Adjusting to life in my adopted country and culture takes time and patience. On one hand it’s hard. On opposite, it’s more fun, especially when it comes to celebrating religious holidays. Because most of the Christian holidays around the world have the same meaning, but continue to be celebrated according to two calendars Julian and Gregorian, I’ve found December and January are the busiest months with marks on my personal calendar. They combine holidays celebrated in both countries with which I have connections - Ukraine and the USA .

• December 19 – St. Nicholas, Sviatyij Mykolai Day. The popular traditional gift giving day in Ukraine . According to cultural rituals, children and adults receive presents which they “discover” under their pillows on early morning and the person named Nicholas-Mykola receives special treatment on this day. Schools have plays telling Nicholas stories and the saint visits local youth organizations. He quizzes children on their catechism before giving gifts. It’s similar to the American Christmas when people exchange presents.

• December 24-26 - Christmas Eve and Day. My family was confused in 1991, the year we arrived to Western New York, and the question, “Should we celebrate Christmas in December when our relatives and friends in Ukraine celebrate its holiday in January?” was on our annual agenda for a few years. When our expended family invited us for a Christmas dinner on December 24, we couldn’t resist. We have happily celebrating the holiday since then.

• December 31 - New Year Eve is the easy one. It’s a well known holiday in Ukraine and the USA . People wait for the popular night to arrive and welcome it with hope and happiness for a better year and departure of the history’s past. Champaign and good food within a great company is must be on the New Year’s Eve schedule. As an old Ukrainian proverb says, “the way you welcomes it-is the way you’ll spend it,” has been a long cultural tradition in many Ukrainians homes when it comes to celebrating the NEw Year arrival.

• January 6 - Ukrainian Christmas Eve, Sviaty Vechir (Holy Evening) also called “Sviata Vecheria” (Holy Supper). Traditionally, Sviata Vecheria has been meat-free, with the exception of fish, and includes in 12 courses and is linked with the “12 days of Christmas” and the Twelve Disciples of Christ. People, including small children, greet each other for the next few days with, “Khristos Narodywsia!” (Christ is Born) and the answer is , “Slawimo Yoho” (Glory to Him). After the supper, people sing carols and visit neighbors and families. The Christmas Eve is the beginning of the Christmas Days which last a few days and considers very important annual holidays.
It seems that the Christmas Season in Ukraine never ends and every day is just another holiday. According to the Gregorian calendar, the New Year Eve is celebrated on January 13 with more religious holidays to follow. By the time it’s all over, the Easter season begins and my calendar is already marked with two Easterns, according to the Gregorian and Julian calendars.

Acculturation isn’t an easy process. It’s like getting married. You nurture your own traditions and beliefs and learn cultural differences of your partner. It takes time to find a common ground, but what can be better than respecting your own culture and understanding somebody else’s differences? Once you learn to appreciate diversity, you resolve cross-cultural conflict. You become hooked, foster your new relationships, and celebrate all holidays together.

It doesn’t make any difference what cultural holidays you celebrate and according to what calendar. To me, every day is a holiday. It\'s Fun and I enjoy them all.

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2009!

By Zanna Vaida

Vitali Klitschko defends Heavyweight Title against Arreola!

Dozens of people came to the Ukrainian Cultural Center DNIPRO to watch World Championship Boxing on the big screen TV on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10:00 p.m. The bout between Ukrainian native Vitali Klitschko and Mexican native Chris Arreola was carried live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. With pinpoint accuracy and brutal efficiency, Vitali Klitschko disposed of Chris Arreola with surprising ease to retain his WBC heavyweight crown after Arreola\'s corner stopped the fight immediately following the close of the tenth round. Right now, it is inarguable that Vitali and his brother, Wladimir, are the two best heavyweights in the world, and after tonight, there\'s not an American, or Mexican-American, or perhaps even a fighter in all the world who has a credible hope of ending the Klitschkos\' era of dominance.
The Ukrainian Community of Buffalo is very proud of the Klitschko brothers. DNIPRO was filled with a lot of excitement, as members shared great food and Ukrainian beer while enjoying the fight.

The Very Rev. Demetrius Laptuta, longtime pastor of St. Mary\'s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Niagara Falls, NY died Wednesday, Oct.15 in the parish rectory after a long illness. Born in Batavia, Father Laptuta was ordained in the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, Redemptorist Fathers, on May 26, 1945, in Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Philadelphia. Before joining St. Mary\'s, he served as pastor of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark, N. J.; Holy Eucharistic Ukrainian Catholic Church in Toronto; and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in the Town of Kenmore, NY

What do you expect when you go to a Bazaar? Bargains, food, friendly atmosphere and social networking? How wonderful! What about money savings for the Holidays?
The annual "Save for the Holidays" Christmas Bazaar at the St.. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church on November 22, 2008 became a bargain marketplace for its parishioners and residents of the surrounding areas, including the city and village of Tonawanda, Kenmore, Buffalo, Amherst and others in WNY.
The community family friendly event included "trash and treasures" bargain savings, book lovers sale, diverse vendors, hot lunch with popular hot ethnic and american food, and theme baskets and meat raffles.

Nobody left empty-handed and everyone saved for this Holiday Season. The excellent bargain prices and great social networking event was enjoyed by all who came.
For everybody, who couldn\'t attend the Bazaar for different reasons, we hope to see you at the Eastern Bazaar for the same reason: Save for the Holidays. Come to our marketplace to save, socialize and network. We\'ll keep you posted about the scheduled date and time in advance. Keep an eye on www.ukrainiansofbuffalo.com for more exciting news.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!!

Did you know?
A Bazaar is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The word Bazaar derives from the Persian word bazar, the etymology of which goes back to the meaning "the place of prices"

The Annual Western New York Ukrainian Festival was celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day on the beautiful grounds of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church at 3275 Elmwood Avenue in Kenmore. This year\'s Festival, celebrated on Sunday, September 7, 2008, from noon to 8 pm, was attended by almost a thousand people. Many Americans, and people of other nationalities, joined with members of the local Ukrainian-American community to enjoy an afternoon of friendship and a love of Ukrainian food, music and traditions.

The Ukrainian Dance Group "Dunai" from Rochester, came with a busload of very talented young dancers that entertained the applauding spectators.
In addition to the cultural program on the stage of the huge Banquet Hall, there was also a live concert performed outside by a musical ensemble from Rochester.
Several local politicians congratulated the Ukrainian Festival, including heavyweight boxer Joe Mesi, candidate for NY Senate. Many Ukrainian songs were performed on stage by the guitar duet of little Stefan Kuklich, (Father Kuklich\'s 6 year old son), and Myron Deputat, choir master and band leader of "Those Idiots".
There was an abundance of pyrohy (pierogi), holubtsi (cabbage rolls), kielbasa with sour kraut, chicken barbeque, and a lot of home made sweets with coffee. Hundreds of people enjoyed their meals at the festival, and took some home too.
After the concert there was a Chinese auction of 50 different baskets and gift certificates. Everyone had a great time and is looking forward to next year\'s Ukrainian Festival in Kenmore, NY