In Bellevue, Washington, the traditional St. Andrew's Eve was held, organized by the Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka and the HraiMore group - an evening that became a real opening of the festive New Year and Christmas season for the Ukrainian community in Seattle.
This was reported Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka та HraiMore.
According to the organizers, in the warm circle of compatriots they managed to revive the true spirit of Ukrainian winter celebrations: singing, dancing, fortune-telling, a master class on sculpting dumplings, games and homemade treats - all this created an atmosphere where tradition came to life.
"Yesterday at the Ukrainian Cultural Center Toloka we recreated all the magical events of this evening. We jumped after Kalita, and those who did not manage to bite - we smeared with soot.
We molded dumplings with Toloka. We sang, danced, and told fortunes about the soon-to-come peace,” said volunteer and craftswoman Alla Svystun.
In addition to ceremonial entertainment, everyone had the opportunity to learn traditional Ukrainian dances, do wax fortune-telling, and sing old songs with Olga Shah and the HraiMore band, which became the soul of the evening.
Як ми чудово провели час на Андріївських вечорницях у українському центрі «Толока»! What a wonderful time we had at the St. Andrew’s Vechornytsia at the Ukrainian center “Toloka”! A master class on dumplings, soulful singing, traditional games, and a hearty feast – everything created the atmosphere of a real Ukrainian holiday,” shared the impressions of the event participant Olga Kvitka.
This evening not only returned the participants to their roots, but also reminded them: Vechornytsia is not just entertainment, but also the joint creation of warmth, memory, and the Ukrainian spirit, which does not fade even thousands of kilometers from home.
“Vechornytsia is not just fun. "Once upon a time, young people would gather on winter evenings to sing, craft, tell fortunes, and share stories. It was an opportunity to feel unity, the warmth of community, and the joy of meeting people – something we so often lack today," the event organizers say.
Photo: Olga Kvitka, Alla Svystun
Author: Inna Mikhno