A Ukrainian Christmas

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The physical attributes of the book; its size, the robust cover with gold lettering and so on, lend it an excellence that enhances the contents still further. Hugely affecting, interesting and compelling with a visual and literary beauty, A Ukrainian Christmas would make a wonderful gift. He has taught at Columbia University, Harvard University, and the Central European University (Budapest), and has been awarded various Ukrainian and foreign awards for academic achievements and public endeavors. As a result, many would then say that Christmas is about gathering with friends and family, but that is also not entirely correct. Rather than like the soviets, declaring open war on the Baby Jesus as did the wicked coward Herod, the West has completely perverted the meaning of Christmas for most.

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We just put all our attention, joy, and focus, on what should be a normal day, the change of one numerical calendar date to another, which has no effect on our spiritual life. On 28 June 2023 President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, submitted to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's national parliament) a draft law removing the Julian Calendar Christmas holiday on January 7 and confirming the December 25 date as the sole day of celebrations, reflecting changes in the OCU and UGCC calendars.As fresh snow fell, workers cleared the empty skating rink, and stalls set up traditional snacks of grilled meat and vegetables, and cauldrons of mulled wine. The first most obvious answer, to those wondering what happened to “the spirit of Christmas”, in these latter days, is to ask: “Well, how are you preparing for it?

Ukrainian Christmas - Kindle edition by Hrytsak, Yaroslav A Ukrainian Christmas - Kindle edition by Hrytsak, Yaroslav

To paraphrase the legendary Kievan choir master Mikhail Lytvynenko, Ukrainians are the most singing, musical people in Europe. So profoundly meaningful and powerful, A Ukrainian Christmas ensures that you never lose sight of the true meaning of these festivities and how important they are in the lives of so many people. The carol expresses the good news, the joy of the Nativity of Christ, to the master of a house (hospitable master), who is preparing to receive guests, as part of the Slavic kolyada/svyatki tradition, for his holy supper. During the early Soviet period, all religious celebrations were discouraged under the official state policy of atheism. They highlight an optimism for peace, justice, and love, and perhaps most of all hope, stating: “For as long as we celebrate Christmas, we can neither be defeated nor destroyed.Kutia (a dish of grain, honey and poppy seeds) is traditionally served first at the meal, after being offered by the head of the household to the frost. The nominative word Господар[ь] ( Hospodar) literally means lord, but in this context, refers to the master of a home, or the host. Then once it comes, and we go to Liturgy our minds, purified by fasting and prayer, will again be enlightened with theology—marveling at how men, our ancestors, who once worshiped the stars, were led by a star to worship Christ, the Son of Righteousness. This is the message that Ukraine is trying to convey to the world, and this what our book is about”.