UKELODEON: For The Next Generation (03/12/06)

UKELODEON

For The Next Generation

Plast youths share Christmas with children in Ukraine

by Nadia Maczaj

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - On January 26, children from the local Plast branch in shared the Christmas spirit of giving with children in Ukraine. "Novatsvo" (the younger children) and "yunatsvo" (those over age 11), with the help and encouragement of "Bratchyk Denys," the group's "Dido," packed a box almost to overflowing with clothing, art supplies and toys. Even "ptashata," the preschool siblings of the older children, joined in the fun.

The box is destined to arrive at an orphanage in Ukraine. The children also included their own artwork and letters written to the Ukrainian children. Many of them asked their Ukrainian counterparts to please write back, hoping to start a pen-pal relationship.

Kerhonkson's Plast branch is growing again with an active group of novatsvo and now yunatsvo. The children meet weekly, doing everything from singing and acting, to spinning and embroidery. Even ptashata join in the fun, for some "unofficial" arts and crafts and playtime.

The group has facilitated music classes, taught by Andrij Milavsky of the Ukrainian Folk Ensemble Cheres, for those who are interested. "Pan Andrij" leads the children in sopilka lessons, including practice in musical notation, as well as singing. He has introduced them not just to our Ukrainian folk melodies, but also to the classics by Mozart and Beethoven.

During the Christmas season, the children also visited their Ukrainian neighbors with the traditional "koliada," or caroling. With star in hand, they brightened homes with the joyous songs, music and "vinshuvannia" (greetings) of the season. For many of the children, this was their first experience with this tradition.

"Bring-a-Friend-to-Church Sunday" acquaints youths with Ukrainian heritage

PARMA, Ohio - On Sunday, February 12, the Junior Ukrainian Orthodox League (UOL) chapter of St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Parma, Ohio, sponsored its third annual "Bring-a-Friend-to-Church Sunday," to acquaint friends with the Orthodox faith and Ukrainian heritage.

On that day, the Junior UOL members and their guests attended the 8:30 a.m. divine liturgy, sitting in the front pews. body. Each visitor was presented with a souvenir and all were invited to a breakfast sponsored by the Senior UOL chapter.

Mishanyna

To solve this month's Mishanyna, find the words on the list below in the Mishanyna grid. The place names, or toponyms, that follow are the names of oblasts that are part of Ukraine. (Part I of the Mishanyna featuring Ukraine's oblasts appeared in our February issue.)

Lviv, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zakarpattia, Zaporizhia, Zhytomyr

OUR NEXT ISSUE: UKELODEON is published on the second Sunday of every month. To make it into our next issue, dated April 9, please send in your materials by March 31.

UKELODEON, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054; phone (973) 292-9800; e-mail, staff@ukrweekly.com.

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