Uke-eye (12/27/81)

Uke-eye

by Anisa Handzia Sawyckyj

Question: Should Ukrainians celebrate Christmas by the old Julian calendar (January 7) or by the new Gregorian calendar (December 25)?

ROMAN OMECINSKY, Forest Hills, N.Y., tax consultant: We should celebrate by the old calendar because it distinguishes us religiously and nationally from other groups. By celebrating Christmas on January 7 we have an opportunity to show others the uniqueness of our culture.

For me, personally, the old calendar is part of a tradition, full of memories, and that's important for me to hold on to.

The old calendar could have the capacity to preserve the cohesiveness of Ukrainians abroad. It's a shame that the controversy over the calendar has instead broken up parishes and communities. We should be paying homage to God together.

ULANA KLUFAS, Syracuse, N.Y., student: I think January 7 is the more traditional way for Ukrainians to celebrate Christmas. It gives a sense of history to our communities. I personally prefer it.

Our Catholic parish in Syracuse went over to the new calendar when I was a child. As a result, our family had no choice but to attend Christmas services at the Ukrainian Orthodox church on January 7 or (weather permitting) to drive 50 miles to Utica, where they still celebrate by the old calendar.

IHOR SAMOKISH, HOLLYWOOD, Calif., prop master: It's important to keep Christmas by the old calendar, even though it's sometimes a hassle to get the day off from work. I think even if you have to celebrate after work, it's still worth it.

My parents taught us to celebrate the old traditions and now I feel it's the right way. (By the way, I also think we should preserve the use of Old Church Slavonic in church services.)

The old calendar helped Ukrainians keep their separate identity. Besides, we get better deals when we go Christmas shopping after December 25!

ROMAN WASYLYK, Ellenville, N.Y., student: January 7 is just a date, on a calendar. The important thing is the tradition, which stays the same regardless of whether you celebrate January 7 or December 25.

In our family, my parents made a point of celebrating by the old calendar, but sometimes it was a pain - vacations were all screwed up. I personally don't care one way or the other, but I think all Ukrainians should celebrate at the same time for the sake of unity.

MARIA HAWRYLIUK, Chicago, publications manager: I find celebrating Christmas by the old calendar more satisfying, but I can't say I have any hang-ups about it.

In terms of the community, I think each city is different. In Chicago (and I can't speak for communities outside Chicago, nor for the Orthodox), the calendar issue is tied in very closely with politics and tradition. Here the issue of new versus old calendar is largely (but not exclusively) a dichotomy between "old immigrants" versus "new immigrants," those who are eager to assimilate versus those who are reluctant to do so.

Proponents of the old calendar, who are involved in many Ukrainian issues, associate January 7 with the preservation of tradition. But I think tradition will erode with time, regardless of which calendar prevails.

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