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The Magic Behind a SnowflakeThe snow has started to fall.

The frosty days of winter have begun. Dark evenings envelope us and the whole world becomes introspective for a time.

Yet, in the moonlit hours, the magic of the first snowfall is a sight to behold. Surrounding ourselves with these dancing snowflakes, we try to catch one on our mitten. We witness its beauty and then it slips away. We have chosen to place snowflakes on the Museum’s ‘Yalynka’ this holiday season to represent the individuality of each and every person that has crossed our path and the memory that they hold, be it for a moment or for a lifetime. The sparkle and light that these people share with us on our journey is immeasurable and unique. It is the key to the magic that is the Ukrainian Museum of Canada.

Christmas and winter celebrations are steeped in culture, tradition and memory. The ‘Yalynka’s’ presence in the

Museum foyer is a testament to the symbolism it represents for the Museum and for its donors and their loved ones. It is strength. It is growth. It is eternal love. Most importantly, the ‘Yalynka’ provides recognition of the special people in our life. It reminds us of remarkable deeds and daily acts of kindness of people whose magic and contributions to our lives will be with us through the changing seasons.

We invite you to honour or remember someone who has brought you light, with a donation dedicated in their name to the Ukrainian Museum of Canada. We will, with grace and thanksgiving, place a gold snowflake on the Museum’s ‘Yalynka’ Christmas tree on their behalf.

May the Peace of this blessed time of the year provide you with warmth and comfort and may the beauty and magic of the first snowfall never leave you.

photo: Chain, site of Revelstoke Internment Camp, British Columbia, Sandra SemchukPhoto: Museum Sign, UMC Collection

Cover Photo: Archival Postcard, UMC Collection 3

Christmas, or ‘Rizdvo’, is one of the most revered holidays

for Ukrainian people across the world. Many customs and traditions related to celebrating the birth of Christ have been passed from generation to generation. One of the most vibrant and entertaining among them is traditional Ukrainian Christmas theatre commonly known as ‘Vertep’. The word ‘vertep’ comes from the Old Church Slavonic language and can be translated as a cave, ravine or creek. According to legend, when Joseph and Mary could not find a room to overnight in Bethlehem, they stayed in a cave on the outskirts of the city and Jesus was born there. Influenced by this legend, the name ‘Vertep’ has been traditionally used to describe a special theatre production that tells the story of Christmas.

‘Vertep’ productions appeared in Ukraine in the 17th century. They were created in a form of puppet theatre that would fit in a box, either elaborate or very simple, set to resemble a two-storey house or church with its front open to the public. The ‘Vertep’ box was carried around from city square to city square or house to house for each performance. The top floor, or top stage, was reserved for a traditional tale of Christmas with Mary, Joseph, three Kings, angels, shepherds and King Herod, culminating in the birth of Jesus Christ. The ground floor, or ground stage, was used for a Christmas-inspired second part of the performance. This play was often satirical and modelled on the present day, featuring peasants, lords, Kozaky, gypsies, Russian or Polish soldiers and various animals, depending on the location and time of

Puppeteering with Tradition

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4Photo: Detail from “Christmas in Hetman’s Ukraine”, by P. Andrusiv, 1976, from Ukrainian Folk Headwear

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...cont from page 4

the performance. All puppets in an original ‘Vertep’ were made from wood and were controlled by a single puppeteer who would change his voice depending on the part he played. Over time, ‘Vertep’ developed into elaborate productions. They involved numerous actors that voiced different parts and a choir that would sing religious songs and carols to accompany performances. The puppets were decorated to resemble people dressed in traditional Ukrainian clothing and some had movable parts, including a Kozak dancing hopak or King Herod losing his head. There could have been up to 40 puppets in one performance.

A later incarnation of the traditional Ukrainian Christmas theatre is a so called live ‘Vertep’. It was first introduced by students of Ukrainian gymnasiums, later favoured by travelling musicians and amateur actors. In this type of performance, people play all parts themselves without the use of puppets. The storyline is very similar to the one in the puppet theatre but combines both religious and secular aspects into one play with carols and Christmas songs. Today, participants of live ‘Vertep’ are people of various ages and backgrounds who come together to tell the world the joyous news of Jesus Christ’s birth.

photo: Korali from UMC collection

Photo: Detail from “Christmas in Hetman’s Ukraine”, by P. Andrusiv, 1976, from Ukrainian Folk Headwear

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On an August afternoon, sun beaming through the crisp

leaves, the Museum welcomed a visitor who wished to donate a book that belonged to her grandmother. The visitor was unfamiliar with the Museum’s acquisitions policy and was advised that we could not accept the book on the spot. The visitor then wanted a Museum employee to throw the book away. Her request was refused, as a Museum we cannot legally or ethically discard of items on someone else’s behalf. The visitor did not leave happy.

