Newcomers from Ukraine celebrate holiday traditions in Winnipeg through carolling

Newcomers to Winnipeg from Ukraine got together with locals for a night of carolling and making gingerbread houses, as they hope and pray for peace in the new year.

It’s Tetiana Bezhenar’s first holiday season in Winnipeg, and she hoped to celebrate the holidays among other newcomers, through the tradition of carolling.

“Me personally, I hope we will be able to share this Christmas spirit through the song,” said Bezhenar. “It’s one of the biggest things in Ukraine and I’m so happy that here in Canada you keep this tradition alive.”

Bezhenar sang with a choir of new Ukrainian-Canadians this Christmas, and said she really enjoys being able to carol and sing folk songs in her new home, just like in Ukraine.

“It’s absolutely my pleasure to work with the newcomers and bring them together to sing and enjoy music,” said Maryka Chabluk, coordinator with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

Chabluk says the concert, which was held at Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, is a chance for people new to Canada to keep their traditions going, and around 150 people were in attendance.

“We have a newcomer children’s choir that’s presenting a nativity with lots of costumes, traditionally, the way they did it in Ukraine. The way they remembered it,” said Chabluk.

For many families, it’s their first holiday in Winnipeg. Chabluk says it’s important to make sure newcomers are able to maintain their culture, even as they have new, Canadian experiences.

“We have a youth choir and that’s really exciting because it’s those youth in their early teens that we want to include so that they feel welcome and that they continue with their Ukrainian traditions, and that they continue as part of the Canadian-Ukrainian community,” Chabluk said.

President of the Manitoba Provincial Council with UCC, Joanne Lewandowsky, says it’s important to her everyone feels welcome.

“It’s an afternoon prior to new years, a way to keep the children busy and occupied and for them to also share into their culture,” said Lewandowsky.

Bezhenar says she’s grateful Ukrainians and Canadians are able to come together this holiday season, and what she’s really hoping for in the new year is peace.