Ukrainian New Year celebrated with colour and tradition

CANORA - On Jan. 13, a Ukrainian New Year's Eve (Malanka) dance was held at Canora Rainbow hall. Approximately 200 persons were in attendance.

We were very excited to have everyone joining us after a few years of not being able to celebrate together! Ancestors of Ukrainians believed that on Ukrainian New Year’s Eve (Jan. 13) good and evil spirits descended on the earth. In order to ward off evil forces and ensure a bountiful new year, the night was spent dancing, partaking in a lavish and ritualistic meal, and so on. By tradition, the festival of St. Vasyl is celebrated the next day, Jan. 14.

The evening started out at 5 p.m. with the Zayshley band playing music at the door, where I welcomed the guests. Then the ladies served a beautiful supper at 6 p.m., including chicken, pork nachinka, mashed beans, pyrohy, holubtsi, salad, buckwheat casserole, kutia, wheat salad and trifle.

At 7 p.m., four group dances and a solo were preformed by the Canora Veselka Ukrainian dancers. At 8.30 p.m., the dance music started and the floor was full of dancers until after midnight. Dancers came from near and far, including: Canora, Theodore, Yorkton, Esterhazy, Roblin, Wadena, Foam Lake, Kelvington, Lintlaw, Hazel Dell and Saskatoon. We had door prizes and 50/50 draws. Congratulations to Ivan and Cheryl Rostotski on their win of Dauphin Ukrainian Festival tickets. At midnight Bohdan Korol recited a Ukrainian greeting.

Here’s wishing everyone good health, prosperity and a bountiful 2023!