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“Vertep" during the holidays in Lviv. the large and small streets surrounding city hall, that it was difficult to find a way out. But all these festivities dim in comparison to the spirituality, the “ high” so to speak and the m ultitu- denous participation in the “ Ukrainian waves” , which rolled from Ivano-Frankivsk/Stanyslaviv to Lviv, and further to Kiev, absorbing human rivers and streams that flowed over the Carpathian Mountains from Zacarpat’ia, Bukovyna, reaching to Kiev from Cher- nyhiv, Charkiv, Poltava and other cities in Ukraine. This project was not easy or straightforward — sort of standing in line and taking each others’ hands, like children. This demanded tremendous organiza tion ability, work, conducting various negotiations and settling agreements, a strict timetable and much planning. Many committees were formed to achieve this end, from the national committee to small local commmittees in places of business, in neighborhoods, in every center where Ruk is active. To the casual eye the preparatory work for this project was not eas ily detected due to the holiday celebrations which were going on in Lviv, but things were proceding according to plan and everyone was doing his or her assigned task. The day for the "Wave” was chosen to be Sun day, January 21, the day before the historic January 22, 1919, when Ukraine was united as one nation. A few days before that Sunday newspapers car ried detailed information, showing and explaining the path of the “Wave” , — on which highways or streets, through which towns and villages it will travel. Cer tain organizations, schools or businesses were given the responsibility to watch over designated roads, the bus and car traffic and to assign parking spaces. The traffic department cautioned drivers to adhere strictly to the rules of the road where people were to be standing. However, all these plans did not guarantee suc cess, because ultim ately it is the will of the people which would make it work. That is why even imme diately before the event, there were apprehensions and doubts — where will the “Wave" be uniterrupted, will enough people come, will the weather hold out? And, as if in spite, the weather report said that a cool ing trend was coming and it m ight even rain and snow. The morning of Sunday, January 22nd was over cast, but it was not raining, nor was it cold. The first cars left for Stryj and Ternopil about 9 a.m. so as not to create heavy traffic on the roads. People went by organizations, by groups, whole families with child ren, grandchildren, moved to their designated places. Cars were decorated with national symbols, small flags waved from car windows.... The streets of Lviv bypassed by the “Wave” were very quite, and only pedestrians walked quickly to the center of the city some to become a part of the “Wave” and others just to watch. All was solemn and quiet, as if it was an Easter morning. It was busy and turbulent in the center of Lviv. On a square, by the so called “ klom by” , where the statue of Taras Shevchenko is to stand, there was a congregation of people. At about 11 a.m. the “Wave” began to move to the streets; people stationed themselves next to each other on the right side of the street, holding flags and placards. From the Stryjskyj market, up through Stryjska Street, there stretched a line of young people, older people, women and children. At the start, below, on a huge blue cloth is w rit ten “ Polytechnic Institute of Lviv” . A bit up the street each faculty advertised its participation. Pointing to the center of the city, along Ivan Franko Street, stand university students. And here is a group of young people in Ukrainian folk dress, beautifully singing carols and songs of Ukrainian Riflemen (Sichovi Striltsi) — probably some independent perform ing ensamble. All is decorated with blue and yellow flags and sparsely with flags of the Ukrainian state. One hears happy laughter, talk, mainly in Ukrainian, but here and there in Russian. Celebration on the streets of Lviv.
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