Kevin's Watch

Posted: **Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:45 pm**

Damelon wrote:Merry Christmas, Orthodox Watchers!

what ^ he said!

Posted: **Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:43 am**

matrixman wrote:Today is Ukrainian Christmas!

(The holiday falls in early January because Orthodox Ukrainians use the Julian calendar, not the more widely used Gregorian calendar.)

I am always surprised when people remember this. . . but Happy Nativity to those Orthodox who use the Old Calendar.

Posted: **Thu Jan 08, 2009 5:33 am**

I have co-workers who remind me every year, in case I forget.

But Ukrainians are cool.

Posted: **Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:20 pm**

I think every day is should be Christmas a little bit.

That's why I drink eggnog all year round ...

Posted: **Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:08 pm**

Menolly wrote:
Damelon wrote:Merry Christmas, Orthodox Watchers!
what ^ he said!

What they said!

Posted: **Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:56 pm**

matrixman wrote:I have co-workers who remind me every year, in case I forget.

But Ukrainians are cool.

I wondered about that. . . If I recall correctly, the 'peg has a sizable Ukrainian population?

Urkainians make the best perogies. And all sorts of foods that you eat without inquiring too closely about the ingredients.

Posted: **Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:44 am**

Yes, indeed, we have a large Ukrainian community, though I couldn't give exact numbers.

Since you brought up food, I thought I'd post excerpts from this Winnipeg Sun article that spotlighted one family's festivities:

Oksana Bondarchuk prepared a 12-course meal of lenten entrees -- meatless and dairy-free dishes -- for her family and friends, highlighting an extensive and varied feast.

"We start with kutia, which is wheat and honey and poppy seed, and then we'll make our way to the varenyky, which are kind of like perogies," said Bondarchuk.

Bondarchuk holds an annual dinner at her East Kildonan home and typically spends four days preparing for the occasion. "Well, today we fast all day leading up to the meal and then we wait for the appearance of the star of Bethlehem, which signifies the birth of Jesus Christ," said Bondarchuk, who was readying her home for 12 guests at the supper table.

The 12-course Ukrainian Christmas Eve feast, which represents the 12 apostles, often features traditional Ukrainian costumes and clothing. Traditional food items include fish, herring, borscht, mushroom dumplings and kapusta soup.

In addition to a traditional dinner, it is Ukrainian custom to sing Christmas carols such as Boh Predvichnyj, Ukrainian for "God eternal," and to place a didukh under the table, which is a wheat stick sheath that symbolizes the spirit of the people who have died in the past. Bondarchuk said the didukh honours the souls that will be visiting them on Christmas.

Posted: **Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:46 pm**

Cool stuff, thanks, MM! I'm always interested in learning about other cultures.

Posted: **Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:02 am**

matrixman wrote:Yes, indeed, we have a large Ukrainian community, though I couldn't give exact numbers.

Since you brought up food, I thought I'd post excerpts from this Winnipeg Sun article that spotlighted one family's festivities:

Great article. . . My friends from Winnipeg are of Ukrainian descent, and the last time I was there they gave a cookbook full of family recipes (they were making the cookbook for a family reunion). And in the front of the cookbook there is a section on celebrating Pascha and Nativity, and the ritual foods for each.

Posted: **Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:19 pm**

I only have 7 minutes of interweb access left at work...so just a quick one to say Happy New Years to all!!

Posted: **Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:19 pm**

15 days late,

that must have been some hangover Tazz.

--A

Posted: **Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:37 pm**

Or some secret Naval mission...

Posted: **Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:36 pm**

Well, he's still in time for Chinese New Year.

Happy New Year, Tazz! Hope you had good holidays!

Posted: **Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:00 am**

danlo wrote:Or some secret Naval mission...

I like you Danlo, so I wouldn't want to disappear you.

Posted: **Mon Jan 19, 2009 5:42 am**

Happy New Year, Marv!

Posted: **Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:01 am**

Merry Christmas dear Watchers!

Posted: **Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:26 am**

Happy holidays, everybody.

Posted: **Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:21 pm**

Ah, Merry Christmas and all that good stuff to everybody on the Watch.

--A

Posted: **Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:27 pm**

Happy Festivus for the rest of us!

Posted: **Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:47 pm**

Kevin's Watch

Merry Christmas Kevin's Watch!!!