UKELODEON: For The Next Generation (02/08/04)

UKELODEON

For The Next Generation

Jersey youths enjoy traditions of "Andriyivskyi Vechir"

by Nusia Paszczak Denysyk

WHIPPANY, N.J. - On Friday evening, December 12, 2003, the senior Plast Sorority of Spartanky organized a traditional Ukrainian "Andriyivskyi Vechir" here at the parish hall of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church.

In attendance were Plast youths from the organization's branches in Newark and Passaic, specially invited guests from the Whippany Oseredok (branch) of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM), plus Father Roman Mirchuk, pastor of St. John's, friends of Spartanky, parents and other curious guests.

The festively decorated hall wonderfully set the fortune-telling mood of the evening. Spartanky, dressed as "vorozhky" (fortune-telling gypsies) were stationed at several individual tables, prepared to make predictions. The various Spartanky-vorozhky told fortunes by reading palms, cards, tea leaves, melted wax, dominos and a crystal ball, as well as by using a ouiji board and numerology.

The evening began with an introductory speaker explaining the traditions behind the gathering. Andriyivskyi Vechir, which means St. Andrew's Eve, is a time when teenagers and young adults gather to celebrate St. Andrew's feast day with some old and mysterious rituals - a blend of Christian and pre-Christian beliefs, including those associated with the Winter Solstice.

It is a specially festive time for young unmarrieds, as fortune-tellers traditionally peer into the future to see who would marry whom.

A snack buffet was set up for all to enjoy as the youths mingled and shared their fortunes.

The evening was a fun way of preserving and sharing wonderful Ukrainian ancestral traditions.

Young and old of Woonsocket welcome St. Nicholas

WOONSOCKET, R.I. - Children in this Rhode Island town were treated to a visit by St. Nicholas on December 14, 2003, when the special guest arrived at St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church's parish hall. A Nativity play was prepared by the children under the direction of Dr. Lydia Tkach. Camilla Babiak portrayed Mary, while Marko Tkach was Joseph. Julia Hull was an angel, and the three kings were played by Andriyko Klufas, Roman Kusma and Andrew Wolansky. Credits go also to Dr. Bogdan Kusma for acting as liaison to St. Nicholas, and to John Tkach who played music. All participants sang carols in Ukrainian and English. The children were especially happy as the heavenly guest distributed gifts. The adults in attendance, among them Msgr. Roman Golemba, pastor, and Janet Bardell and Theodore Klowan of Ukrainian National Association Branch 241, were happy as well due to the good community turnout.

Lviv "plastuny" share customs of St. Nicholas with special children

by Peter Steciuk
Special to UKELODEON

LVIV - Ukrainians believe that St. Nicholas (Sviatyi Mykolai) brings gifts to children on St. Nicholas Day - December 18, according to the old calendar.

Here in Lviv, members of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization visited "internaty" to gather letters to St. Nicholas from the children. Internaty are schools with dormitories for children with physical and mental disabilities, orphans and others.

The "plastuny" (as members of Plast are called) then collected gifts for the children. Gifts came from all over - from local churches and families, and even from Plast members and Ukrainian schools in the United States. Some groups sent money, so Lviv's Plast "okruha" (district) made arrangements with local companies and merchants to provide supplies at a discount.

Once all the gifts had been gathered, Lviv plastuny packed individual boxes for every child. Then, on St. Nicholas Day, the plastuny loaded sacks full of boxes of presents onto a bus and drove to the internat in the town of Skole. They put on a St. Nicholas play for the children and played games with them, before finally St. Nicholas handed out the gifts.

The Lviv okruha has even invited some of the neediest children from the internat to come to Lviv for a weekend of games and fun, after which they will receive some final, belated gifts from Sviatyi Mykolai.

Mishanyna

To solve Mishanyna, find the capitalized words in the grid below.

This year marks 950 years since one of Ukraine's greatest rulers, Grand Prince YAROSLAV the Wise, died. Born in the year 978, he died in 1054. He is known to us as "THE WISE" in recognition of the way he ruled his realm.

Yaroslav was the son of Grand Prince VOLODYMYR the GREAT and Princess ROHNIDA of Polatsk. His royal family also included four half-brothers. Yaroslav himself was the father of seven princes.

At first Yaroslav governed the lands of Rostov and Novgorod. After the death of his father, Yaroslav and his half-brother SVIATOPOLK I fought for the throne in Kyiv. Yaroslav emerged victorious in a battle at LIUBECH in 1015 and assumed the titled of GRAND PRINCE of Kyiv.

Yaroslav fought many BATTLES to retain his authority, waging war against various relatives. He also fought campaigns against the neighbors of Kyivan Rus' and strove to FORTIFY the borders of his realm. In the year 1037 he succeeded in routing the Pechenihy who had attacked Kyiv. To mark his VICTORY he built the beautiful St. SOPHIA Cathedral.

Yaroslav was responsible for building many churches, and during his reign more than 400 CHURCHES were built in Kyiv alone. His walled city in Kyiv could be entered through the famous GOLDEN GATE, or the so-called Polish or Jewish gates.

Grand Prince Yaroslav was known also for bringing order to his REALM. He compiled a book of LAWS that formed the basis for the codex known as RUSKA Pravda. He supported the Church in many ways, and under his reign the first monasteries in Rus' were established.

He established international ties by MARRIAGE. He married the daughter of the king of Sweden and arranged marriages for his daughters to the KINGS of Norway, France and Hungary. His SONS married into ROYAL families in Poland, Byzantium, England and Norway. That is why he is known as "the father-in-law of Europe."

Yaroslav died on February 20, 1054. He was buried in St. Sophia Cathedral.

UKELODEON is 5!

This month's issue of UKELODEON marks this section's fifth anniversary. These special pages "for our next generation" first appeared in The Ukrainian Weekly's issue of February 14, 1999. Its mission: to serve as a forum for youth, about youth and by the youth of our community - from kindergartners to high schoolers.

So, why not help us celebrate? Let us know what you're up to. And, let us know how we can improve UKELODEON with your help. Become a regular contributor. That would be the best birthday gift for our UKELODEON.

Petro Pytaye: 2004 and you

OK, since so few of your responded to our last "Petro Pytaye" question, we're giving you another chance to see your name, your ideas - and your photo - in print.

In an attempt to get more UKELODEON readers involved and onto the pages of this special section for "the next generation," our reporter, Petro Pytaye, is asking you to reply to the following questions in time for our next issue.

What New Year's resolution did you make for 2004?

______________________________________________________

What are you most looking forward to in 2004?

______________________________________________________

Please fill out:

Name:_____________________________________ Age:_______

School:_____________________________________ Grade:_____

Address:_______________________________________________

Please clip out and send to: The Ukrainian Weekly, UKELODEON, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ, 07054. Deadline: January 30. If possible, please include a photo of yourself that we can publish along with your response.

PS: You may also e-mail your response to [email protected].

OUR NEXT ISSUE: UKELODEON is published on the second Sunday of every month. To make it into our next issue, dated March 14, please send in your materials by March 5.

We especially encourage kids and teens to submit articles and see their names in print. And don't forget to send a photo or two. Plus, photos of UKELODEON reporters - that means any of you young readers who submit a story - are welcome.

PLEASE DROP US A LINE: UKELODEON, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054; fax, (973) 644-9510. Call us at (973) 292-9800; or send e-mail to [email protected]. (We ask all contributors to please include a daytime phone number.)

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