May the Circle Be Unbroken

In the deep, darkest, coldest part of the winter comes the light - a message of hope through eternity.  I have been thinking about recent highly magnified Hubble telescope images that show three pillars of dust, and the birth of new stars beyond.  Am I the only one whose meditations lead me to link these images to the Three Wise Men following the Star to Bethlehem - to a perfect moment in time and place, a little enclosed space, to witness to the birth of the energy that is our universe? Where does the Light of Love and Life come from? Are words enough to convey such a deep and profound mystery?  Can a human mind even comprehend the immensity of its message?

My husband brought in our Diduch-Grandfather to our Sviata Vecherya feast last night - the eve of Christmas by the Eastern Christian tradition.  Is it possible that the ancients had glimmers of these same images - deep in their meditative quests for understanding? Twelve meatless dishes, kutia, borsch, holubtsi, varenyky, mushrooms of all sorts, fish of several types, stewed fruit - dishes made of simple ingredients.  Watching the stars, learning to see beyond them....  Like life, Sviata Vecherya is time consuming, layered with flavours of the field, the forest, the rivers, and the orchard.  Layered with the flavours of joy, sorrow, passion and inquiry!  What a delicious meal!

Khrystos Razhdayetsia - Slavimo Yoho!! 

Sovereignty, Money and Power

The University of Alberta Nickle
Gallery is hosting an exhibit of Sovereignty, Money and Power: The Paper Currency of Revolutionary Ukraine, 1917-1920 over the next few months here in Calgary. the exhibit is curated by Dr. Bohdan Kordan and organized by the Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage as St. Thomas More College in association with the Ukrainian Museum of Canada.

The exhibit will be open to the public from January 15, to April 4, 2015. An opening reception will be held January 22, 2015 from 5-8 pm, the curator's talk will begin at 6pm. On Marh 26, from 12-1 Dr. Mykola Soroka will speak about Revolution and War in Contemporary Ukraine: A Civilization Conflict Unleashed.

This exhibit is a display of paper currency of revolutionary Ukraine during 1917-1920. The exhibit examines how national sovereignty was portrayed on currency by use of various symbolic imagery and design elements derived from various ideologies in the context of revolution, war and social. It will be held at the University of Calgary's Nickle Galleries located in the Taylor Family Digital Library (TFDL), from January 15 to April 4, 2015.

Suzirya Jubilation Malanka 2015

Suzirya Ukrainian Dance Theatre presents:

Suzirya's Jubilation Malanka - 10th Anniversary!!

Come celebrate the season and ring in the new year!

Saturday, January 24, 2015
Thorncliffe Greenview Community Association
5600 Centre Street NE, Calgary, AB

Cocktails 5:30 pm
Dinner 7:00 pm
Entertainment 7:30 pm

Homestyle Ukrainian Meal
Floor Show with Suzirya & Guests
- In Tribute to Suzirya's 10 Years
Silent Auction, 50/50, Door Prizes & Draw Auction
Music by UB!
Champagne Toast at Midnight
* Formal Attire Requested *

Tickets $65.00 ($480.00 for a table of 8)
Jordan (403) 613-4685

Malanka In Lethbridge 2015

The Christmas season gives such opportunity to catch up with friends from all over the world! In the deep, dark coldness of winter people just have to get out and party! Thank heavens for the winter traditions of Ukrainians, which encourage Malanka New Years Festivals each weekend through out January.

Lethbridge Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club is hosting their 20th Anniversary Malanka on Saturday, January 24, 2015. Calgary's favorite dance band Absolute is playing for the ZABAVA!  Reserve your tickets today!!

Calgary's Annual Ukrainian Festival of Carols 2014

Koliada is a word that lightens the heart and fills the spirit with hope and love.  Calgary's Koliada always starts with a great send off before the actual Christmas season starts. At some time early in December the tradition of sharing the tremendous gift of Ukrainian musicality returns to our community.  Whether singing, strolling, sharing the Good News, or celebrating the ancestral wisdom through humorous or spiritual teachings, this event sets a wonderful tone for everyone. Come for the carols, koliady, schedrivky, vinshuvannya, and celebrate the good will that binds our Calgary community.  

The beautiful St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cultural Centre 404 Meredith Road N. E. was the host venue for Calgary's Annual Ukrainian Festival of Carols 2014 7:00 pm Sunday December 14th, 2014.

The organizers collected volunteer cash donations for Help to Ukraine at the Door. If you wish to donate online please visit www.calgaryucc.org

For more information about this lively community festival in Calgary please email ucc.update@shaw.ca or call Halya at 403-276-1835.

Many thanks to the Calgary Branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association of Calgary and Echoes of Ukraine Shaw Digital TV for continuing this lively tradition!  

And if you missed the carol festival, here is a special gift of listening pleasure - two hours of Ukrainian Christmas Carols!!  Ukrainian Christmas - two hours of excellent traditional celebratory music.

And don't forget that one can continue singing the lovely koliady clear through the month of January, and even into early February!  Way past the feast of Jordan - but more about that later!!