Later that day, this employee went outside to take in the last bit of sun and noticed this poor, abandoned book, once beloved by the anonymous visitor’s grandmother, discarded on the cold pavement, left to wither all by itself. So, we picked up the book, gave it a bit of love and took it indoors as a reminder of Museum policies.

Moral of the Story

We as a Museum, have a responsibility to our artefacts and to our mission statement. We have procedures and policies that must be followed for numerous reasons, including the fact that

the Museum does not have an infinite amount of space. If you have any artefacts you would like to donate, please email us at ukrmuse@sasktel.net with a couple of pictures of the item and any information or accompanying archival photographs or documents. We will research the Museum’s inventory should a similar item already be a part of the collection. A representative of the Museum will contact you. If the item is accepted, arrangements for shipping, delivery or drop off will be made.

Most importantly, please do not leave your family’s heirlooms on our doorstep, and please have patience with Museum employees, as they are following procedures in place to protect our visitors, donors and artefacts.

photo: Trophy and Photo from UMC collection

The Loneliest Book

Photo: The Loneliest Book, UMC Collection

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A Ukrainian Folktale

Rukavychka” is a Ukrainian Folk Tale set in a wintery

forest. “Rukavychka” tells the story of an elderly man that loses his mitten. As the mitten rests on the forest floor a host of animals make their way inside until it can no longer hold them. The old man finds his mitten and is none the wiser, although this mitten seems to be a little larger than the other.

This much-loved story has been translated into many languages and retold many times as “The Mitten”. The animals may vary with each version. The constant animals are the rabbit, owl, fox, bear, and mouse. The animals that vary are the mole for the frog, hedgehog for the wolf, and the badger for the boar. Another variation is who loses their

mitten. It may be an old man or a young boy or, at times, a little girl. Sometimes the mitten is salvageable and sometimes not. What remains the same is the moral of the story. The message promotes sharing and inclusion. Be it friend or foe the animals make room for each other to stay warm together on a cold winter’s day.

There are two versions of “The Mitten” available at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada. The first is the classic English adaptation of “The Mitten” written and illustrated by Jan Brett, featuring a young boy with white mittens lovingly made for him by his baba. The second is a new bi-lingual publication illustrated by Olha Tkachenko, retelling the tale she recalls from her childhood in Ukraine. Also available in the Museum’s Gift Shop is a complete set of animals, old man, and mitten large enough to accommodate all the characters to enhance your story telling with your little one. This gift set is handmade in Ukraine.

Photo: Board book,“The Mitten” credit to Jan Brett and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

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12Photo: Collage, UMC Collection

Upcoming Events

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December 201912.12.19- UMC Christmas Open House

31.12.19- UMC Website will be taken down(to be relaunched later in 2020)

January 202008.01.20- Pysanka workshop registration opens.(Workshop dates TBD)

March 202006.03.20- Flowers of the Bible, UMC Collection exhibition opens

June 202002.06.20- Enemy Aliens Internment in Canada 1914-1920, from the collection of the Canadian Museum of History, exhibition opens.

September 202017.09.20- UMC Harvest Crown Gala and Fashion Show

Photo: Detail from First Meeting of UWAC in Saskatchewan, William Kurelek, UMC Collection

2019 Donor List

Linda Balon Smith- IMO Ed BalonNancy BobickJoyce Bodnar- IMO Alexa DanyliukHelena Bohonos- IMO A & W SarchukSylvia M. Boychuk- Yalynka: IMO mother Dobr Lydia Bodnarchuk, Mark Boychuk, Myron Bodnarchuk, Lisa BoychukDobr. Genia Bozyk- YalynkaDr. Robert & Alice Chayka- IMO Taras Bayda & Michael SorochkaAdele Danyliuk- Yalynka: IMO husband Michael DanyliukAnn Danyliuk- IMO Alexa DanyliukSylvia GrayDr. Tony & Sharon HarrasBen Hladun- Yalynka: IMO Joni, Michael & Elaine HladunElaine Holowach-Amiot- Yalynka: IMO mother Stephania HolowachEleanor Humeny- BequestAlbert & Cecilia Kachkowski- IMO Syl Syrnick Anne Kalenchuk- IMO Eleanor Humeny Anna Kaminski- IMO Olyne PatrylukNick Kaweski- IMO Sylvester SyrnickLucillea Kish- IMO Sylvester SyrnickMarie Kishchuk- IMO Alexa DanyliukAlicia & Larry Klopoushak- IMO C.WoloschukTaras & Dorothy Korol- IMO Kay Woloschuk, Stan KlopoushakSonia Korpus

