Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12
HELEN MURAL, Junior Vice-President UNWLA, Contributing Editor, OUR LIFE “All I Want For Christmas” A Letter to ■United States January 7, 1950 Dear Santa, I have just returned from midnight Mass and I have a pe culiar entreaty, Santa. My en treaty is not too late although Christmas is here, for yovu are accustomed to receiving requests for tuys, clothes and other ma terial objects. That isn’t what I want for Christmas. If you will look up my record you will note that I am an Am erican Ukrainian; consequently, my family and I celebrate the birth of Christ on the 7th day of January. Last niglit there was excitement in our home be cause we were observing “Svy- -ata Vetcherya,” the Holy Sup per. Our entire family gathered together. A place at the supper table was set for Grandma even though she was with us only in spirit. It was Grandma who ex plained and taught mom the traditions of Christmas in Uk raine. For the first tinlei we were without Grandmom’s help and guidance but we tried to do ev erything just the way we always Jiave when she was with us. We tried not to forget to place anything on the table and even underneath the table. A -centerpiece of oat-stalks inter mingled with dried flowers and a candle in the middle was plac ed on the table along with a bit of wheat which symbolizes the god of plenty who feeds and protects the family. Symbolical of the manger and the Bethle hem stable was the hay on the table and the straw underneath the table. We didn't even for get to place garlic underneath the tablecloth to ward off the evil spirits. I must admit, though, that we had to resort to an article written by Mildred Milanowicz several years ago .concerning the placement of the traditional loaf of bread, the pot of honey and the “topka” of salt on the table. We learned that these table decorations are re minders of pre-Christian days when pagan Ukrainians wor shipped the sun and nature. The appearance of the first star was dad’s cue to begin the Holy Supper by lighting the candle ьп the table and leading the family in the Lord’s Prayer. The rite of the “kutya” follow ed. Kutya, is wheat-grains and pappy-seeds mixed with honey. First dad offered mom a spoon ful with his best wishes to her for the coming year. Then the rest of us received kutya and dad’s blessings. We all experi enced a pang when dad came to Grandma’s place. I bet that you would have en joyed the twelve courses that followed. I am certain that you Santa Claus would have liked the borshcht, sour cabbage pea soup, the “ho-* lubchi,” jellied fish, “pirohy” or rather “vareniki,” (especially the kind filled with prunes), the mushrooms (that’s dad's and my favorite dish), the griddle-cakes/ the “pampushki,” and the fruit. Monf served exactly twelve courses in honor of the Twelve ' Apostles, and these dishes were _ prepared without dairy products or meat. Toward the end of supper I became just * a bit restless. I was anxious to go outside with my Cousin Dorothy to clatter spoons in our backyard. Please don’t think that Dorothy and I are foolish, Santa. We clattered spoons uhtil' we heard a dog bark and now I know that I can .expect a suitor from the East! We were having loads of fun in the yard, but dad and the boys ж called us into the house to sing * Christinas carols. I kept insist ing'that we sinig^“Boh Predvich- ney Narodyvsya,” which means God the Eternal hath been born, because that is the only “kolya- I da” I know all the way through. By the thtife Г persuaded the fa mily * the ^kolyadniky” arrived. The carolers were Displaced Persons and after they over- .. whelmed-* us- with their spiritful singing, dad offered them a do nation for the Displaced People in Europe* Of course, dad didn’t forget to serve tfrem refresh ments which they accepted with laughs and good wishes. ' Christmas Eve came to an end with all of us going to our Ukrainian Church for midnight Mass. The singing of the choir was beautiful. rIn fact, I noticed a number of strangers in church. They undoubtedly had heard of our Christmas Mass and came to hear and to see for them selves. On my way home from church I pondered over the evening’s festivities and it was then I de cided to write to you. Recogniz ing the richness and- the won der of “Svyata Vecherya” I knew that I want all of its tra ditions preserved. What do I want for Christmas, Santa? It is only this: That with the pass ing away of the Grandmothers, pothers and Fathers of Ameri can Ukrainians the traditions of Christmas as observed in Uk raine for centuries past will not be forgotten in the centuries*- to come. That we American Uk rainians will never forget to re member and that in our remem brance we pass on to