COMMUNITY CHRONICLE: Parishes celebrate sixth annual Harvest Festival

ANSONIA, Conn. - The leaders of Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Three Saints Orthodox Church organized the sixth annual traditional Harvest Day for their parishioners at Three Saints Parish Park in Bethany, Conn., on August 20.

After divine liturgy, more than 180 parishioners and many of their children arrived at the park pavilion for lunch and enjoyed barbecued chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, liver with onions, salads, beverages and a variety of home-made pastries.

The entertainment, provided by young artists of both parishes, included folk dancing and singing under the direction of choreographers Frank F. Stuban, Miroslaw Klapyk, Michael Klapyk and Sara German.

The announcer, Susan Monks, warmly welcomed the audience and introduced the traditions of the harvest play and each dance. The dancers began with the "Harvest Parade" and greeted the audience with bread and salt and with a decorated "didukh," or sheaf of wheat.

The dancers then displayed baskets with fruit and vegetables from their parents' gardens and were blessed while saying the prayer "Otche Nash" ("Our Father").

The dancers performed several folk dances: "Zhnyva" (Harvest), "Kosari" (Scythemen), "Zhentsi" (Harvesters), "Zhuravli" (Cranes), "Kateryns" (Catherine), "Zaporozets" (Kozak), "Vesillia" (Wedding), "Vesna" (Spring) and the most beloved Ukrainian dance, the "Hopak. "

There were many sport activities for seniors and the younger generations at the 28-acre park.

In conclusion, Mr. Stuban extended thanks to the picnic committee of both parishes and to the dancers and their parents for their hard work and for making the picnic and concert a wonderful event.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, December 3, 2006, No. 49, Vol. LXXIV

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