Reflections on Ukrainian Christmas from Winnipeg's Todaschuk sisters

Merry Ukrainian Christmas!

Since today, Saturday January 7, is Ukrainian Christmas we thought it pertinent to get a behind the scene look at just what the day brings. So we asked the always charming performers, the Todaschuk Sisters, to fill us in.

Rosemarie and Charlene Todaschuk have captivated audiences throughout North America and in Ukraine. Their performances have taken them from the Bicentennial Celebrations in Los Angeles to the P.N.E. in Vancouver, Canada's National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin to festivals and celebrations in Montreal, Toronto, New York and Ukraine. They are also anthem singers for major sports events and organizations like the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Todashuk Sisters will be singing traditional Ukrainian Christmas Carols at McNally Robinson tonight (Saturday January 7) at 8:00 p.m.

Here they reflect on what Ukrainian Christmas means to them:

Ukrainian Christmas is a time of year that reminds us of the many family traditions and customs we hold close to our hearts; symbolizing our faith and celebrating life as we soulfully sing the most beloved of traditional Ukrainian Christmas carols, Kolyadky. 

As sisters, we are truly blessed to look forward to each Christmas with memories that always remind us of how our mother prepares Sviat Vechir or Holy Supper with the twelve Lenten dishes which symbolize the twelve apostles and are prepared with no meat or dairy products.  Hay is put under the table and under the tablecloth to remind us of the birth of Christ in the

manger. While our mother adorns the table with her finest embroidered linens and we look for the first star with great anticipation, our father brings in the Didukh, a sheaf of wheat which represents the gathering together of family, and places it in a corner of the dining room. A candle and a braided round bread, the kolach, symbolizing prosperity, is placed on the tablecloth and an extra place setting on the table is set for the souls of the deceased. Our mother would remind us that Christmas is about the giving of gifts from our heart; honouring our ancestors, family members, and those who gather round the table, as well as honouring the day of the Christmas Eve fast commemorating the hardship endured by Mother Mary en route to Bethlehem.  

The evening meal begins with the Lord's Prayer followed by the singing of the Nativity Tropar, Boh Predvichnyij. After the meal we carol throughout the evening, and as we sing, everyone is moved to smiles and tears. Then, our family goes to church at midnight for the Nativity Mass, a celebration of Christ's birth. Until Epiphany, we visit family and friends and carol to proclaim the birth of Christ.

We know that Christmas traditions are part of making wonderful memories, but more importantly, it is the sharing of traditions that continue to be passed on from one generation to the next.  To everyone celebrating Christmas Eve on January 6th and Christmas Day on January 7th according to the Julian calendar...We wish you a Merry Christmas and God's blessings for the best of everything in 2012!  Khrystos Rozhdayetsya!  Slavite Yoho!

This content is provided by Rosemarie and Charlene Todaschuk. The views expressed do not express the views of CBC. CBC is not responsible for this content