Chicago hosted a colorful presentation of the ethnic calendar "Origins of Living Roots" featuring authentic Ukrainian traditions. Each page of the calendar is a vibrant image of Ukrainian culture and national identity. The funds raised from the sale of the calendar will be donated to the Ukrainian military through the Hero's Defense Fund and the Protez Foundation.
This was reported by one of the organizers of the event and director of the StarKids modeling school Kateryna Groth. директорка школи моделювання StarKids Катерина Грот.
The evening of the presentation of the ethnic calendar "Origins of Living Roots" in Chicago was an event that will remain in the hearts of those present for a long time. The event brought together the Ukrainian community, representatives of the Diaspora, and artists who popularize Ukrainian culture around the world.
The idea of the calendar is to preserve and pass on the traditions of Ukrainian folk costumes, showing the uniqueness of each region of Ukraine. The authors of the project are Roksolana Prokopiv and Kateryna Grod, and the models are young talents from the StarKids USA modeling school.
"Imagine the living pages of the new calendar for 2025, where the main characters are not only dressed in folk costumes, but also take the microphone and sing... each month is programmed with an ethnic region of our Ukraine by the incredible local historian Roksolana Prokopiv, each season is revealed in the beauty of young models from the school of Kateryna Grod! These two young fairies managed not only to find sponsors to produce calendars for every family in Chicago and in the Diaspora that professes their own, native, but also to attract the youngest to feel the spirit of generations and to commune the guests with the sincerity of their thoughts invested in the great work of preserving and reproducing the traditions of folk dress in the Diaspora," shared her impressions of the ethnic calendar Maria Klymchak, Executive Director of the Kyiv Mohyla Foundation of America.
The program of the evening was indeed rich. People's Artist of Ukraine Maria Burmaka performed an ancient ritual song. Tetyana Darmohray Kulynych, members of the Prykarpattya Quintet and a children's vocal group led by Honored Artist of Ukraine Svitlana Vesna also enchanted the guests with their unique Ukrainian songs. The host of the event, Mariana Balash, filled the evening with energy and warmth.
Each copy of the calendar costs $25, and all proceeds from the sale will be donated to support wounded Ukrainian soldiers undergoing treatment in the United States - the Hero's Defense Fund at St. Joseph the Betrothed Church and the Protez Foundation, which provides prosthetic limbs for Ukrainian soldiers. In total, it is planned to distribute half a thousand copies to Ukrainian families in Chicago and the diaspora.
Photo: Maksym Prokopiv
Author: Inna Mikhno