By Walter Kish

Spring is just around the corner, and with it all the rebirth and renewal that nature manages to orchestrate at this time every year. The physical manifestations of spring, namely the thawing and re-warming of a frozen landscape, the greening and flowering of our surrounding environment, the springing to life and renewed activity of earth’s hibernating denizens, is paralleled by a psychological change of seasons as well. The “survive and endure” attitude of winter gives way to the hope and optimism of a new spring.

It is no wonder, that virtually all cultures and civilizations have celebrated the onset of spring in lively rites and festivals since the dawn of time. In ancient times, the vernal equinox triggered a round of feasting, dancing and carousing that often crossed the line into orgiastic abandon. In more recent Christian times, these earlier pagan excesses were transformed and ritualized into the pageant that we call Easter, though the essential purpose remained the same. It was an occasion to mark the end of a period of darkness and dormancy and celebrate the arrival of a period of rebirth and renewed optimism. Within Ukrainian tradition, Easter is celebrated with particular enthusiasm and is rich in ritual and symbolism. The blessing of abundantly overflowing and lovingly prepared Easter baskets and the colourful and intricate designs of Ukrainian Easter eggs are testament to the celebration of new life and new hope for warmer and more prosperous times ahead.

In Ukraine this spring, there is another ritual that will take place shortly before Easter, namely the long-awaited parliamentary elections. This ritual too, carries some of the same symbolic overtones and hopes as does Easter. Ukraine has suffered through a long political winter that has lasted over a decade since the country witnessed its joyous “rebirth” when the Soviet Union fell apart. It’s economy has withered and lain dormant under deep “snowdrifts” of indifference, incompetence and corruption. It’s population has endured the cold and biting winds of poverty and unemployment. It’s future has been obscured by the clouds of political anarchy and self-serving greed.

Yet, there is a ray of hope that Ukraine’s own long-delayed spring may be just around the corner. The once unquestioned power of President Kuchma has been significantly eroded by the ongoing scandal over the Gongadze affair and “Kuchmagate”. His stature in the world’s eyes as a leader and reformer has been severely undercut. The reforms enacted by Yuschenko before he was deposed as Prime Minister, ended Ukraine’s long economic slide and produced positive GDP growth for the first time since independence. Despite determined reactionary opposition from diehard communists and socialists, land privatization finally came into effect. And lastly, despite continuing factionalism, Ukraine’s more progressive and democratically inclined political parties and movements are finally showing signs of co-operating for a change, behind the unifying efforts of ex-Prime Minister Yuschenko in the upcoming elections on March 31. Previous elections have always resulted in the Communists and their supporters constituting the largest bloc in the Verkhovna Rada. This time, it appears that a coalition formed by Yuschenko of some ten reformist parties will come out ahead and hopefully provide the impetus for accelerating further much needed reforms and changes.

Ukraine’s long-suffering population is hoping that these elections will become a political “equinox” of sorts and lead towards a new spring in Ukraine’s further evolution as an independent nation state. They have certainly suffered through a long and bitter winter of disappointments and discontent.

As we celebrate the arrival of spring and enjoy the bounty of our Easter baskets here in the land of hope and plenty, let us light a candle and say a silent prayer for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, that they too might find hope and enjoy the promise of spring in their lives and their land.