By Ev Bishap —

SVITLANA Wheeler and her daughter, Olena Guseva, along with
the aroma of fresh coffee and homemade cookies, welcomed me into
their cozy home,

In this season of already hectic, bustling Christmas activity and
the hodgepodge of Christmas parcels, baking and light shows, their
house was very peaceful and devoid of ary obvious trappings of
Christmas decor.

asked Svitlana if she had started any shopping or gift-wrapping -
and she laughed out loud, “What? Why? Christmas is still two

“weeks away.”

‘Trealized then that there were going to be some major differences

in the way they had celebrated Christmas in the Ukraine and how

_.. Christmas is often celebrated in Canada.

' Svitlana and Olena came to Canada from Odessa, Ukraine i in July
“of 1997," ,

Although this will be their fifth Christmas in Canada and they have

adopted some Canadian Christmas habits, most of their celebration is
- in’ keeping with how they celebrated in Odessa.
» ~ From.1947 to 1991, ihe Ukraine was under the Communist control
of Russia and no formal religious holiday celebrations were allowed.
__~ Christmas was not even on the calendar and there was no day off
“from work,

“Svitlana remembers that on Jan, 7 (Ukrainian Christmas is based
on the ancient Julian calendar. It has
“a [3-day lag from the Gregorian
“calendar that much of the world
“now. incorporates.) people
“would rush home from work

and try to prepare festive
‘foods, knowing that come
- seven or eight o clock at night,
family would arrive to
. celebrate.
~~ Tronically, because
of the separation of
. church and state, the

Olena

Guseva &
Svitlana
Wheeler

: Church: would still

have services both on
Christmas Eve and on
Christmas Day.

~ | Most people

attended a service,
whether they were
‘believers or not,

Ko mater whan you eale
3 QO peas anel hap

because of the great
beauty of Odessa’s
churches.

Even after the Ukraine
gained independence and
Christmas was formally
allowed again, it remained a
quiet holiday with the focus

mostly on spiritual things and/or
the blessings of having friends
and family.

Svitlana said it was a day to
concentrate on forgiveness; a day ta
make peace with people with whom
you had problems.

The customs of Ukrainian people
in their celebrations of Christmas vary
greatly and Svitlana was quick to say
that the traditions that she follows may
be different than those of other Ukrainians.

Tt was customary to awake on the morning
of Jan. 7 and to greet each family
member with three kisses.

Although “Merry Christmas” is now heard in
the Ukraine, the traditional Christmas greeting
is suill Khristos rodyvsya! (Christ is bora!)
to which people respond with, Slavite Yoho!
{Let Us Glorify Him!)

The biggest — and most intensive part of
the Christmas celebration is the meal.

A Ukrainian Christmas dinner con-
sists of 12 different food dishes, one
for each of the 12 disciples of
Christ.

Some of the traditional foods
are fish, salad, perogies, bread
and kutya; a sweet porridge-like
dish made with wheat, poppy
¢ seeds, honey and, sometimes,

. raisins,

Some people make all their
dishes meatless, some people
fast for a period of time before
the supper and some people,
| like Svitlana's family, include
* meat dishes.

The desserts sound
fabulous and Svitlana, who kept
insisting that she doesn’t
Gok that much,

described in vivid detail a
delicious sounding pastry treat called Drownings

: That's because after you stuff bits of pastry

with honey and ground nuts and poppy seeds and
twist the pastry, you drown them by soaking them in water until
they float to the surface, then you bake them,

There is only a small amount of gift giving associated with
Christmas. Godparents bring gifts, one present per child, in ihe eve-
ning when they came to visit.

Parents give gifts on New Year's instead, and again, usually one
present for each child.

While we were talking, Olena suddenly exclaimed, “Father Frost!”
Father Frost, I was told with a chuckle, is a kind old grandfather
who looks very much like our version of Santa Claus ~ red suit, white

beard and all.

He is rumoured to be looking for his long-lost, beloved grand-
daughter. As he searches, he stops at houses and drops off a present
and candy beneath decorated trees on New Year's Eve.

I commented that the huge emphasis on presents in Canada must
seem a bit much. Svitlana laughed and agreed vehemently, shaking
her head in disbelief while noting that people max out their credit:*-
cards.

Tasked if she had changed her gift buying habits and she nodded
that she had,

She does buy for friends now because she wants to celebrate in a
Canadian manner, but she says that she still doesn't over do-it.

Christmas, says Svitlana is about having peace in your heart and
everybody coming together and being happy.

Ey Bishop is a local writer.

Lodi,

_ Alcan Primary Metal
‘. British Columbia

4 LCAN |

Alcan Kitimat Works, we would like to wish everyone a

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

On the Spirit of the Season we have chosen to
. make a donation to the Food bank in Liew. of
out Annual Christmas Card mailout.

Here's T
ve ® Colerful HSiiday

Decorate your home with loads of good cheer

and our hope that this Christmas finds you and your
family healthy and happy.
We appreciate the business of all our loyal customers.

TERRACE INTERIORS

4610 Lazelle Avenue, Terrace

635- 6600

HAVE A Beary MERRY
‘Ano A Happy NEw YEAR!

CHISTMAS

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= Terrace, C.
Gr Ph: 635-3245

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4702 Lakelse Avenue
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Ph: 635-6302

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3086 Highway 16 East
Terrace, B.C. V8G 3N5
Phone: 635-6375
Fax: 635-6129

Thornhill Pub

2387 Thornhill Street |
Terrace, B.C.

Ph: 638-8404

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3752 Highway 16 East
Terrace, B.C. V8G 4T1
Phone: 635-8407 Fax: 635-6919

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3752 Highway 16 East
Terrace, B.C. V8G 4TI
Phone: 635-3407 Fax: 635-6919