EDITORIAL: A busy and joyous season (12/22/96)

EDITORIAL

A busy and joyous season

The Christmas season has arrived. For all of us it is a busy time of year, but for us Ukrainians, it seems busier still, for, not only do we have all the usual Christmas customs that "regular" Americans observe, we have our own Ukrainian traditions.

Although the winter cycle of Ukrainian folk rites actually begins about a month before Christmas with the Feast of the Presentation of the Mother of God (November 21 by the new calendar, or December 4 by the old calendar), it appears that we begin the "Christmas season" in earnest when we celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas by the Gregorian calendar on December 6. That means that already on December 5 the presents have to be delivered by St. Nicholas and placed under the children's pillows overnight. (St. Nicholas' helpers, therefore, are busy way before Santa's.) Then comes St. Nicholas' Feast Day by the Julian calendar on December 19.

Soon thereafter comes Christmas by the new calendar, preceded by the traditional 12-course meatless "Sviata Vecheria" (holy supper) on Christmas Eve - the preparation of which keeps Ukrainian homemakers busy for weeks beforehand. It is a time of singing our beautiful "koliady" (Christmas carols) and of going "koliaduvaty" from house to house - a custom that we continue to this day, even though our homes are scattered far and wide throughout various cities and suburbs.

This is followed by New Year's celebrations by the Gregorian calendar, then it's back to Christmas by the old calendar on January 7, and then comes New Year's Eve ("malanka") and New Year's Day by the Julian calendar. "Shchedrivky" (New Year's songs) are sung - among them the hauntingly beautiful "Shchedryk" known the world over and in this country as "The Carols of the Bells." And, don't forget that on New Year's Day - whichever one you choose to celebrate (in most households these days it seems the choice is to celebrate both) - good luck has to be brought to the household by young men offering best wishes and "sowing" grain.

The Christmas cycle ends with the feast of Epiphany ("Yordan," or "Vodokhryshchi"), which is marked on January 7 by the new calendar, or January 20 by the old. On Epiphany Eve there is another meatless holy supper and the solemn blessing of water, which recalls Jesus Christ's Baptism by St. John.

By the time our "Christmas season" ends - a month a half has passed almost in the wink of an eye. Whew! It is indeed a busy time for us Ukrainians.

But, we wouldn't have it any other way. Because that is what makes our Ukrainian Christmas so special.

So, dear readers, we wish you and your families a joyous Christmas season and God's blessings in the New Year.