To Ukrainians,
Christmas comes but twice a year
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arning: This article contains your good luck in the year ahead. (There Christian religious content. aren’t many men in today’s Ukrainian Reader discretion is advised. families that would have the courage to try For most, the Christmas season has this and still hope for a joyous Christmas.) come and gone. The bright lights and Three-tiered kolachi (decorated breads) glitter that seemed so festive a couple of will be featured on the table representing weeks ago are looking tired and tacky and the Holy Trinity and topped with a white ready to be packed away for another year. candle. The combination represents Christ The spirit of Christmas present has joined as the light of the world and bread of life. the rank and file of Christmas past, saving Although the menu will vary slightly in this year’s memories, both good different households, most will and bad, to be revisited in the include borshch (soup), holubtsi years ahead. You have probably (cabbage rolls), bowls of varealready stood in line in stores to nyky (perogies) with various return the items you lined up to fillings, fish dishes, beans, purchase a short time ago, askmushrooms and vegetables. The ing yourself about the futility of feast will end with stewed fruit the whole exercise. and poppyseed cake. (And I But for those Canadians of wonder why I’m rotund!) Ukrainian extraction that follow This symbolic meal has been the Julian calendar, Christmas celebrated by Ukrainian famiis still on the horizon. The comlies for generations. It is culture mon refrain is “Ho, Ho, Ho; woven with faith. Ukrainian Columnist Christmas comes but twice a costumes will be donned, and year.” pride of heritage will prevail, encouragFor Ukrainians, English Christmas is ing the next generation to continue with about Santa Claus, gift giving and social- the traditions. Family members who have izing. It is the warm-up to the one true passed on will be remembered in stories Christmas where the focus is celebrating from celebrations of yesteryear. The gifts the birth of Christ. And the celebration is of a Ukrainian Christmas are the joys of steeped in tradition. family, food, faith and remembrance. And On Jan. 6 (Ukrainian Christmas Eve) for Ukrainian children, the bonus is an young children will be kept busy watching extra day off school. out the window looking for the first star, Political correctness falls by the wayreadying themselves for family and friends side. The celebration will not be diluted who are expected to arrive before the star with Season’s Greetings, Happy Holidays appears. In keeping with tradition, hay will or any other yuletide salutations. Ukraibe scattered under the table with the hope nian Christians will greet each other with for an abundant harvest — and for some, Khrystos rodyvsia (Christ is born) and rein recognition of the birth of the Christ ply with Slavim Yoho (Let us glorify him). child in a stable. The Babas will be busy in Ukrainian Christmas, like the English, the kitchen preparing 12 traditional meat- is a season that brings out the best in less dishes, symbolic of the 12 apostles. people. It is a time of generosity and goodAnd what a dinner it will be. will towards one another. There is sincerity The meal will start with kutia, a wheat in wishing mankind happiness, peace and and honey dish. In our family it will be joy. It makes you wonder what a wondermixed with poppy seed and nuts. The ful world it would be if this attitude could wheat represents the staff of life and the be carried on year round. honey the spirit of Christ. It symbolizes I missed wishing all of you a Merry peace, prosperity and good health. In days Christmas in December. So I take this opof old the head of the family (usually the portunity to share our Christmas with you Dad) would toss a spoonful of kutia at the and to wish you and your families a happy ceiling. According to folklore, the more and healthy 2014. kernels that stuck to the roof, the better ehnatyshyn@gmail.com
ELAINE HNATYSHYN
Recycle your Christmas tree
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very year, the City of Saskatoon sets up temporary drop-off sites to collect live trees. This year they opened on Dec. 26 and will stay open until Jan. 31. Christmas trees can be dropped off unwrapped and unbound at the following locations: Primrose Drive Recycling Depot (next to Lawson Civic Centre) Edmonton Avenue Recycling Depot (at Edmonton Avenue and Avenue P) Meadowgreen Recycling Depot (22nd Street and Witney Avenue) Lowe Road Recycling Depot (Attridge Drive and Lowe Road) George Ward Pool parking lot (Fifth Street East and Grosvenor Avenue) Wildwood Golf Course parking lot (Eighth Street East) Doukhobor Cultural Society of Saskatchewan parking lot (17th Street West and Avenue I)
SASKATOONEXPRESS - January 6-12, 2014 - Page 7
Amati Quartet going for gold with Beethoven collection
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Tammy Robert Saskatoon Express
he University of Saskatchewan’s Amati Quartet is reaching for new heights in 2014. “It’s an Olympic year, so we wanted to take on an Olympic-sized challenge,” said Marla Cole, founding member, first violinist and artistic director with the quartet. Together with Rudolf Sternadel (violin), Geoff Cole (viola) and Terence Sturge (cello), Cole has announced the quartet’s intention to cycle through all 16 of Ludwig Beethoven’s string quartets. “Beethoven wrote 16 string quartets, spanning his lifetime,” said Cole. “When you perform the cycle, you can hear the evolution of him as a composer and a person. As a string player in a string quartet, it’s the ultimate achievement. We said this is it: 2014 is the year.” The six-concert cycle begins Saturday Jan. 11 at Third Avenue United Church at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The first of the six concerts features three of Beethoven’s quartets. Each presents a unique insight into the legendary composer’s life. “I can see why Hollywood makes movies about him,” said Cole, who has devoted much of her time to studying the man behind the music in preparation for the series. In their first concert, the Amati Quartet will be performing Beethoven’s String Quartet in E flat Major, Opus 127. “It’s from part of the late period of Beethoven’s life,” said Cole. “It was
a piece commissioned by a Russian prince.” Next up will be Beethoven’s String Quartet in F major, Opus 18, Number 1. “In the margins of the manuscript you can see Beethoven’s handwriting, which states the piece is about two lovers on the verge of separating,” said Cole. “He said the music represents the scene of the tomb in Romeo and Juliet.” Then the quartet will perform Beethoven’s String Quartet in C major, Opus 59, Number 3. “It’s quite autobiographical,” said Cole. “Each movement can be seen to represent a certain portion of his life. At the point of writing this piece he was already deaf.” Studying the man behind the music is so important for professional musicians, said Cole. “You can get a lot of insight into Beethoven, thanks to his conversation notebooks,” she said. “After he went deaf, people would write down what they wanted to talk about with him, and he would either reply in the notebook or verbally. As musicians performing his work we first need to study all of his music and his life. We read his letters and notebooks to get as much insight as possible into everything about his life.” The Amati Quartet’s Beethoven Cycle – Concert No. 1: Saturday, Jan. 11, Third Avenue United Church, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $30 adult, $25 seniors (65+), $15 students. Available at www.persephonetheatre.org. In person: Remai Arts Centre, 100 Spadina Crescent East (306-384-7727).
RS31447.A06 Rob
Churchill Gardens Now Selling Beautiful Courtyard Suites in Phase II Relax in the serene surroundings of your own private park as others do the maintenance. Gorgeous adult condos bordering Churchill Park, complete with beautiful amenities. Close to shopping, bus routes and freeway access, nestled in one of Saskatoon’s quietest and most desirable areas. Discovery Center:
Mon - Sat: 1:30 - 5:00 pm Or by appointment with Morley Miller
Live trees dropped off at these locations are chipped and composted or used as mulch. Artificial trees are not accepted for recycling and should be taken to the Landfill. Our live tree recycling program is designed to reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill and help grow a greener Saskatoon. For more information about recycling and waste handling visit SaskatoonRecycles.ca.
www.churchillgardens.ca
Corner of Ruth St. & Haultain Ave. Currently under construction. 374-1010 Discovery Centre 291-2420 Cell