Hillside children greet St. Nicholas with special program

HILLSIDE, N.J. - Children and adults at Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Parish welcomed St. Nicholas on Sunday, December 3, 2000. The Rev. Bohdan Lukie, CSsR, and Rev. Andij Manko CSsR were present to greet St. Nicholas and the attendees.

To honor the visit of St. Nicholas, several children and adults presented a bilingual holiday entertainment program. Children's performances included the following: sopilka (Danylo Szpyhulsky); keyboard and singing (Ted, Katie and Matthew Shatynski, and Nadika Szpyhulsky), poems (Sara Feld) and koliady (Sophika Stockert).

Several children (Katie Christine, Rebecca, Lisa and Sarah Shatynski) acted out "An Old Time Christmas." The children wore hand-made outfits similar to what the first settlers in the New World (Colonial America) wore during the Christmas season. Similar to the "early settlers," the children decorated the Christmas Tree with handmade popcorn, cranberries and straw. Katie traced the origins of the Christmas tree and other Christmas traditions that originated in Europe and were transferred to America.

Odarka Polanskyj Stockert dazzled everyone by playing several International Christmas Carols on the harp. She so captivated the audience that many children spontaneously danced to her music.

Mike Szpyhulsky served as emcee. Russ Pencak served as liaison to St. Nicholas; while Matthew and Christine DiLiberti as well as Danylo and Nadia Szpyhulsky served as helpers to St. Nicholas.

The Christmas spirit was evident as the participants left for home. As St. Nicholas left Hillside for his next visit elsewhere, he turned to the children and smiled. He was very pleased with them.

(Photos of the event can be viewed at www.byzantines.net/immaculateconception.)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 28, 2001, No. 4, Vol. LXIX

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