Ukrainian Winter Holiday Season

It is Winter Holiday Season, and the festivals are just as bright here in Ukraine as they are in the States. While still living in Oster, the small little mini-mart down the street from Anna's house had put up lights in in mid December, but the Christmas holiday is not celebrated until January 7th. This is because of the use of the Julian calendar which has these holidays falling thirteen days after ours back in the states which follow the Gregorian calendar...but in celebration of both calendars, we have festivals on both New Year's holidays.

A New Year's party was held during the last week of class at School 3. I was invited and was asked to help sing a few songs. They asked me to sing the Christmas song 'Silent Night,' as the party was on the day of American and Western European Christmas. I then joined the school district's foreign languages director Ostap and we sang "Auld Lang Syne." They then asked me to sing "Yesterday" with Olga, the music director. To my friends Gail, Jared and Catherine, you would be pleased here in Ukraine, as everyone is a Beatles fan. Every school performance I have seen at the three schools I have been involved with has had a student perform a Beatles number. Also, at this event Father Frost came to the show. He is similar to our Santa Clause in appearance.

New Year's was celebrated at home with Oksana, Alexie, Katya, and Vanya. It was a calm evening, and I didn't meet my traditional drinking mark. I had only a glass of wine and a glass of champagne, but the fridge is full and I have a little less than a month to drink what was left over and a couple of days to finish the food...shouldn't be a problem. It was to my surprise that gifts are exchanged on New Year's eve.

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