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UKRAINIAN CHRISTMAS
http://www.blog4change.org/articles/8052/1/UKRAINIAN-CHRISTMAS-/Page1.html
By John Kitsco
Published on 01/7/2013
 
Khristos narodivsya (Christ is Born) and the response to this Ukrainian Christmas greeting is: Slavite Yoho (Let us Glorify Him).... and thanks to my dear sister Marian for sending this along in an email....

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I have much to learn. Then again, we all do. And specifically about things like Ukrainian Christmas.
I was born in Canada, our parents were born here and its very difficult for our generation to relate without firstly knowing and understanding the language and traditions. But I shall learn. I had started with some basics about the language but as
Professor Yar Slavutytch once remarked during a visit to his home - "...that unless you plan to speak the language, whether it be English, French, Spanish, Ukrainian, Polish or any other language on a daily basis...best to stay with English..." and thus
the interest and progress with the studies of the language diminished. And finally was neglected.
And here I am, Ukrainian festive days and not even sure where to start? Well, some basics I suppose and those are compliments of going to the Wikipedia site: First of all, last evening, January 6
represented Sviaty Vechir (the holy evening). Ok, now I do remember Mom did serve Kutia (the sweet grain pudding). And yes, I can still play a few bars of the traditional Ukrainian song which Grandpa would sometimes sing, So some of it is coming back, not as though it vanished, just that time and raising a family and staying with the usual December 25 Christmas traditions....ah, you know the rest....and lets see, something about a sheaf of wheat called the didukh (means grandfathers spirit)
was common. I seem to recall Mom saying something about that. 

So, a little information here for me and perhaps for you. And we all should be better informed but time and work and life sometimes get in the way (there, another excuse) - but do not let these things stop me from wishing all of you who celebrate Ukrainian Christmas, a very blessed and happy
Ukrainian Christmas from our house to your house.