The miraculous star (01/02/00)

The miraculous star

by Orysia Paszczak Tracz

"Ide zvizda chudna, z vostok na poludno ..." [The miraculous star is traveling across the sky, from east to south] - from an old koliada.

The image of Ukrainian carolers - "koliadnyky" - would be incomplete without the large "zvizda," a star, that was carried on a pole, and led the way from house to house. Traditionally, groups of men used the star, while women caroled carrying lanterns, which were crescent or moon-shaped.

The star was made from colored paper glued onto a wooden frame a few inches in depth, and was lit by a candle or lantern mounted inside. A description and diagram of such a zvizda for koliadnyky is given in an article on Christmas rituals in a village on the Black Sea ("Rizdviani Sviatky v Stanytsi Pavlivskii Yeiskoho Oddilu, na Chomomoriyi" by M. Kramarenko; Etnohrafichnyi Zbirnyk, Vol. 1. Lviv: Naukove Tovarystvo im. Shevchenka, 1895).

On the first day, in the evening (i.e., Christmas Day), the koliadnyky begin to carry the star, and do so for three days. They make the star out of paper, with six or eight points. Pictures about the birth of Christ are glued onto both sides of the star. The paper is coated with fat to make it translucent, and a candle is placed inside the star, which illuminates the pictures.

The star is attached to a tall pole carried by the leader of the koliadnyky, who is followed by about 10 other men or younger boys. The koliadnyky carry the star into each house, and all sing "molytvy" (prayers, i.e., koliady). During the singing, the zvizda carrier twirls the star every so often, so that the Nativity pictures can be seen by all. The singers receive about 10-12 kopiyky, or - from wealthier people - even "po tsilkovomu" (a whole one, i.e., a karbovanets), because only good singers "go with the star."

First they sing "Rozhdestvo Tvoye, Khryste Bozhe Nash" (a liturgical piece), then "Diva dnes' presuschestvennoho razhdayet" and "Slava vo vyshnikh Bohu," and at the very end, "Mnohaya lita." They greet the hosts with the holidays, and the latter bring the koliadnyky shots of horilka (vodka) and invite them to partake of what is on the table, "chym Boh poslav" (whatever God sent us). For this reason, some hosts have the Christmas table set for about three days, beginning in the morning of the first day. After the koliadnyky have finished drinking and eating, they go on to the next house.

When the "boys" (i.e., young men) start with the star, the "divchata" (girls, i.e., young women) also go caroling, but at the windows, not inside the homes. They carol only on the first day of Christmas, in groups of two to five. Approaching the window, the girls call out "Blahoslovit koliaduvaty!" (give us your blessing to carol). When the reply from the house is "Koliaduite!" (do carol), they sing church "molytvy" (religious carols), but also sing the other kind, the pre-Christian ones. They greet the hosts with "Dobryi vechir!" (good evening), and receive money, bread, salo (sowbellies, the finest "bacon") and other gifts.

Younger boys also run around outside, at the windows, but do not sing anything worthwhile; they call out nonsensical, silly and funny koliadky, such as those asking for some sweets, kovbasa, cookies or money. "Koliad-koliadnytsia! Daite, diadku, palianytsiu; a yak daste kovbasu, to dodomu ponesu; a yak daste kyshku - izyim u zatyshky." (Koliad-koliadnytsia, uncle, give me a flat bread; if you give me a kovbasa, I'll carry it home; if you give me a kyshka sausage, I'll eat it on the way home.") "Schedrivochka schedruvala, do vikontsia prypadala: Chy ty, titko, napykla. Nesy shvydshe do vikna!" (The [shchedrivka,] new year song, was singing at the window! Auntie, did you bake? Bring the goodies quickly to the window!)

The stars could have many variations, and the tradition has been continued in the countries where Ukrainians have emigrated, whether, the Canadian prairies or the Brazilian campos. Some stars are 12-pointed, such as the one on exhibit at the Ethnographic Museum in Lviv. Tassels and bells could be attached to each point, to make the star livelier. Modern touches include battery-operated lights inside. Along with the star, the koliadnyky carry bells, which they ring as they move from house to house and before singing. The mikhonosha (sack-carrier) collected the breads, kovbasa and other goodies from the hosts.

Nowadays, in North America the treasurer takes the checks and writes out tax receipts. The drinks and sweets are generously served because, after all, this is Ukrainian hospitality. Since the carolers are not walking house to house, but often driving great distances, there is a now designated driver, a voluntary sacrifice to temperance and sobriety. And now the koliadnyky telephone before coming. In some cities, one can reserve the koliadnyky to come for a particular day and time, usually when the house is full of guests, for a most enjoyable evening.

Ukrainian caroling especially impresses non-Ukrainian guests, who find the custom beautiful, meaningful and very special. They cannot get over the fact that for us this is just another normal Christmas tradition.

Now, if we could get all our groups to make and carry the zvizda ...

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