Pjevačke zimske blagdane: Koleda, Malanka, Ščedrij večir u Ukrajini

Cijeli ciklus godišnjih zimskih blagdana u Ukrajini ispunjen je dugogodišnjim tradicijama. Mnogi od njih imaju korijene u predkršćansko doba. No oni skladno uključuju i vjersku tradiciju. To uključuje stvaranje vertep-a, o čemu smo već ovdje pisali.

Kao i pripremanje tradicionalnih gozbi za proslavu Božića i početka Nove godine.

Uz sve to, posebno zanimljivo i inspirativno je posebno okupljanje kako bi se pjevalo, slavilo i išlo od kuće do kuće.

Za Božić Ukrajinci pjevaju kolednike, narodne pjesme koje se prenose s koljena na koljeno, uglavnom slaveći rođenje Krista. Izvode ih skupine prerušenih ljudi. Likovi u ovoj maski obično uključuju anđela, mudrace itd. Ranije su mladići i djevojke imali svoje skupine i nisu pjevali zajedno. Danas su ove skupine mješovite.

Za doček Nove godine postoje druge narodne pjesme koje se nazivaju ščedrivke, odnosno pjesme koje se pjevaju na Ščedrij večir. I njih pjeva skupina ljudi. Ali oni hvale domaćina, žele obitelji dobru godinu, bogatstvo, zdravlje itd. Najpoznatija ščedrivka je Ščedrik ili Carol of the Bells. Ova proslava 31. prosinca često se naziva Malanka, u čast Melanije Mlađe, kršćanske svetice. Svrha prerušavanja za Malanku je čista zabava. Može se utjeloviti bilo koga i bilo što, od starca do samog vraga.

I za kraj, postoji još jedan ritual koji se zove zasivanja ili posivannya. Rani ujutro prvog dana u godini dobrodošli su muškarci i dječaci u kuću, pjevati ili izgovarati dobre želje domaćinima i posipati oko malo pšenice ili ječma. Vjeruje se da ovaj obred donosi obilnu novu godinu obitelji.

Ukratko, bez obzira na tradiciju, staru ili novu, koja cvjeta u Ukrajini, čini se da uključuje zborsko pjevanje, ples i šalu. A ovo je možda najzdraviji način da se preživi ne samo duga zima, već gotovo sve.

Singing winter holidays: Kolyada, Malanka, Shchedryi vechir in Ukraine

The whole cycle of annual winter holidays in Ukraine is full of long-standing traditions. Many of them take their roots in pre-Christian times. But they harmoniously incorporate religious tradition. These include the creation of verteps, which we have already described here.

As well as cooking traditional feasts to honor Christmas and the start of the New Year.

With all that, the special kind of getting together to sing, and celebrate, and go from house to house is particularly interesting and inspiring.

For Christmas, Ukrainians sing kolyadky, folk songs passed from generation to generation, celebrating, predominantly, the birth of Christ. These are performed by a group of dressed up people. The personages in this dress up usually include an angel, wise men, etc. Early in the day, young men and women had their own groups and did not sing together. Nowadays, these groups are mixed.

To celebrate New Year’s Eve there are other folk songs called schedrivky, i.e. songs sang on Shchedryi vechir. These are also sung by a group of people. But they praise the host, wish the family a good year, wealth, health, etc. The most famous schedryvka is Shchedryk, or The Carol of the Bells. In some regions this celebration on the 31st of December is called Malanka, in honor of Melania the Younger, a Christian saint. The purpose of dressing up for Malanka is pure fun. One can impersonate anyone and anything, from an old man to the devil himself.

And to polish this off, there is yet another ritual called zasivannya, or posivannya. Early in the morning of the first day of the new year, men and boys are welcomed to come into the house, to sing or recite good wishes to the hosts, and through around some wheat or barley. This ritual is believed to bring a prosperous new year to the family.

All in all, whichever tradition, old or new, thrives in Ukraine, it seems to incorporate choir singing, dancing, and joking. And this is maybe the most healthy way to survive not only a long winter, but almost anything.