Task 1. Read the text. Ukrainian Traditional Holidays

Ukrainian Traditional Holidays

The Slavic people divided the year according to the nature and the work of corn-growers. A year consisted of two cycles: spring-summer and autumn-winter. The spring – summer cycle began on March 21 /the vernal equinox/ when the life-giving power of the Spirit of the Sun OR /in the Slavic – Yarylo/ awoke. After the feast of God Yarylo or Goddess Yara corn-growers went to the field to sow. Our ancestors spent summer working in the field and observing the rites of the corn-growers. Whitsun [witsn] was called in Ukrainian the Green Week. Then the Petro Fast was observed. After the fast there were the fun days of Kupala on July 7. The first day of harvest was Makovii on August 14. On Makovii day shortcakes / shulikas/ topped with honey and poppy seeds were cooked.

On August 19 Ukrainians mark the holiday of ripe fruits – Spas /Saviour Day/. Only since that day people could eat apples. On this day a sheath Rai, a wreath and fruits were consecrated. The drinking songs were sung to Rai, the Spirit of Harvest and all who took part in harvesting. The sheath is to be preserved till the next year, and then the corns will be sown. After the Spas holidays the ploughmen sew the winter crops. On Spas day the dead were remembered in prayer.

After the Spas feast autumn holidays began. The parents presented their children with the fruits of their labour. Women-reapers used to go to the field to pick up the last rye stems and made wreaths and sang songs. They chose a girl, put a wreath on her head and wished her to be led to the altar as soon as possible.

On August 29 is the Holiday of the First Prechysta / in Christianity – Assumption/ was marked. It was the time of finishing the field works. It was the time of young people’s gatherings and matchmaking.

On September 21, the Second Prechysta / in Christianity – Nativity of Our Lady/. It was the holiday of the mothers. On first Friday one shouldn’t do anything or eat meat. After the Prechysta women scutched the hemp for yarn.

On September 27, on Vozdvyzhennia / Movement, in Christianity – Exaltation of the Cross/ the Earth moves to winter. The birds fly to the warm parts. Before the 16^th century, in Ukraine the New Year was celebrated at this time on September 1 /14/. The autumn-winter cycle began on October 23 /the autumnal equinox/. The harvest was gathered and the nature stood still. The Ukrainians used to greet coming of the season with carol /they became Christmas carols later/: “The sheaves will be like drizzles, The stooks will be like stars, The stacks will be like the Moons...” In this carol there are three images: the Sun in the image of a drizzle, the Moon and the stars.

On Pokrova /Shroud/ the agricultural year is over, nobody sows the winter crops. Cold days come. With the holiday many signs are connected. “If on Pokrova the wind blows from the east - winter will be cold”. “If on Pokrova the wind blows from the south, winter will be warm”. “If the cranes didn't fly away before Pokrova, the winter cold will come slowly”.

Christmas is the most beloved festival among Ukrainians when the family gathers for a holy supper of 12 symbolic dishes. Food is one of the aspects of culture that endures the longest. If you lose the language you lose the literature and the songs, but you don't have to speak Ukrainian to eat holubtsi /cabbage rolls/ or pyrohy /dumplings/.

The beginning of the holy supper is signaled by the first star. Christmas Eve is really a family celebration. Traditionally, the father brings in the “snip”, a handpicked wheat sheaf that represents the spirits of ancestors. The father sets it in a place of honour in the dining room before the table is set. Wheat, flour and bread are important to Ukrainians: they came from the land and Ukrainians are close to the land. Preparations start a week before Christmas, pounding and cleaning the choicest wheat to make “Kutia”. It is a dish of honey, poppy seeds and wheat kernels boiled in pure rainwater.Christmas Eve supper begins with the lighting of the beeswax candle in the braided bread centerpiece. After a carol and the Lord’s prayer, thekutia is passed and everyone takes o spoonful. The meal is traditionally meatless, milk-free and features fish. The menus vary depending of what region of Ukraine the family comes from. The most well-known dishes are holubtsi, varenyky or pyrohy. Broad beans, dried wild mushrooms, sauerkraut and beets figure in the side dishes. For dessert, compote or dried fruit and honey cake complete the menu. Carols usually end the evening and signal the start of a joyous season of visiting. Just why is Christmas so important in keeping this strong link with the past? Reaching back to our roots, knowing where we come from, helps us know where to go.

Easter is the chief Christian feast, which celebrates the resurrection of Christ, on the first Sunday after the first full Moon that coincides with, or comes after, the spring equinox on March 21. Ukrainians are famous for colouring Easter eggs. The Ukrainians in Canada even erected a huge sculpture of a coloured Easter egg. There are also holidays connected with the local saints or with historical events. The feast of Prince Volodymyr is celebrated on July 15. The feast of St. Mary Protectress is observed on October 1.

Church Holidays

1. Christmas commemorates the birth of Christ.

2. Epiphany celebrates the manifestation of Christ’s divinity.

3. Christ Presentation at the Temple.

4. Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Christ.

5. Annunciation to the Virgin Mary made by the Archangel.

6. Ascension of Christ into heaven 40 days after his Resurrection.

7. Pentecost commemorates the coming of the Holy Ghost.

8. Transfiguration is the change in Christ’s appearance.

9. Dormition of the Virgin Mary the taking up into heaven.

10.Presentation of the Virgin Mary at the Temple.

11.The Holy Eucharist is thanksgiving in the Catholic Church.

Task 2. Vocabulary. Use the words from the box to complete the sentences.

meatless

resurrection

Christmas

Saviour Day

Easter eggs.

1._______________________________ In August Ukrainians mark the feast of................

2..................is the most beloved feast among the Ukrainians.

3. The Christmas meal is traditionally.................

4. Easter celebrates................of Christ.

5. Ukrainians are famous for colouring................

Task 3. Comrehension: Circle the letter of the tight answer.

1. Makovii is celebrated in a/ June, b/ September, c/ August

2. Before the 16^th century the New Year in Ukraine was celebrated in a/ March, b/ September, c/ January.

3. If on Pokrova the wind blows from the east the winter will be a/ cold, b/ late, c/ warm.

4. Carols usually signal the start of a/ eating, b/ playing, c/ visiting.

5.The beginning of the holy supper is signaled by a/ the first star, b/ the head of the family, c/ the singers of carols.

Task 4. Discussion: Answer the questions.

1. How did the Slavic people divide the year?

2. When did our ancestor start sowing?

3. What was the time of matchmaking in Ukraine in accordance with the calendar of crop-growers?

4. What is traditional Christmas meal of Ukrainians?

5. What sculpture marking Easter was erected by Ukrainians of the Canadian Diaspora?

HO LI DAIS AND CELEBRATIONS IN THE UK

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