May 8, 2015

Samopomich School of Ukrainian Studies presents “hahilky” in New York City

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Chrystia Gorski-Makar

Girls perform “Oy Numo, Numo.”

NEW YORK – On Sunday, April 12, students of the Samopomich School of Ukrainian Studies of New York City celebrated Easter according to the Julian calendar by presenting beautiful Ukrainian vesnianky-hahilky (spring folk songs and dances) outside on East Seventh Street.

The hahilky were revitalized three years ago and performed on Easter Sunday at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church under the direction and choreography of Christine Gorski-Makar. The young girls danced and sang exquisitely; the choreography provided a smooth transition of soft songs, steps and formations.

The words of the hahilky, which date to pre-Christian times, said farewell to winter with the promise of the rebirth of spring; later, the hahilky also celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As apparent in the hahilka “Podolianochka” or “Yahilochka” (young maiden), the young girls’ beauty is similar to the joyous spring season.

The girls came out in one long line singing “My Kryvoho Tantsiu Idemo,” meaning “We are dancing in turns and twists singing and celebrating a new day, the rebirth of spring and Easter.”

A favorite hahilka, “Zhuchok,” with the little zhuchok Boyan Makar.

A favorite hahilka, “Zhuchok,” with the little zhuchok Boyan Makar.

“Zhuchok,” a hahilka about a spring beetle, was mastered with the crisscrossing of girls’ hands imitating a sort of bridge for the little “zhuchok” or young boy, Boyan Makar, 4, also a student of the Svitlychka (nursery school) under the direction of the New York branch of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America. He was dressed as a little Hutsul and walked across the bridge of hands. The zhuchok crossing the bridge not only signifies the excitement of the new season of spring and Easter, but also the new beginning – a crossing over to a new life, or “Resurrection.”

The girls finished with the hahilka “Oy, Numo, Numo,” meaning “Let’s sing and dance, young maidens.” As they sang, the girls formed two braid-like lines.

Each hahilka flowed with delicate steps and movement to the sound of the girls’ voices. The richness of the Ukrainian tradition was evident and treasured by all the parishioners and onlookers on this Easter day.

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