TRADITIONAL UKRAINIAN NEW YEAR’S DANCE \"MALANKA\" took place on Saturday, January 24th, 2009 at the Ukrainian Cultural Center “DNIPRO” at 562 Genesee St. in Buffalo, NY.
This year we had the best Malanka since 1991. The hall of DNIPRO was packed. Music was provided by Ukrainian band “VECHIRKA” from Rochester. A lot of Ukrainian youth from Rochester came to Buffalo to dance with music of their favorite band. We also had Ukrainian visitors from Canada, Syracuse and Cleveland. Delicious buffet dinner was included into a ticket price. Some Americans were invited by their Ukrainian friends to the Malanka and they were amassed by KOLOMYJKY dance by our young people. One man said: \"I wish I would have a culture like that\".
Everyone that came had a great time with their friends and family and they can\'t wait until Malanka 2010.
Click Here to see a video of KOLOMYJKY
While American Holiday Season is ending, Ukrainian Holiday Season is just starting.
January 6th - Christmas Eve
January 7th - UKRAINIAN CHRISTMAS
January 8- 9th - Kolyada
January 14 - New Year (St. Vasyl)
January 19 - Baptism of Jesus
For the Ukrainian people Christmas is the most important family holiday of the whole year. It is celebrated solemnly, as well as merrily, according to ancient customs that have come down through the ages and are still observed today.
Ukrainian Christmas festivities begin on Ridna Shkola, January 6th and end on the Feast of the Epiphany by old Julian Calendar.
The Christmas Eve Supper or Sviata Vecheria (Holy Supper) brings the family together to partake in special foods and begin the holiday with many customs and traditions, which reach back to antiquity. The rituals of the Christmas Eve are dedicated to God, to the welfare of the family, and to the remembrance of the ancestors. With the appearance of the first star which is believed to be the Star of Bethlehem, the family gathers to begin supper.
The table is covered with two tablecloths, one for the ancestors of the family, the second for the living members. In pagan times ancestors were considered to be benevolent spirits, who, when properly respected, brought good fortune to the living family members. Under the table, as well as under the tablecloths some hay is spread to remember that Christ was born in a manger. The table always has one extra place-setting for the deceased family members, whose souls, according to belief, come on Christmas Eve and partake of the food. A kolach (Christmas bread) is placed in the center of the table. This bread is braided into a ring, and three such rings are placed one on top of the other, with a candle in the center of the top one. The three rings symbolize the Trinity and the circular form represents Eternity.
A didukh (meaning grandfather) is a sheaf of wheat stalks or made of mixed grain stalks. It is placed under the icons in the house. In Ukraine, this is a very important Christmas tradition, because the stalks of grain symbolize all the ancestors of the family, and it is believed that their spirits reside in it during the holidays.
After the didukh is positioned in the place of honor, the father or head of the household places a bowl of kutia (boiled wheat mixed with poppy seeds and honey) next to it. Kutia is the most important food of the entire Christmas Eve Supper, and is also called God’s Food. A jug of uzvar (stewed fruits, which should contain twelve different fruits) and is called God’s Drink, is also served.
After all the preparations have been completed, the father offers each member of the family a piece of bread dipped in honey, which had been previously blessed in church. He then leads the family in prayer. After the prayer the father extends his best wishes to everyone with the greeting Khrystos Razhdaietsia (Christ is born), and the family sits down to a twelve-course meatless Christmas Eve Supper.
There are twelve courses in the Supper, because according to the Christian tradition each course is dedicated to one of Christ\'s Apostles. According to the ancient pagan belief, each course stood was for every full moon during the course of the year. The courses are meatless because there is a period of fasting required by the Church until Christmas Day. However, for the pagans the meatless dishes were a form of bloodless sacrifice to the gods.
The first course is always kutia. It is the main dish of the whole supper. Then comes borshch (beet soup) with vushka (boiled dumplings filled with chopped mushrooms and onions). This is followed by a variety of fish - baked, broiled, fried, cold in aspic, fish balls, marinated herring and so on. Then come varenyky (boiled dumplings filled with cabbage, potatoes, buckwheat grains, or prunes. There are also holubtsi (stuffed cabbage), and the supper ends with uzvar.
