Sixth annual Lemko Vatra is held in Ellenville, N.Y. (09/10/06)

Sixth annual Lemko Vatra is held in Ellenville, N.Y.

by Steven Howansky

ELLENVILLE, N.Y. - The Organization for the Defense of Lemkivschyna (OOL) in the U.S.A. conducted its "Lemko Vatra" festival for the sixth year in a row here at the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) resort.

While the weather in greater New York was rainy, the sun shone at the SUM resort, and hundreds of guests at the June 23-26 festival had the opportunity to watch a beautiful concert and to hear songs from the Carpathian mountains of the Lemko region.

At the official opening of the Vatra, Vasyl Harhaj - the "starosta," or host - welcomed all the guests and invited on stage the president of the OOL, Zenon Halkowycz; the president of the Lemko Research Foundation, Steven Howansky; the honored head of the Lemko Research Foundation, Myron Mycio; guest speaker Catherine Mycio; and the former president of the OOL, Julian Kotlar; as well as representatives of the OOL's branches.

In his welcome speech, Mr. Halkowycz underlined the importance of conducting the Vatra, which means bonfire, every year, stating, "It brings people together and unites them. Such Lemko festivals take place every year in Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Serbia and Canada - everywhere around the world, where fate dispersed the Lemkos from their never-forgotten homeland." On that very day, for example, the Vatra in Svidnyk, Slovakia, was taking place, Mr. Halkowycz informed the audience.

Mr. Howansky then wished the guests a happy festival, reminding everyone that the organization by the diaspora of events like the Vatra is a tradition that dates back to the emigration of Lemkos to the United States before World War II. In the Lemko museum in Stamford, Conn., there is a picture of emigrants from the Lemko village named Vyslok Velykyi celebrating on a farm in Pennsylvania on August 6, 1939, Mr. Howansky noted.

Next, Mr. Kotlar and various members of OOL, including Ivan Zawada, Ivan Wasiczko and Andriy Kaszczak, were invited to light the traditional festival bonfire. During the lighting, performers from the musical groups Chetverta Khvyla, Pid Oblachkom, and Metelytsya sang the traditional Lemko song, "Hory Nashi Karpaty" (Our Carpathian Mountains).

Thus, the concert program - which was led by mistress and master of ceremonies, Anna Pregner and Stepan Sheryliv - began with the sound of Lemko music floating across the festival field and tears of nostalgia in the eyes of many who remembered their homeland.

The concert program included professionals and amateurs, both novice and seasoned, such as the dance groups Mriya from Passaic, N.J., Iskra from Whippany, N.J., and Barvinok from Astoria, N.Y.; young performers like the sisters Lidia and Gabriella Oros, Inna Sydorak and Vika Holybieva; the ensembles Pid Oblachkom, Vidlunnya, Budem Razom and Cheres; the singer Hryts Bobul from Lviv; a ballet group under the direction of Natalia Lemishka; and the comedian Peter Wyslocki.

Throughout the day, the scent of roasted pig - an annual tradition at the Vatra - wafted through the air, as guests had the opportunity to eat a piece, along with other plentiful Ukrainian dishes, like pyrohy, kovbasa with sauerkraut and hot borsch.

Then, from the evening until the early morning, guests were invited to enjoy themselves at two dances: one outside with the musical group Halychany, and the other inside the hall with the musical groups Chetverta Khvyla and Budem Razom.

On Sunday, June 25, the festival continued, beginning at 10 a.m. with a liturgy in the Lemko chapel recently built in the memory of the victims of Akcja Wisla and blessed in the name of Archangel Michael. Father Bohdan Danylo, rector of St. Basil Seminary in Stamford, officiated, with the Akollada choir of Philadelphia singing the responses.

Afterwards, the concert program resumed at the main hall with musical and dance performances.

Ms. Mycio also gave her keynote speech, "Ruins of Ukrainian Zakerzonnia," which provided the audience - particularly those who were born in the U.S. - with a wealth of historical information.

The Vatra eventually came to an end with various musical groups singing the traditional Lemko song, "Oy Vershe, Vershe," and with the festival organizers thanking everyone who volunteered their time, performed and attended.

And, as each year, a sign above the SUM resort's gate that reads "See you next year" invited the homeward bound festival guests to come back for the next Lemko Vatra, which is planned for June 23-24, 2007.

| Home Page |