2014 Ukie Stampede Stomp

Calgary is the home of the world's largest and best known Rodeo - the Calgary Stampede! And just over a century ago a huge number of new immigrants to Canada from the mountains, foothills and steppes of Ukraine joined the Stampede fans - even participating wholeheartedly in the horse-play, lasso competitions, and horse riding hijinks! It was, of course a time when Calgary's first Ukrainian church community was taking their prayerful steps in setting root here, and just before Canada's First Internment Operations. But those are a lot of other stories about Ukrainians in Calgary!

A little connection you may not know though - there is increasing evidence supporting the hypothesis that horses were domesticated during the copper age, in the Eurasian Steppes centered in Dereivka, Ukraine between 3380-4570 BC! Dereivka is located in the Dnipro valley in Kirovohrads'ka oblast Ukraine. The herding and breeding of horses, beginning with the domestication of the horse, transformed Ukraine's steppe culture, and every subsequent society that adopted horse culture.  Horses increased mobility, and had an impact on transportation, trade, hunting and warfare. While the glorious age of Ukrainian Cossack State resonates in the memory, jump forward many centuries to the timely establishment of the Calgary Stampede! It must have been extremely enticing for new Canadians from Ukraine to join with their new countrymen in celebrating the horse culture on Canada's new frontier. The wild open spaces, the tradition, the colourful stories of Ukrainian cowboys - the kozaky - and everyone was a cowboy!

Lots of reasons to join in the Calgary Stampede Fun - and it is never too early for a Pre-Stampede Stomp! Getting your cowboy boots on?

St. Stephen's Cultural Centre is again the great venue for a Barbeque Steak and Perogie Supper on Saturday, June 21, 2014! Make sure to get your tickets soon! Yee! Ha!

Spring has a Ring - of Kovbasa

Naturally, my husband is interested in the glorious ring of smoked meat Ukrainians call kovbasa. Kubasa, kobasa, kubie, it has a variety of endearments - and there is definitely a ring in the air this spring.  

 

The kobvasa  has such a prominent place in the Easter tradition - a ring of smoked meat, meat served as a sacrifice after a long lenten period.  It is but one of the special foods I will take to be blessed in my Easter basket!  Braided Paska bread, sweet Babka bread, cheese, butter, ham, horseradish, and kovaba, then some fresh green onions and beet-horseradish, and decorated with boiled eggs, colored krashanky eggs, and of course newly scribed Ukrainian Easter Eggs -pysanky!

 

So you know that Calgary's Ukrainian community has a variety of tastes, a variety of pleasures - but Ukrainian food draws everybody's attention it seems. And the Ogden House Ukrainian Cultural Society in Calgary is a great group of people with community on the mind.

 

If you have "Eastered" or if you are on the way to "Paska", or you do both, or neither, The Ogden House Ukrainian Cultural Society in Calgary is pleased to bring to you Kubie Madness!...Naturally another wonderful evening of food and entertainment to help ease the transition from Winter into Spring!

 

So now you know, my husband is interested in kovbasa.  More so now because he just bought himself a new toy - a smoker!  It may not happen too quickly, but there may be a new flavour of kovbasa for my festive table soon - will keep you posted.  (Really, how much garlic do you like in your Ukrainian sausage?)

 

 

Rejoice O Earth! The Son of God is born!

Rejoice!  On January 13, 2013 at 12.30 pm in the hall at the Church of St. Stephen's, a Christmas Concert will be held!

 "O Earth Rejoice the Son of God was born", with the 

participation of Merited Artist of Ukraine, Ihor Bohdan with 

Stephania Romaniuk, Iryna Kalinovych and  Roksolana Bohdan. 

The ticket price is $20.00.

Funds collected will go to the needs of the Catholic University in Lviv, Ukraine 

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13 січня 2013 року о 12.30 год. в залі при церкві Святого Стефана відбудеться Різдвяний концерт 

ОЙ РАДУЙСЯ ЗЕМЛЕ СИН БОЖИЙ НАРОДИВСЯ, за участю Заслуженого артиста України ІГОРЯ БОГДАНА та Стефанії Романюк, Ірини Калинович і Роксоляни Богдан. 

Ціна квитків 20.00

Зібрані кошти підуть на потреби Католицького Університету у Львові. 

Thanks to Halia Wilson for the post.