Latest news with #Christianization
Hamilton Spectator
13 hours ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Ukrainians celebrate midsummer traditions with song, dance and fire
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Hundreds of Ukrainians observed the longest day of the year on Saturday with a midsummer celebration of some of their oldest traditions, a display of cultural perseverance in a nation threatened by war. Rooted in Ukraine's ancient past of Slavic paganism the event, Ivana Kupala, features rituals and symbolism to honor the summer solstice, related to fertility, nature, purity and renewal — values that predate the region's Christianization at the end of the first millennium. At the open-air National Museum of Folk Architecture and Ukrainian Life on the outskirts of Kyiv, participants in embroidered shirts and blouses strolled among thatched-roof cottages, wooden churches and windmills dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. Women and girls wore vinoks — wreaths made from wildflowers — as they took part in folk dances, games and craft workshops. Viktoria Phi, a master of folk art at the museum, taught visitors to weave the colorful flowered headdresses. She said that Ivana Kupala, which also has variations in other Slavic countries from the Czech Republic to Bulgaria to Russia, was a 'small oasis' in the war in Ukraine, where people can 'walk and enjoy nature, architecture, songs and dances.' 'It's most popular among young people, and I am very happy when a family comes with young children,' she said. As the sun began to set over the wheat fields and wildflower meadows, hundreds formed a circle around a pyramid of logs. When the bonfire was lit, flames climbed into the twilight sky as music swelled and people spun around the pyre hand in hand. In a purification rite, some leapt over the burning embers. With Russia's war in Ukraine now in its fourth year and aerial attacks on cities intensifying, for some the observance of old folk customs holds deeper meaning. Saba Alekseev, 25, said the event gave her a chance to 'breathe some fresh air without thinking about (the war), for some time at least, because it's impossible to put it out of your mind under shelling.' For 18-year-old Sofia Orel, it was a reminder that 'it is crucial to support Ukrainian culture and traditions, especially since the war started, because this way we preserve what is ours.' 'As I am weaving a wreath, I'm thinking that I will teach my daughter how to do it,' she said. 'These are our traditions and they have to be passed on and honored.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Toronto Star
13 hours ago
- General
- Toronto Star
Ukrainians celebrate midsummer traditions with song, dance and fire
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Hundreds of Ukrainians observed the longest day of the year on Saturday with a midsummer celebration of some of their oldest traditions, a display of cultural perseverance in a nation threatened by war. Rooted in Ukraine's ancient past of Slavic paganism the event, Ivana Kupala, features rituals and symbolism to honor the summer solstice, related to fertility, nature, purity and renewal — values that predate the region's Christianization at the end of the first millennium.
San Francisco Chronicle
13 hours ago
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
Ukrainians celebrate midsummer traditions with song, dance and fire
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Hundreds of Ukrainians observed the longest day of the year on Saturday with a midsummer celebration of some of their oldest traditions, a display of cultural perseverance in a nation threatened by war. Rooted in Ukraine's ancient past of Slavic paganism the event, Ivana Kupala, features rituals and symbolism to honor the summer solstice, related to fertility, nature, purity and renewal — values that predate the region's Christianization at the end of the first millennium. At the open-air National Museum of Folk Architecture and Ukrainian Life on the outskirts of Kyiv, participants in embroidered shirts and blouses strolled among thatched-roof cottages, wooden churches and windmills dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. Women and girls wore vinoks — wreaths made from wildflowers — as they took part in folk dances, games and craft workshops. Viktoria Phi, a master of folk art at the museum, taught visitors to weave the colorful flowered headdresses. She said that Ivana Kupala, which also has variations in other Slavic countries from the Czech Republic to Bulgaria to Russia, was a 'small oasis' in the war in Ukraine, where people can 'walk and enjoy nature, architecture, songs and dances.' "It's most popular among young people, and I am very happy when a family comes with young children," she said. As the sun began to set over the wheat fields and wildflower meadows, hundreds formed a circle around a pyramid of logs. When the bonfire was lit, flames climbed into the twilight sky as music swelled and people spun around the pyre hand in hand. In a purification rite, some leapt over the burning embers. With Russia's war in Ukraine now in its fourth year and aerial attacks on cities intensifying, for some the observance of old folk customs holds deeper meaning. Saba Alekseev, 25, said the event gave her a chance to 'breathe some fresh air without thinking about (the war), for some time at least, because it's impossible to put it out of your mind under shelling.' For 18-year-old Sofia Orel, it was a reminder that "it is crucial to support Ukrainian culture and traditions, especially since the war started, because this way we preserve what is ours.' 'As I am weaving a wreath, I'm thinking that I will teach my daughter how to do it," she said. "These are our traditions and they have to be passed on and honored.'
