the Ukrainians have found January 7th to be a much less commercialized date and as such its' appeal as a true celebration has grown instead of depleted.
Sviata Vechera is the equivalent of Christmas Eve which begins the celebration of Christmas that runs from January 6th to the Feast of the Epiphany. To many this date is celebrated more so than Christmas itself and begins with a traditional supper. On this evening the family gathers together to join in the feast. By tradition the dinner table will have wisps of hay to serve as reminders of the manger in Bethlehem. The table itself is adorned with two tablecloths, one for ancestors considered to be benevolant spirits and one for the family. An extra place is set for deceased family members whose souls come on Christmas Eve to take part in the feast. The centerpiece of the table is three "kolach" ( breads braided in a ring) stacked one upon the other with a candle on the top. The three rings symbolize the holy trinity while the circular shape of the bread represents eternity. Traditionally when the children see the first star in the Eastern sky which symbolizes the trek of the three wise men the feast may begin. The head of the household enters with a sheaf of wheat called a "didukh", representing the ancient and rich wheat crops of the Ukraine. "Didukh" translated means "grandfather spirit" and symbolizes the family's ancestors as well. The "didukh" is placed under icons in honor of the ancestors of the family and a bowl of "kutia" ( boiled wheat) is placed next to it. A jug of "uztar" ( stewed fruits of which there are traditionaly 12 types )is served to the family after which the father is to offer each member of the family a piece of blessed bread dipped in honey. A prayer is said and then the father gives the traditional Christmas greeting of "Khristos Rodyvsya" ( Christ is born ) or the older slavic version of "Khristos Razhdayetsya" to which the family responds "Slavite Yoho" ( Let us glorify Him).
There are 12 meatless dishes ( representing the apostles ) served at the meal, the contents of which can vary from household to household, however the first dish to be served should be "kutia". "The Old Farmer's Almanac" lists the following as the traditional dishes:
Again,this menu can vary from household to household provided the dishes meet the requirements of fasting through meatless dishes only.
For recipes for Ukrainian Christmas dishes visit:
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
At the conclusion of the feast the family will often sing Christmas carols known as "koliadky", carols that are sung on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. ( On the Feast of Epiphany carols are referred to as "shchedrivka". ) The carols range in theme from songs about the birth of Christ to personal glorification of others, the latter being used prmarily while caroling in travelling groups.
Traditionally the travelling carolers would have amongst them a leader, a person dressed as a goat and a bag carrier ( for collecting gifts received ), a person carrying a six pointed illuminated star on a long stick ( representing the star of Bethlehem )and other singers often carrying musical instruments. At each house the carolers had to ask permission to perform. Once accepted they would sing carols to each member of the household without exception. They would also have to perform a humorous skit involving the goat. As the pagan symbol for fertility the goat would have to die and be reborn again, symbolizing the death of Winter and the birth of Spring. At the conclusion short poems were presented by the carolers specifically for each household.
For more on caroling and to hear Ukrainian Carols visit:
Saint Nicholas was absorbed into the tradition of Christmas about 200 years ago when Dutch settlers brought the tradition to New York. The white bearded figure of Saint Nicholas wearing a red bishop's costume was transformed into Santa Claus across North America, from where the tradition passed back to Europe in the form of our modern Santa Claus. The image has changed to suit commercial appeal, the most recent rendering being supplied by Coca Cola in their early ads.
It should be noted that St. Nicholas Day is celebrated as a seperate holiday leading up to Christmas ( December 19th ). On this day the focus is on St. Nicholas' role as the patron saint of children and it was this day that children would recieve their gifts - usually delivered by "St. Nicholas" who is acommpanied by angels. This tradition is still practiced in the Ukraine and much of Europe today, although on Christmas day each family member customarily receives a new article of clothing.
Malanka or Shchedry Vechir ( Bountiful Evening ) is the equivalent of New Years Eve and is celebrated by Ukrainians on January 13th , the last day of the year on the Julian calendar. Malanka , much like New Year's Eve in other countries, is for the most part a non religious celebration with the focus on a carnival like atmosphere, a celebration dedicated to chasing out the Old Year and welcoming in the New Year.
According to ancient fable it was the goddess Malanka who covered the world with flowers and greenery every May. Malanka was captured by the evil spirits of the underworld and while she was in captivity there was no Spring on Earth. Her brother, the Moon , rescued her, returned her to Mother Earth and married her under an assumed name at which time Spring with all it's greenery and splendour returned. It is this event that is the basis of the Malanka celebration.
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