Chicago celebrated St. Andrew's Eve, an event that brought together Ukrainian youth and the older generation for an educational and entertaining gathering full of folk customs, music, and good deeds.
This was reported by Radio UA Chicago.
On the eve of St. Andrew's Day, November 29, the Ukrainian community of Chicago gathered in the welcoming Eventus Hall to recreate the atmosphere of traditional eves. The event was organized by Yulia Danyliuk, a cultural figure and founder of the event.ua platform, which has been holding events dedicated to Ukrainian heritage and charity in the United States for several years.
“I suggest you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of folk traditions,” Yulia Danyliuk addressed the guests at the beginning of the evening. Together with the singer BARVA, she created a warm mood and successfully combined the ethnographic component with modern artistic accents.
Spiritual mentor Father Ihor Darmohray reminded those present about the figure of the holy apostle Andrew the First-Called and told how pagan traditions are intertwined with Christian ones. Everyone agreed: that evening, fortune-telling is left aside - instead, there are many other entertainments.
One of the brightest moments was a mini-performance from the youth community "Molod PRO". Young actors showed with humor and warmth what modern party girls could be like: the hostess calling to the house, the "hostage of TikTok", the daughter with a gadget in her hands, and even the American guest John, who willingly learned Ukrainian dances.
The musical program was especially rich. Mykola Stefurak played the dulcimer, and the dance "Heavenly Stars" was performed by the youngest participants from the Creative Kids studio. Singing numbers were presented by BARVA, Tetyana Darmohray, Lyubov Lukashevych, Andriy Gambal, Bohdan Savchuk, Viktoriya Basista and Maksym Pashchuk. Guests not only listened, but also sang along with pleasure.
Traditional dishes became a separate part of the holiday: dumplings, cabbage rolls, pampukhy, homemade pastries, uzvar and cocktails created the real taste of Ukrainian evenings. The brave ones tried to bite into kalita - not always successfully, but fun.
Crafts also filled the space. The workshop of potter Yuriy Matichyn was especially popular. Guests lined up to create a clay bowl or mug with their own hands.
You could also buy honey, silver jewelry, handmade candles, and stylized clothing from Ukrainian brands.
NAVKA, a performer, designer, and volunteer, was a special guest. She performed her own songs, presented her own clothing collection, and called on those present to join the charity auction in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The evening ended with dancing and a Ukrainian disco – just like it used to be in the villages, when “you musicians, play and play, and you people, listen; and you old people, go home, young people, dance…”.
Despite the blizzard that prevailed that evening in Chicago, the warm atmosphere of the close-knit Ukrainian community gave a sense of home and continued the long-standing tradition of parties far from the Motherland. The guests thanked the organizers for a sincere and inspiring celebration, which will warm their memories for a long time to come.
Photo: Radio UA Chicago / Surma Newspaper.
Author: Danylo Pievchev