Winnipeg Free Press
13 hours ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ukrainians celebrate midsummer traditions with song, dance and fire
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Hundreds of Ukrainians observed the longest day of the year on Saturday with a midsummer celebration of some of their oldest traditions, a display of cultural perseverance in a nation threatened by war. Rooted in Ukraine's ancient past of Slavic paganism the event, Ivana Kupala, features rituals and symbolism to honor the summer solstice, related to fertility, nature, purity and renewal — values that predate the region's Christianization at the end of the first millennium. At the open-air National Museum of Folk Architecture and Ukrainian Life on the outskirts of Kyiv, participants in embroidered shirts and blouses strolled among thatched-roof cottages, wooden churches and windmills dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. Women and girls wore vinoks — wreaths made from wildflowers — as they took part in folk dances, games and craft workshops. Viktoria Phi, a master of folk art at the museum, taught visitors to weave the colorful flowered headdresses. She said that Ivana Kupala, which also has variations in other Slavic countries from the Czech Republic to Bulgaria to Russia, was a 'small oasis' in the war in Ukraine, where people can 'walk and enjoy nature, architecture, songs and dances.' 'It's most popular among young people, and I am very happy when a family comes with young children,' she said. As the sun began to set over the wheat fields and wildflower meadows, hundreds formed a circle around a pyramid of logs. When the bonfire was lit, flames climbed into the twilight sky as music swelled and people spun around the pyre hand in hand. In a purification rite, some leapt over the burning embers. With Russia's war in Ukraine now in its fourth year and aerial attacks on cities intensifying, for some the observance of old folk customs holds deeper meaning. Saba Alekseev, 25, said the event gave her a chance to 'breathe some fresh air without thinking about (the war), for some time at least, because it's impossible to put it out of your mind under shelling.' For 18-year-old Sofia Orel, it was a reminder that 'it is crucial to support Ukrainian culture and traditions, especially since the war started, because this way we preserve what is ours.' 'As I am weaving a wreath, I'm thinking that I will teach my daughter how to do it,' she said. 'These are our traditions and they have to be passed on and honored.'
Hamilton Spectator
06-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Good things grow at the Gardens
Planting Day at Gardens of Hope this year was heavier on the weeding than the planting, but after a hard day's work, and more that followed, the land is once again prepared to serve as a source of inspiration – and nourishment – to the community. 'It's the most beautiful gift,' said Gardens of Hope founder Karyn Wahsontiiostha Murray. 'To see it come alive after the dormancy of winter and waiting for spring to pass and all the bugs to come back and hatch, and then you just see people at work in there, it's the first beat of hope of the season. I'm so excited to see whatever's going to come.' Around 40 people came out for Saturday's event, which began with a consecration to the land and was capped off with a barbecue. While there were some community members on hand, Murray focused on rallying the garden's partners to avoid burdening the community. 'My aim for Gardens of Hope is never to take from the community, it's to give to them,' said Murray. 'If people want to come because they want to enjoy nature or be part of it or because it's good for them too, they're welcome to come, but never do I want people from Kanesatake to have to work there to gain anything.' For those who attended on Saturday, the hard work didn't dampen the mood. The clouds were floating overhead, the breeze carried the sound of laughter, and, in Murray's words, the trees sounded like they were just listening. 'There was a moment where I showed up with a few more plants, and just seeing all these people having a great time and just working together, it really warmed my heart to see the project, the way I have the model set up, works,' she said. One of the nonprofit's partners is the Christian organization InterVarsity in Quebec, which brought six students to spend nine days visiting the community and camping at Oka Park. They've spent roughly half of their time pitching in at Gardens of Hope. Aware of her own church's role in establishing and operating residential schools, and having grown up as a settler on Akwesasne territory, Foster saw a need to familiarize students with Indigenous realities. 'When I came to work with students, I was aware that students, especially Christian students, did not understand the role of the church in colonization and Christianization, nor was there any effort among Christian students to make amends for that or to make that right or even to learn. That was the genesis of this camp,' said Jill Foster, a campus minister based at Concordia University with the organization. The camp is also inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. 'One of the calls to action we're trying to fulfill, apart from the learning, is to contribute financially and in-kind to a healing project that is community initiated, community led, and community directed,' she said. Alongside connecting with community members who show the students around the community and teach them about Kanesatake culture and history, the group has laboured at the Gardens of Hope. 'Every time for some reason we end up with students who are so open and have hearts that are good and understand what's happening,' Foster said, noting the students' desire to be of service to the community and their joy in connecting with the land. 'It's been a great experience,' said Rebecca Estimé, a student from Haiti who will be attending Concordia in the fall and is participating in the camp for a second time – it's InterVarsity in Quebec's fourth year bringing students to Kanesatake. 'Seeing the garden as a pillar of hope and just giving back to the community is something I personally believe, that I like to practice a lot in my everyday life,' Estimé said. 'Seeing that on a big scale in this garden, just harvesting everything not just for somebody's profit but for everybody's profit is something I hold dear in my heart, and I would just like everybody to see that and be able to take part in this work that is being done in the Gardens of Hope.' To Murray, this is all in the spirit of what she is trying to accomplish with the nonprofit project, which she founded shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. She continues to find ways to contribute to the community, whether through providing plants for local students' fundraising efforts, as she did recently, or holding no-cost markets to feed Kanehsata'kehró:non. 'I'm just grateful that I get to steward the land and that people can benefit from it,' Murray said. 'That's the gift of multiplication. That's the gift of preservation.' Some of her goals for the year include setting up a food forest in the middle of the field, where fruit trees will be introduced. 'People can just go and pick their pears right next to their apples and their blueberries,' Murray said. This year the community can expect different types of corn, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, lettuces, and ancestral beans. Murray also wants to learn more about the practice of seed-saving. Besides her own plans, she is pleased to see other agricultural projects flourish in the community, such as the community gardens at the Kanesatake Health Center farm, which was also set to have a planting day at the same time, but which was postponed to tomorrow, Saturday. 'We're all in with the same aim – sustainability, sovereignty,' said Murray. 'I really think it's going to help us in the future Those kids are all going to grow up re-learning all these basics that it seems in the last 40 years have just sort of vanished.' marcus@ Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. 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