our chil dren these^ same traditions that were taught to us. That our children’s children will sing on Christmas Day, “Boh Predvich- ney Narodyvsya.” An American Ukrainian. PUBLISHING OF “LESSYA UKRAINKA” TO COST $4,000 The Campaign Is Oft On your mark, get set, GO! Which branch will be the first to make a sizeable donation for the printing of the works of Lesya Ukrainka in English? Which branch will give the most ? While the Christmas spir it of “giving” is still with, us, let’s see w*hat we can do to help out in this major project of the League. The book must be published by- November 11, 1950 for that is the way Soyuz Ukrainok is commemorating its 25th Jubilee at its National /Convention. The printing, editing, etc. of this work will cost $4,000. The League has in its treasury for this project at the present time $1,300. This means that $2,700 must be raised by August, 1950. Plan NOW to sponsor an af fair for “Lesya Ukrainka.” Do nate whatever your branch' can afford. Whatever you give re member that it is for a fcjook, that will long survive; a per manent testament for the UN WLA! TWO NEW BRANCHES JOIN OUR FAMILY; MANY MORE INTERESTED Two senior branches, one from Chicago and the other from Millville, N. J., have joined ,S°" yuz Ukrainok to carry out the charitable work of this organi zation. Groups in Amsterdam* N. Y., Canton, Ohio, and Pas saic, N. J., have been correspon ding with oiir President, Helfcn Lototsky, in search of informa tion as to formation of SUA branches. Mrs. Lototsky reports that she has been receiving letters of inquiry from such isolated Uk rainian areas as Nashville, Ten nessee* This matter .was discuss ed at the Board Meeting and it was decided that a Central Branch be organized for indivi duals desirous of affiliation with the League in areas where So yuz Ukrainok branches are not in existence. Membership fee for individuals in this Central Branch is three dollars. How ever, membership is open in this Central Branch only to women in isolated sections of the U. S. where it is not feasible to es tablish a new branch. + SUCCESSFUL “CABARET NIGHT," CLEVELAND BRANCH DECLARES '“(Cabaret Xight” Thanksgiv ing Eve was such a success that' members of Branch 60 in Cleve land have voted to make it an annual affair. The basement of the Ukrainian National Home was transformed into such ele gance that the members and guests could hardly believe their eyes. Gorgeous sketches of girls drawn by Rosemary Kuzda tack- ed on. the walls covered the cracks while crepe paper oil the poles and doors- and colored light bulbs made for an atmos phere of gaiety and romance.^ Card tables with tablecloths and centerpieces of fruit and candy completed the scene. The long table artistically arranged with beautiful punch bowl was the canapes of all description and a work of. our expert, Meg Huseh Estelle Gnot, Dorothy Mural, Irene Trembly were the girls who worked so diligently wait ing on the tables that our Branch realized a sizeable profit, though our intentions had been only to break even. Our newest member, Dorothy Wolanski, “wowed” the audience with her version of “I Wanna Get Married.” Such Cleveland boys as Andrew Boyko, Tom Sz/ysepko, and Harry Husel helped us with our “floor show1' with a hilarious skit. The concensus of all was more and bigger Ca'baret Nites. UKRAINIANS HOLD FESTIVAL IN CLEVELAND At the Ukrainian National Home in Cleveland, Ukrainians assembled their treasured cos tumes, their musical instruments and embroidered and carved handwork for public showing. Under the direction of the Uk rainian Dancers’ Guild all orga nizations in Cleveland cooperat ed to make one of the finest ex hibits for the Folk Festival Council of Cleveland. The Head quarters of Soyuz Ukrainok made a sizeable contribution through the -Exhibit Chairman, Mrs. Stephanie Wochok. Guests, of all nationalities witnessed beside the treasures of our handicraft, the colorful dancing of our Ukraine perform ed by the Dancers’ Guild. After the dancing, guests were- invit ed to a buffet stjpper of holub- chi, pampushki and tea. DETROIT BRANCH TOURS JAIL The past month held much ex citement for Branch 61! Mrs. Steckd, active member of Br. 26, invited each Branch of So yuz Ukrainok in Detroit to send delegates to attend a tour of the County jail. (Mrs. Stecko is a Deput}' Sheriff in' the Wo men’s Ward). Mary Dorozenko, Sophie Pytroczko, Kathryn Los and Ann Pyndyk represented Branch 61. After a delicious lunch, compliments of Sheriff Andrew C. Baird, members of Soyuz Ukrainok were escorted through various departments of the jail. The tour was very, in teresting and informative, al though at times disheartening. Ann Pyndyk.
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12 
