LOS ANGELES – When most of our American friends and neighbors have long since disposed of their Christmas trees, holiday lights and decorations, Ukrainian are still joyfully singing “Koliady” and “Shchedrivky.” And so, on Sunday, January 19, almost 300 people gathered at the Ukrainian Culture Center in Los Angeles to “ring out” the Christmas season.
The guests were escorted to the festive tables and chatted among themselves while enjoying the beauty of the lit Christmas trees, lights and decorations that adorned the stage and the Ukrainian Culture Center (UCC). A small table covered with a Ukrainian embroidered tablecloth on which a “kolach,” “kutia,” candles and a “didukh” were prominently displayed, reminded everyone of the cherished traditions of Ukrainian Christmas.
The hall fell silent as Volodymyr Zozula, president of the UCC took the stage. He greeted everyone with the true spirit of the season, but, as appropriate, also reminded all of the recent downing in Iran of a Ukrainian jet, in which all 176 passengers and crew, including 11 Ukrainians were killed. As a remembrance of these innocent souls, he asked everyone to stand and observe a minute of silence.
The president then asked everyone to continue standing for the prayer and blessing by the Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox priests. In keeping with the “Yordan” holy day celebrated that Sunday, the Revs. Ihor Koshyk, Vasyl Sauciur and Yurij Shakh used the holy water to bless the food and the entire audience.
With Ukrainian Christmas music playing in the background, smartly dressed servers expertly delivered the 12 traditional foods, starting with “kutia” and concluding with delicious Ukrainian home-made pastries and coffee.
The Kobzar Choir then assembled on the stage. Everyone’s attention was drawn to the front as Gregory Hallick, conductor of the choir, walked out, faced the audience and proclaimed in Ukrainian: “Do you welcome the carolers?” The reply was a deafening “tak” (yes) and applause. And the audience was not disappointed when the Kobzar Choir began with the old shchedrivka “Dobriy Vechir Tobi” (Good Evening to You, Master of the House), followed by “Boh Predvichnyi” (God Eternal) and other beloved well-known and a few not-so-well-known koliady and shchedrivky, such as “Nova Radist Stala,” (A New Joy Has Come), “Po Vsiomu Svitu” (Throughout the World), “Na Yordanskii Richtsi” (On the Jordan River), followed by the up-beat koliadky from the Hutsul region “Presviata Maria” (Holy Mary), “Boh Sia Razhdaye” (God is Born) and several popular koliadky, ending with the beautiful Ukrainian version of “Silent Night.”
Mr. Hallick invited all the children to come up to the stage and join the choir in singing the final carol. The children – from ages 3 to 13 – came and together everyone sang “Silent Night” in Ukrainian and a verse in English. As the children made their way off the stage to a round of applause, each one received a wrapped candy cane as a remembrance.
Then, a voice was heard from the audience: “Please sing “Shchedryk!” Mr. Hallick smiled, turned to the choir and gave the downbeat. Here Kobzar offered its rendition of the Mykola Leontovych classic, and when the final note was sung, the room exploded with applause and a well-deserved standing ovation.
As the applause died down, Mr. Hallick, on behalf of the Kobzar Choir, extended best wishes for the New Year and thanked everyone for their participation, enthusiasm and hospitality.
Special thanks were offered to Mr. Zozula and the UCC Board of Directors for sponsoring “Shchedryi Vechir”; Mariana Boyko, who planned and organized the festivities; Carlos Makara, who coordinated the kitchen and bar, and provided the serving staff; Victor Makohonenko for decorating the hall; and everyone who devoted time and effort to again make this a memorable event for southern California.