CAROLING. While many of the Ukrainian Christmas Eve customs are of a solemn nature, the custom of caroling is joyful and merry. Ukrainian Christmas songs or carols have their origins in antiquity, as do many other traditions practiced at Christmas time. There are two main groups of Christmas songs in Ukraine: the koliadky, whose name is probably derived from the Latin \"calendae\" meaning the first day of the month and which are sung on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; the second group of Christmas songs is called shchedrivky, which is a derivation from the word meaning generous. The latter are sung during the Feast of the Epiphany.
Both koliadky and shchedrivky have pagan elements in them, but many have been Christianized. For example, one pagan carol tells of a landowner who is awakened by a swallow and told to make preparations, because three guests are coming to his house: the sun, the moon and the rain. In the Christianized version the three guests become Jesus Christ, St. Nicholas and St. George. The very popular Ukrainian carol in the United states, \"Carol of the Bells\", in its originality is a shchedrivka and tells of a swallow (herald of Spring) that has come to a landowner’s house and asks him to come out and see how rich he is, how many calves he has, and so on.
VERTEP. Vertep, the Ukrainian Christmas puppet theater had its beginnings in the XVII century. According to scholars, the theater was probably founded by students of the Kyivan Academy, who also wrote the plays performed there. This theater became very popular and with time its special plays were performed by wandering mistrals, teachers, deacons and traveling theater groups.
The puppet theater consisted of a miniature two-storied structure, which served as a stage for the action. The actors were puppets made of wood. Each puppet had a wire attached to one leg and in this way the puppeteer was able to control the doll\'s movement, moving it back and forth via the vertical and horizontal grooves cut out in the two floors of the structure.
The play itself had two separate acts that were thematically unconnected. The first, which took place in the upper floor of the miniature theater, had a religious theme and was didactic in character. The play presented a shepherd and the Three Kings who came to visit the newborn Jesus. The shepherds sang songs and rejoiced in His birth. there was also a scene with the weeping Rachel, whose children were killed by the order of King Herod. In this scene Rachel cursed the King and as he died, the devil came to take his body and soul down to hell.
The entire second act of the play took place on the lower floor of the theater. It consisted of short, humorous scenes, designed to amuse the viewer. Although the various short scenes of the second act did not constitute a tightly knit story, the action in them did revolve around one personage who was not given a specific name, but was just called \"Kozak Zaporozhets\".
In Ukrainian folklore, there are many legends about Kozak Mamai, who was a great warrior, defender of freedom and honor. He always appeared at a very critical moment in a battle to save the day. Probably the role of Kozak in the puppet theater was based on Kozak Mamai, this semi-legendary folk hero. In the puppet theater play the Kozak doll was always made larger than the others. He wore the traditional dress of the Kozaky, had a bandura (Ukrainian folk string instrument), and smoked a pipe. In a very long monologue, the Kozak puppet spoke of the glorious historical past of Ukraine.
The short scenes of the second act also dealt with a variety of negative characteristics of man, i.e., cowardice, greed, etc. The scenes changed rapidly and in them people lied, cheated, tricked one another, argued, fought - all for the purpose of bringing out the comic elements in such behavior. The Kozak, however, was beyond all that. although he may have pretended to be fooled, he did so only to get a hearty laugh from the audience. He conquered all who wished him ill, even the devil. The viewers saw the heroic past of Ukraine in the person of Kozak. For them he was the eternal defender of Ukraine\'s freedom.
Both acts of the play were accompanied by music - a choir, duets, solos and instrumental ensembles made up of violins, cymbals, a flute and a drum. The Kozak played the bandura and sang old epic songs. He and the other characters in the play also danced.
During the Christmas holidays, students went from, from town to town, village to village, house to house with the Vertep and gave performances.
Ой Хто Хто Миколая Любить!
Свято Миколая завжди було найулюбленішим святом для Українських дітей. Діти завжди з нетерплінням чекали його, бо знали, що Святий Миколай принесе їм очікувані подарунки.
Вчителі та діти Української Школи м. Баффело підготували святковий концерт, який відбувся цього року 20 Грудня в Українському Культурному Центрі ДНІПРО. Батьки та гості бурхливо аплодували кожній дитині що приймала участь у цій чудовій святковій програмі. Учні не тільки підготували вірші та пісні для святого Миколая. А оскільки наближаються Різдвяні Свята, то діти заколядували ще й кілька Різдвяних колядок, та зіграли на різних інструментах.
