The session at the Window on America Center (14th January 2012) was dedicated to the cross-cultural enrichment.
We decided to invite our American friends to celebrate the New Year according to the Julian Calendar.
The celebration was planned as a tea ceremony in Slavic tradition.
A lot of authentic arte facts were collected from home and friends to create the atmosphere of a Slavic celebration.
The discussion table and the interior of the Centre were decorated with authentic Ukrainian embroidered hand towels (“rushnyk”s) and famous local painting ornament “Petrykivka”.
The Slavic dolls added extra fun to the design of the interior - a colorful Russian “Matreshka” and traditionally dressed Ukrainian rug- dolls “motanka”s (from the verb “motaty” – to wind, to coil ).
Some rustic household ware reminded us how ancient are the traditions of the Orthodox Christians - a clay porridge pot and milk pitcher, a wooden mortar and pestle, wooden spoons, etc.
The WOA staff and Club members dressed up in traditional outfits – Ms.Tamara presented Ukrainian style while Nastya Burova was wearing a national Russian dress “sarafan” with crown-like decoration headgear “kokoshnik’.
The Slavic tea ceremony traditions were introduced by the set of classical Russian paintings depicting people drinking tea.
Our American guests were impressed by the beautiful historic costumes on some paintings and received explanations from the club members.
The samovar is the central symbol of the Russian Tea Ceremony. As a combination “teapot & brewing device” it is a truly unique creation. The lower unit is an urn like unit where the water is boiled, with a tap to pour out the brewed water. A teapot rests on top using heat generated from the lower unit to create strong infusions. These strong infusions, zavarka, are then diluted with hot water from the lower unit to suit personal tastes.
Tea is traditionally consumed with lemon, honey and jam. Popular deserts for Russian tea party are ‘bubliki” (bagels) and “prianiki” (honey breads). In old times it was a habit to drink hot tea from a cup’s saucer – in order to cool the hot liquid faster. But we did not offer this unusual manner to our guests!
We suggested to try the lemon tea from a glass. In the Russian tea culture the hot glass was served in a special glass-holder and the metal tea spoon was used to keep the thin glass from cracking from the boiling water. A spoon in the glass also helps to cool the drink. Our American friends seemed to enjoy both tea and snacks!
In Ukraine we did not produce any special style in drinking tea. But Ukraine boasts its beetroot sugar and numerous porcelain factories.
To balance the Russian tea ware we presented a fine tea set by Baranovka porcelain factory founded in 1802 in the Zhytomir region of Ukraine. The elaborate sugar basin with mother of pearl and gold decoration and floral design contained sugar in cubes – also an old fashion in Slavic tea drinking.
Our American guests were sincerely surprised with all the new facts they have learned at our tea ceremony. And we hope they will remember this educational tea ceremony!
The club members asked numerous questions about the favorite drinks in the USA and learned new facts about the modern trends in tea and coffee drinking.
From the tea ceremony we logically proceeded to discuss ethnic traditions of celebrating New Year in Ukrainian countryside. Many details of such traditions were unknown even to the Ukrainian club members.
Malanka is a Ukrainian folk holiday celebrated on January 13, which is New Year's Eve in accordance with the Julian calendar .
Malanka commemorates the feast day of Saint Melania the Younger. On this night in Ukraine, carolers traditionally went from house to house playing pranks or acting out a small play (similar to Vertep), with a bachelor dressed in women's clothing leading the troop.
Malanka caps off the festivities of the Christmas holidays, and is often the last opportunity for partying before the solemn period of Lent which precedes Easter.
In the western Ukraine the Malanka traditions have been preserved best and have acquired features of a true folk carnival.
The climax of Malanka celebrations is best to be watched. Hundreds if not thousands of people wearing masquerade costumes of Devils, Gypsies, Bears, Goats and other creatures pour out into the streets engaging the passers-by and spectators in their boisterous and sometimes wild fun. The participants and spectators let themselves go — but there is never any violence or “violations of public order” to such an extent that it would require the police interference.
The traditional meal often consists of kutia (a wheat, poppy seed and honey mixture, symbolizing peace, prosperity and good health), meat or cheese varenyky, buckwheat pancakes and sausages.
The 14th is the feast day of Vasyl (Basil) the Great, one of the Church fathers.
These Christian holidays coincide with the solar cycles recognized in pre-Christian times. As an agrarian society, it was at this time of the year that ancestors of the Ukrainian people performed rituals to ensure plentiful crops, peace and well-being for all. The Malanka celebration serves as a bridge between the old and new religious traditions.
At the end of the session we have talked about the Slavic characters of New Year celebrations – Ded Moroz and Snow maiden.
The session was a success and thoroughly enjoyed by all the participants.
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