Myron P. KowalskyRachel Kowaluk- IMO Alexa DanyliukIrene Krawchuk- IMO Sylvester SyrnickEugene & Nancy KuceyLucillea KishVery. Rev. Taras & Dobr. Joanne MakowskyElaine Mazier Maksymiuk- IMO Alexa DanyliukJean Maksymiuk- Yalynka: IMO Prof D & Helen Maksymiuk Norman Mazuren- IMO Anne KrepiakevichMarlene Mysak & Brian Goin - IMO K. WoloschukSonia Mysak- IMO Alexa Danyliuk, Syl SyrnickGeorge & Ellen ParchomchukPete PawlukLesia Perritt- IMO Anna ZwozdeskySteve & Aileen PillipowEd Pohranychny- IMO Michalina TatarynAdelle & Don Ratcliffe-Smith- IMO Eleanor Humeny Emelia SamcoeConnie SenkiwAnna Siryj- YalynkaJune Skrepnick- IMO Michael DanyliukAnita & Don Slobodzian- IMO Sylvester SyrnickSonia & Harold Sokyrka- IMO Syl SyrnickSt. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Ladies AuxiliarySt. John’s Cathedral Branch, UWACBrian Starkell- IMO Sylvester SyrnickElsie Stefanuk- IMO Alexa Danyliuk

J William Strus & Marian ShemeluckAdele Trischuk- IMO Kay WoloschukUkrainian Self Reliance Assoc. (TYC), Steppe Branch- In support of UMC and it’s valuable work in and beyond the community.Ukrainian Society of Prosvita- to further the excellent preservation of Ukrainian artifacts.UWAC Hanka Romanchych Branch (Saskatoon)- IMO Alexa DanyliukUWAC Lesia Ukrainka Branch (Vancouver)- 2019 donationUWAC Maria Markovych Branch (Canora)- Annual DonationUWAC National OfficeUWAC Olena Pchilka Branch (North Battleford)- YalynkaUWAC Olena Pchilka Branch (Yorkton)- IMO Kay WoloschukUWAC St Elias ParishLidia Wasylyn- Yalynka: IMO Nestor Wasylyn Michael Wawryshyn- IMO Halia WawryshynVera Webster- IMO Alexa DanyliukRosaline Winnichyh- IMO Sylvester SyrnickElarry & Valerie Wiwcharuk- IMO Mary G. WiwcharukZixin ZhangChristine Zwozdesky- IMO Michalina Tataryn

Thank you to all of our donors for your generous donations during the year. The list below is updated to October 31st, 2019. We apologize if we missed anyone in print as we are still processing donations.

17Photo: Rural Church, UMC Collection

Membership Renewal

photo: Only the stars know the story it tells, Raeleen Monks, from UMC collection18

With the year drawing to a close, we would like

to remind you to get your membership renewals in! Memberships are valid from January 1 - December 31 of each calendar year.

If you wish to vote at our next AGM, date TBD, you will need to purchase your membership, by calling or visiting the museum, prior to June 30, 2020. New members welcome!

REMINDER!

Spadshchyna Honour Roll

Nadeya Melissa Constance Bodnar Olga Borsa

Mae Chwaluk Orest Danyliuk

Rose Faryna Honourable Dr. Sylvia Fedoruk

Sylvia GrybaWilliam Gryba

Bohdan HarasymiwElaine Verchomin Harasymiw

Zenia J HawryshEleanor Humeny

Pauline Ignash Rose Jarman

Albert KachkowskiCecilia Kachkowski

Victoria Kereluk Regehr Peter Kiziak

Sylvia Susan Kiziak Anne Krawetz Eugene KuceyNancy Kucey

Estate of Sophie LucykOla Martyn

Jean A. MekitiakBernice Mysak Marlene Mysak David Mysak Sonia Mysak

Alice NicholaichukNellie Pawlik

John ProkipchukRussell Sawchyn Nadia Schulha

Orysia D ShrubsoleRev Eugene Stefaniuk

Caroline TokarikWilliam Tokarik

Anna TrojanDr. Oleh Trojan

Elaine Agnes Yaychuk Elizabeth Zoochkan

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Donations and bequests are essential for continued existence! A planned commitment to the Spadshchyna Honour Roll helps support the heart and soul of the Museum for the future.

We are extremely honoured by those who have made a bequest to the Museum by naming the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Saskatoon as a beneficiary.

Photo: Archival Photo, UMC Collection