Consulate General in New York hosts celebration of Ukrainian Christmas

by Lesia Lebed

NEW YORK - Ludmyla Kryzhanivsky, wife of Ukraine's consul general in New York Viktor Kryzhanivsky, invited the International Hospitality Committee and its 56 international guests from the diplomatic community to participate in a celebration of Ukrainian Christmas on January 15. The celebration took place at the Ukrainian Consulate General, located in the historic district of New York City known as Turtle Bay Gardens.

The guests were formally greeted by Consul General and Mrs. Kryzhanivsky. Next they learned about various Ukrainian customs that are observed during Christmas, the New Year and Epiphany from Iryna Kurowyckyj, member of the International Hospitality Committee and honorary president of the National Council of Women of U.S.A., under which the Hospitality Committee functions.

While Mrs. Kurowyckyj was describing the 12 meatless and dairyless dishes served by Ukrainians on Christmas Eve, the guests were getting their first taste of kutia. They were told about the tradition of throwing the first spoon of kutia onto the ceiling by the head of the household. Mrs. Kurowyckyj joked that this was the reason the consul general left so soon - he was afraid that he would be asked to observe this ritual. The kutia was so popular that some guests even asked for portions to take home. Three different varieties of varenyky, holubtsi, fish and uzvar were also served.

No Ukrainian Christmas celebration would be complete without carolers. Therefore, children came to carol at the Consulate General, thanks to Sister Gabriel, principal of St. George Ukrainian Catholic School, and Natalia Duma of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America. The beatiful voices of the children brought joy to everyone. The international guests were most moved by the "Carol of the Bells."

At the end of the program Mrs. Jimmy Welden, chair of the International Hospitality Committee, thanked Mrs. Kryzhanivsky for hosting the event and Mrs. Kurowyckyj for sponsoring the program and providing information about how Ukrainians observe the winter holidays. Mrs. Welden also reminded the guests that Mrs. Kryzhanivsky had hosted a similar event on Ukrainian Easter traditions in the spring.

The celebration of Ukrainian Christmas ended the International Hospitality Committee's winter cycle of celebrations, aimed at bringing people from various nations closer together and helping them gain a better understanding of each other.

The celebrations started in early December, when the committee learned about "Sinteeklaas" and tasted the delicious cookies baked by the Dutch during their Christmas celebrations. Next, the wife of the Swedish consul general invited the members of the committee to learn about the legend of "Sankla Lucia," hear carolers and partake of a Swedish Christmas meal.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, February 23, 1997, No. 8, Vol. LXV

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