І за такий чудовий виступ кожен з них отримав подарунок від Святого Миколая. Не обминув Святий Миколай і маленьких гостей, що завітали на концерт, кожному з них подарував по гостинцю.
Після святкової програми батьки та гості були запрошені на святковий обід, що відбувся у залі бару. Кожен міг поласувати традиційними українськими стравами, пирогами, налисниками, борщем та різноманітним солодким печивом та кавою. Дехто з гостей поніс додому і святковий кошик, який виграли підчас розіграшу.
Свято вдалося на славу, кожен взяв додому чудову згадку про ці незабутні хвилини.
З нагоди Дня Матері в Українському Культурному Центрі Дніпро 7 Травня відбувся святковий концерт, в якому взяли участь хор \"Мрія\" та студенти Спілки Української Молоді. Для кожного з нас мама - це найдорожча людина в світі. Тож на День Матері є нагода кожній дитині висловити щирі слова подяки своїй матері. Студенти СУМу привітали своїх матусь віршиками про маму. У виконанні студентів прозвучали також українські пісні, а СУМівці зіграли ще й сценку про зачаровану принцесу. Треба віддати належне й хору \"Мрія\" та його керівнику п. Наталі за їх співучі голоси та чудові пісні. Завжди приємно чути українські пісні у їх виконанні, чи це ліричні, чи патріотичні, чи релігійні. А їх у репертуарі \"Мрія\" незліченна кількість. На закінчення концерту діти вручили квіти всім присутнім у залі жінкам.
Wolodymir Klitschko won against Hasim Rahman in the seventh round.', 'wolodymir-klitschko-won-against-hasim-rahman-in-the-seventh-round', '', '
Did you know? It wasn’t a surprise to local Ukrainian-Americans to learn that Wolodymir Klitschko, world heavyweight champion, has sucessfully defended his IBF, WBO and IBO titles on December, 13, 2008. Klitschko won against Hasim Rahman in the seventh round at SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany. To learn more about his last fight and view more videos from previous fights visit www.klitschko.com, the official homepage of Wolodymyr and Vitaliy Klitschko. The homepage is written in Ukrainian and English and provides interesting facts about two brothers and their boxing careers.
Interesting fact: Wladimir Klitschko 244.2 lbs
Hasim Rahman 253 lbs
On May 15th at the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church hall music lowers had the opportunity to listen to a wonderful bandura music and Ukrainian songs by Victor Mishalow.
З ініціативи 97-го відділу Союзу Українок Америки, у залі української Греко-Католицької церкви Івана Хрестителя, що у Кенморі, відбувся концерт заслуженого артиста України, бандуриста Віктора Мішалова. Цей український патріот, бандурист, дослідник кобзарства, композитор і диригент присвятив своє життя українському мистецтву й українській бандурі. Його пам\"ять наче губка увібрала незліченну кількість українських мелодій. З пам\"яті, без нот грав бандурист свої твори й твори інших авторів. У його виконанні прозвучали коломийки, думи, поеми. Зокрема, автор зіграв думи \"Про бідну вдову\", \"Маруся Богуславка\" та \"Буря на Чорному морі\", \"Поему про 1933\", \"Коломийку\", \"У тієї Катерини\" та інші. Віктор Мішалов написав багато власних творів. Це, зокрема, \"Карпатська рапсодія\", \"Українська рапсодія\".
Написав музику на слова В. Онуфрієнка \"Про Сагайдачного\", на слова М. Домонтовича \"Сільський адвокат\", на слова М. Степаненка \"Пісня Мазепи\" та багато інших. Розвеселив присутніх бандурист українською народною піснею \"Сіяв мужик гречку\". Закінчив свій концерт народний артист України Віктор Мішалов \"Українською рапсодією\". Чарівні звуки бандури та уривки українських пісень, що звучали в ній, полонили душі присутніх, багатьом з них нагадали рідну домівку, рідних та друзів. Бурхливими аваціями зустрічали присутні кожен музичний виступ бандуриста та на
прикінці, всі аплодували стоя й довго не хотіли прощатися, бо чарівні звуки бандури й прекрасна гра бандуриста сподобалися всім.
