Koliada is the ancient and magical word associated with
the pre-Christian celebration of the birth of the New Sun and the Christian
celebration of Christmas (Rizdvo). Much of the koliada ritual is
based on the premise that words and actions, repeated frequently, have the
power to bend cosmic forces to one’s advantage. Words act as a kind of charm or
invocation to bring upon oneself and one’s family health and prosperity. Koliadky
(carols) and shchedrivky (New Year songs) are replete with words and
phrases that invoke wealth, health and good fortune.
Six Winnipeg based Ukrainian choirs and a trio
performed a total of 22 koliadky and shchedrivky and other
Christmas music. The program began with
a traditional New Year’s greeting (vinshuvannia) by Danylo Anderson from
Plast Ukrainian Youth Association of Manitoba and was emceed by Sophia Kachor,
newly appointed Executive Director of Oseredok. The first part of the festival
featured koliadky of Christian origin that glorified the birth of Jesus
Christ, the Word that was made flesh and dwelt among us. The Choir of the
Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts. Vladimir and Olga, directed
by Miroslava Paches, opened the program with a rendition of four carols with
biblical themes. These themes were picked up by the Dumka Choir under the baton
of Walter Skakun, including a Ukrainian language version of O, Holy Night. The Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox
Metropolitan Choir, conducted by Dr. Jeff Saranchuk, concluded this set.
The second part of the festival highlighted koliadky
and shchedrivky whose refrains embody the power of the word to invoke
wealth, health and good fortune. Hoosli
Ukrainian Male Chorus, directed by William Solomon, introduced shchedrivky
with folk legends about the Christmas Story. The O. Koshetz Choir, conducted by
Corinne Kostenuk-Villebrun, continued in similar vein, adding the theme of
courtship and love in kolidaky. The theme of love and marriage was
picked up by the Melos Folk Ensemble led by Michael Ryczak. From the Ukrainian
Youth Association SUM Andrij Semaniuk, Mikhas Chabluk and Markian McColl
performed the traditional shchedrivka Good Evening, Master of the House
(Dobry Vechir Tobi, Pane Hospodariu) with a New Year’s greeting by Andrij
Semaniuk. The culminating moment of the festival came when the audience joined
the combined choirs in singing God Eternal (Boh Predvichny).
Despite
the frosty temperature of -30 C, the church was filled to capacity with over
850 people in attendance. Among the
special guests were His Grace Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, Primate of the
Ukrainian Catholic Church of Canada, Archbishop Michael Bzdel and Rt. Rev.
Msgr. Michael Buyachok, pastor of Sts. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral.
The Festival of Carols was the brainchild of
Walter Klymkiw more than 20 years ago. The idea was to bring together the
Ukrainian community to share its rich heritage of Christmas music. Initially,
the O. Koshetz Choir acted as host for the festival. Later, Klymkiw and the O.
Koshetz Choir passed it on to Oseredok and now the Festival of Carols is an
annual Winnipeg tradition. “It makes
perfect sense,” stated Ken Romaniuk, President of Oseredok Ukrainian Cultural
and Educational Centre. “Oseredok is an institution about legacy – the legacy
of Ukrainian heritage. It thrives on Ukrainian tradition. Koliada is a tradition, which
exemplifies a strong sense of community, a deep connection with an ancient past
and a particularly unique interpretation of the Christmas Story.”
As Sophia Kachor put it, “The peculiar fusion of
ancient beliefs, symbols and magical words with the Christian story of the Word
becoming flesh creates an unusual synergy, as if our collective memory were
coded to process and respond to elemental and creative forces of long ago. Koliada
remains one of the most vibrant expressions of our identity, casting its
magical spell over us from year to year.”
(SMK)