And at our holiday,
Who is sad – must cheer up!
Songs, dancies, and long tale –
We’ll have fun at the holiday!
On the 12th of December, before St. Andriy’s Day, in the assembly hall of the main building took place an ethnological holiday “Andriya”, which was organized by Ukrainian Literature, Ukrainian Ethnography and Teaching Methods Chair (head of the chair – Professor Nataliya Syvachuk.
Under the guidance of Inna Tereshko and Nataliya Mamchur, students-philologists presented the theatre performance on national customs and traditions, which were carried out a long time ago during St. Andriy’s holiday. Those, who visited the event, had an opportunity to plunge into the past and to be in touch with national traditions. At the fest were performed national songs and jokes, played games.
Among the great winter holidays the funniest and unexpected was St. Andriy’s day, celebrated on the 13th of December, when the rural youth traditionally came together to celebrate at honorary woman’s place.
The same was this time at our holiday: the stage was transformed into an old Ukrainian small house with embroided towels, traditional oven, earthenware crockery, rich table and delicious courses; modern students where changed into true Ukrainian girls and strong boys – fine fellows, who had a fun, told fortunes, sang songs… The festive atmosphere was supplemented by vivid Ukrainian music, traditional Ukrainian clothes – embroided shirts, peasants’ overcoat, belts, ribbons in girls’ hair and neckerchieves.
Girls visited the hostess Natalka. They brought water from a source to prepare “andriychyky”, varenyky, and cook kalyta. Meanwhile, boys were roistering and waiting for girls.
Girls told about different kinds of fortune telling: by firewood, columns, name of the first person you meet, on shades, etc. They also told fortune by means of matches, mirrors, candles…
As adornment of Andriy festival, was Mrs. Pronya; together with girls she told fortune about future husband and fate. They threw away high boots, saying, “The toecap’s direction indicates who is suitor and where he lives”.
The members of the folklore ensemble “Sofia” (director – Vasyl Semenchuk) sang a lot of Ukrainian lyric and joyful songs.
After this, the Andriy festival at hostess’ Natalka place visited boys. While singing songs, they made some nasty tricks; they courted girls, boasted by their good looks, proprieties and skills. Girls treated boys to varenyky and kalach with honey.
The evening was originally suplemented by a song about preparation of varenyky by boys.
The evening was proceeded by fortune telling by “andriychyky”: whose pampushka would be eaten by a dog, that girls will get married first. This time boys wanted to spoil everything again. I response, girls delivered boys funny tasks.
As culmination of the fest was traditional kalyta biting.
In the end the audience was treated to delicious kalyta. The event was finished with a final song “Ukraine is a pearl” performance.
Everything was held as in reality: the hostess, girls, who came to tell fortune, naughty boys, Mr. Kalytsky with kalyta.
The ethnographic festival was unforgettable because of Ukrainian songs performance, delicious kalyta and merriment!
Let’s serve Ukrainian national traditions treasure!