He was born in Sydney, Australia and began to study bandura in 1970 under Peter Deriashnyj. In 1974 he studied with Hryhory Bazhul, a former student of Hnat Khotkevych (known as the \"father of the modem concert bandura\"). In 1978 Mishalow received a grant from the \"Australia Arts Council\" enabling him to continue his studies in North America with prominent emigre bandurists, including Peter Honchanenko, Peter Kytasty, Hryhory Kytasty, Leonid Haydamaka and Vasyl Yemetz. In 1979. Victor received a scholarship to attend the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Kyiv, where he studied with noted bandurist and professor Serhiy Bashtan. In Ukraine, he also studied with Heorhy Tkachenko, the last remaining bandurist to perform in the authentic kobzar tradition. Victor Mishalow holds a bachelor\'s degree in Musicology and Ethnomusicology from the University of Sydney, and a postgraduate diploma in Music Education. He has over 70 articles and publications to his credit.
Performing is an important facet of Mishalow\'s work. He has given recitals and has made appearances in North America, Europe and Australia, including solo performances in venues such as Carnage Hall (New York), Massey Hall (Toronto) and the Sydney Opera House. He has also appeared at a Royal Command Performance in the Netherlands. Victor has completed several concert tours in Ukraine, with over 70 solo concert recitals. He has appeared as instrumental soloist with the Tommy Teaco International Orchestra in Sydney, Australia and the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus in Detroit. Mishalow participated in producing the music for 4 documentary films.
One of Victor Mishalow\'s most consuming and important tasks at land is to install to the youth of Ukrainian heritage the love of the Ukrainian culture through form of music, namely the bandura, (the voice and soul of Ukraine). Mishalow, with his technical expertise has attracted over 130 students that have been the playing the bandura in the short time that he has been in Toronto. Mishalow is the founder of the Hryhory Kytasty Bandura Chorus, and along with the Bandura Chorus have received support and acknowledgment from various support agencies: Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian Foundation, Prometheus Foundation, Canadian Ukrainian Congress, Ukrainian Canadian School Board, World Federation of Ukrainian Women\'s Organizations, and many others.
It is the dream and aspiration of Mishalow to bring in new and contemporary elements, and to make the music of bandura loved by all music enthusiasts. This new direction is best exemplified in his recent releases of Bandura Magic and Bandura Christmas Magic.
Victor Mishalow currently resides in Toronto, Canada.
On April 13 all hromada of Buffalo was invited to Dnipro for a meeting, discussion and Q&A with Stefan Romaniw, leader of Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. The topic was \"Goals and Activities of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) in Ukraine and the Diaspora\". (Read his interview on Radio Svoboda)
„Якби Схід і Захід був разом – влада була б бідною”
Myroslava Senkiv, a daughter of Alla and Fedir Senkiv of Buffalo, NY was awarded a very prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student scholarship to Ukraine in Economic Development. Her parents, family, and the Ukrainian-American community in Buffalo are very proud of her and wish her great success. Congratulation Myrosia!
Read a FULBRIGHT press release article from August 7, 2009
Myroslava Senkiv of Canisius College has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student scholarship to Ukraine in Economic Development, the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announced recently.
Senkiv is one of over 1,500 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad for the 2009-2010 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
The Fulbright Program, America’s flagship international educational exchange program, is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has provided approximately 294,000 people - 111,000 Americans who have studied, taught orresearched abroad and 183,000 students, scholars and teachers from other countries who have engaged in similar activities in the United States - with the opportunity to observe each others\' political, economic, educational and cultural institutions, to exchange ideas and to embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world\'s inhabitants. The Program operates in over 155 countries worldwide.Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. Among the thousands of prominent Fulbright alumni are: Muhammad Yunus, Managing Director and Founder, Grameen Bank, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006; Javier Solana, Foreign Policy Chief, European Union; Ruth Simmons, President, Brown University; Craig Barrett, Chairman of the Board, Intel Corporation; Shamshad Akhtar, the first woman to hold the position of Governor, State Bank of Pakistan; Alejandro Jara, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization; Raoul Cantero, Justice, Florida Supreme Court; Renee Fleming, soprano; Gish Jen, Writer; Daniel Libeskind, Architect; Aneesh Raman, CNN Middle East Correspondent; and Sibusiso Sibisi, President and CEO, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa.Fulbright recipients are among over 40,000 individuals participating in U.S. Department of State exchange programs each year. For more than sixty years, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has funded and supported programs that seek to promote mutual understanding and respect between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is administered bythe Institute of International Education.
For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, please visit our website at http://fulbright.state.gov or contact James A. Lawrence, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, telephone 202-453-8531, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Гуманітарна Допомога
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