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FARMLIVING
FARM LIVING EDITOR: KAREN MORRISON | Ph: 306-665-3585 F: 306-934-2401 | E-MAIL: KAREN.MORRISON@PRODUCER.COM
BY JOHN KAPICKI
FREELANCE WRITER
Christmas 60 years ago looked different
than it does today.
As a little kid, I looked forward to it
because there was always candy
around, the real Japanese oranges
and an assortment of nuts.
I always ate well growing up on a
farm, but at this time of year I got to
taste goodies we didn’t get the rest of
the year.
We’d go to my grandparents, which
seemed so far away at six miles down
the road, where we would enjoy a
special Ukrainian Christmas dinner.
We got a coloured handkerchief
with a quarter, a dime and a nickel
wrapped in it. It was money we treasured.
We also got to have pop, candy and
nuts, as well as our stockings filled with
other goodies. I remember feeling how
nice it was to listen to my uncles talk
about their experiences at work.
At first this all took place in a small
two-room log and mud-plastered
house. It was warm and cozy.
Other people we visited gave us a
little change. I would bring in close to
$2 at the end of the season, at a time
when money was scarce.
Christmas went on and on because
of the calendar our Ukrainian culture
went by.
Our gifts were predetermined long
before Christmas day arrived, and
depended on need more than want.
Usually, they were items like socks,
pants or a pair of felt boots. We did
feel a bit cheated.
At the country school, Santa handed
out bags of goodies to everyone.
The school always had a tree and we
sang carols in English. Ukrainian was
not tolerated then in school and
speaking it would bring a harsh punishment.
Church was important. At Christmas,
church was crowded and there
was a service at midnight. It was difficult
to stand at church for what
seemed an eternity as the preacher
went on and on in a language (Slavonic)
I never understood and only a
few grown-ups knew.
I was supposed to learn the Lord’s
Prayer in this language, but never
could.
It was an age of confusion for me.
English only at school, Ukrainian in
the community and Slavonic in
church.
At home we sometimes had a simply
decorated tree. When power
came to our farm, we set up a tree
with one string of lights and some
tinsel. My sisters looked after that.
Christmas was a time for visiting
and when a few kids got together, we
played games in the snow that no one
plays now, such as Ring Around the
Rosie.
As well, we’d sometimes play
Christmas memories from readers are
featured on pages 23-25 in this special
edition of the Farm Living section.
cricket in the schoolyard barn or go
skating on the outside rink if we
cleaned the ice, at least those that
had skates could.
Ukrainian celebrations
On Ukrainian New Year’s, based on
the Julian calendar, Malanka came.
THE WESTERN PRODUCER | WWW.PRODUCER.COM | DECEMBER 13, 2012
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
An Angus-Simmental ranch and and an
eager, young farm couple add up to a
promising future. | Page 23
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS | UKRAINIAN CULTURE
Christmas past: simple, meaningful
Warm memories | Special treats, coins, games and a Christmas tree with a string of lights followed by carols at church
Christmas on the farm a half century ago was filled with family and friends and traditions. | FILE PHOTOS
It’s a tradition in which carolers dress
up and go from house to house performing
small plays or playing
pranks.
They scared us kids by doing strange
things in the house that I didn’t
understand, but they also handed out
candy and peanuts.
Just because it was festive season,
21
that didn’t mean the workload eased.
The animals had to be fed and
watered, pens had to be cleaned,
cows milked, fires tended, ashes
cleaned out and wood boxes filled.
At the end of Christmas Day, I was
tired. I was doing this work at a
young age.
At Christmas I always gave the animals
a little extra feed and a bit more
bedding in their pens.
I think I could honestly say that as
young kids we all knew the meaning
and the reason for this special event.
Jesus Christ was born this day, and
He was very special. He later died for
us — so all our sins could be forgiven,
so that we can go to Heaven.
It was also a time when people
hitched horses to cutters and put
bells on the harnesses.
I recall going out with my sisters in a
cutter pulled by a horse with bells on
the harness.
We went around the block, six
miles, dropping into a few places to
warm up and, of course, hoping for
more goodies, which we always got.
In those days there were 15 families
in the six-mile area around us and
only a few had a car.
Yes, Christmas has changed a lot.
This season is more commercialized
now, and some children never hear
about the miracle of Jesus’s birth.
This is very sad. We have really lost a
lot in those 60 years.
Twelve special dishes are prepared
for the Christmas Eve meal that begins
only after the first star appears.
The dishes are to remind us of the
twelve Apostles. Food for the Holy
Supper is prepared with no meat or
dairy products.
At our Christmas Eve meals, hay
was put under the table as a reminder
of the humble place of Christ’s birth.
On top of the table was an embroidered
tablecloth.
According to tradition, in the middle
of the table a kolach (bread) is placed
with a candle, which is left burning.
A lit candle is also placed in the
window to welcome any homeless or
lonely people. There is an extra table
setting for the deceased souls. When
all the family is at the table, prayers
are recited and Boh Predvichny (God
eternal) is sung.
After supper, nuts and candies are
scattered in the hay under the table
for the children to find. Throughout
the rest of the evening, carols are
sung.
When it is midnight, everyone goes
to the nativity mass at church.