Chicago's Ukrainian community celebrates with Ukrainian Days (10/09/05)

Chicago's Ukrainian community celebrates with Ukrainian Days

by Anatoly Gorochovsky

CHICAGO - On the official American calendar there is no mention of the Ukrainian national holiday. But the leaders of American federal and local governmental bodies not only permit national minorities to freely commemorate their holidays but also support three celebrations.

In Chicago there are many ethnic communities, including Ukrainian, Polish, Chinese, Jewish and Mexican. Frequently on the major thoroughfares one can see finely formed columns of cheerful people who with great satisfaction observe their traditional holidays.

Over the past several years Ukrainian Independence Day is celebrated by the Chicago Ukrainian community with a two-day festival that takes place in South Park located near the Ukrainian Village.

Preparation for the festival, dubbed Ukrainian Days, is undertaken by a committee appointed by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Illinois Division, which comprises representatives of Ukrainian community organizations in Chicago. This year marked the third consecutive year that Pavlo Bandriwsky, vice-president of the UCCA, was the chairman of the festival committee.

Before the start of the official program, participants had an opportunity to shop and buy the latest fashions in clothes and shoes, jewelry, traditional woodcarvings, original oil paintings, musical discs and much more. A record number of vendors took part in this year's festival. It resembled a miniature Sorochinsky Fair, which takes place at about the same time in Poltava, Ukraine.

In addition, representatives of radio programs told their listeners about their involvement in the festival and invited them to take part in their lotteries. And there were crowds around the newspaper tents. Colleagues from the Ukrainian newspapers Chas i Podiyi, Ukrainske Slovo and Viche gave out their latest publications to readers, and listened to their recommendations and wishes.

During the festival, which occurred on Saturday and Sunday, August 20-21, participants were able to feast on foods prepared by four different restaurants and hide from the hot sun under an expanded covered dining area.

At the appointed time, Festival Chairman Bandriwsky greeted the guests. When the official opening was concluded, the stage was filled with music, song, dance and oration.

Vasyl Popadiuk, the violin virtuoso from Canada, enchanted the audience with his music. Loud applause rewarded sopilka and tsymbala player Vasyl Perovanchuk, the dance group Mriya (SUM Chicago), and the men's quartet Zhaivir.

Introduced in turn were singers Nastya Lotocky, Halyna Shtohryn and Liliya Tkachik. The hearts of festival participants were moved by the poetry recitations of Hannusya Romakh. Sonia from Nashville and the Vinok Quartet added to the festivities, followed by more entertainment late into the evening.

On the festival's second day, once again people filled the park, this time bringing their families. For children a special attractions corner was set up, which included free pony rides, a petting zoo and an inflatable bounce room. This gave their parents an opportunity to meet with their friends or participate in the many sporting contests including soccer, volleyball, chess and checkers.

Guests were invited for the official program on the main stage, which displayed the Ukrainian and American flags on each side. The official commemoration was opened by Orest Baranyk, president of the UCCA Illinois Division.

"A year ago," said the speaker, "in this park we celebrated Ukrainian Independence Day. Then, if you remember, we spoke about the leaders of the country playing outlaw games and expressed our expectations that our nation would elect as leaders true patriots like Viktor Yushchenko, who will lead the country down a different path: improve the standard of living of the people, and take the path to democratic rebirth."

"And our expectations came true. Now in Ukraine, preparations for the Verhovna Rada elections are taking place, which will occur in March of next year. The UCCA is appealing to the entire Ukrainian community to actively participate in this important political campaign, to elect true Ukrainian patriots to the Parliament."

The national anthems of the United States and Ukraine were played, followed by a prayer led by Bishop Innocent Lotocky.

Greetings and resolutions were read from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Acting Consul General of Ukraine in Chicago Oleh Shevchenko spoke about the current political situation in Ukraine, about economic reform, which is being carried out by the country's new leaders, and the expanding contacts between the homeland and Ukrainians in the American diaspora. He thanked the community for their active participation in the presidential elections.

The audience warmly greeted the words of Marta Farion, chairman of the Chicago-Kyiv Sister City Program, who said: "The slogan that was born on Independence Square 'Together we are many, we will not be defeated' should once again be heard as we are preparing for the parliamentary elections."

Those present listened with great interest to the presentation by Walter Polovchak, who 25 years ago, as a 12-year-old boy, refused to return with his parents to the Soviet Union and asked the American government to give him political asylum. The Ukrainian community rose up in support of this young fellow and the young Walter was able to stay in America.

Over the years he completed his education, began his career, bought a home, got married and is now raising two children. On the whole what helped him succeed, he said, was the support of the Ukrainian community and especially his attorney, Julian Kulas.

"I would like to take this opportunity," said Mr. Polovchak "to thank everyone who helped me get on my feet. I greet everyone on this occasion of our national holiday and wish that Ukraine in the near future becomes one of the great European nations."

An event of this magnitude could not be possible without support from financial patrons. The premier sponsors of the Ukrainian Festival were MB Financial Bank, Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union and UBC TV. The latter provided a 200-square-foot video screen that simultaneously broadcast performances from the main stage, which many said reminded them of the "maidan" (Independence Square) during the Orange Revolution.

After the official program, the concert started, led off by the Berkut wind orchestra directed by Bohdan Skavinsky. Yaroslav Bodnar, who is well-known in Chicago for his humorous programs, followed. He read several verses from his recently published book of poetry.

The Surma choir, which was formed years ago and concertized throughout America, performed a melody of Ukrainian songs under the direction of Zeonid Modrycky. An engaging moment of the celebration was a performance by African American Pastor Achmed, who passionately sang a Ukrainian song titled "Ya Tebe Liubliu."

Tremendously successful was the Ukrainian American Youth Association's (SUM) dance group Iskra from Palatine, Ill. The young performers, no older than 6-8 years of age, danced an outstanding "Hopak." In appreciation of their presentation, the audience gave them a standing ovation which lasted for quite a while.

An ex-resident of Lviv followed in the concert. Halyna Horobyanska, a former performer in the Krushelnytska Opera and Ballet Theater, declaimed a classic verse and sang a Ukrainian national song. Former members of the Berkut orchestra, who performed in the same theater included Bohdan Horbyansky, Roman Maksimiv and Bohdan Skavinsky.

Next were the performances of singer Volodymyr Duda, the vocal instrumental group Mriya under the direction of Mychajlo Demberetsky and the musical group Karpatsky Zori directed by Ihor Chytry. The world-famous Hromovytsia Dance Ensemble performed several dances, which were rewarded with thunderous applause.

Well into the late hours, music echoed throughout the park while people danced and celebrated. Everything that happened over the two festival days reflected the position of the Ukrainian government which directed that the holiday be a celebration for the people, with thanks given to God and recollections of history.

Thus, the Ukrainian national holiday that is not found on the American calendar was celebrated in Chicago, with nearly 15,000 participants.

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