Metadata
WORK ID: YFA 6822 (Master Record)
| Title | Year | Date |
| CAROL CONCERT [08.01.1995] / YALYNKA COMMUNITY MEAL [09.01.1995] | 1995 | 1995-01-08 |
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Details
Original Format: VHS Colour: Colour Sound: Sound Duration: 2 hrs 31 mins 12 secs Genre: Documentary Subject: Religion Politics Entertainment/Leisure Celebrations/Ceremonies Arts/Culture |
| Summary This film documents Bradford Ukrainian community’s Christmas celebrations, including a carol concert and a community Christmas meal known as Yalynka (Christmas Tree). Both events were held in the main hall at Bradford Ukrainian Cultural Centre. It was made by the Ukrainian Video Archives Society (UVAS) but is not credited to them. The film is date stamped 08.01.1995, has sound and is in colour. The language of the film is predominantly Ukrainian with occasional English. The concert takes place on 8 January 1995, and the Christmas meal is held the following day, 9 January 1995. |
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Description
This film documents Bradford Ukrainian community’s Christmas celebrations, including a carol concert and a community Christmas meal known as Yalynka (Christmas Tree). Both events were held in the main hall at Bradford Ukrainian Cultural Centre. It was made by the Ukrainian Video Archives Society (UVAS) but is not credited to them. The film is date stamped 08.01.1995, has sound and is in colour. The language of the film is predominantly Ukrainian with occasional English. The concert takes...
This film documents Bradford Ukrainian community’s Christmas celebrations, including a carol concert and a community Christmas meal known as Yalynka (Christmas Tree). Both events were held in the main hall at Bradford Ukrainian Cultural Centre. It was made by the Ukrainian Video Archives Society (UVAS) but is not credited to them. The film is date stamped 08.01.1995, has sound and is in colour. The language of the film is predominantly Ukrainian with occasional English. The concert takes place on 8 January 1995, and the Christmas meal is held the following day, 9 January 1995.
The first part of the film is the carol concert and it begins with the announcement of the arrival of the mayor of Bradford. The Dibrova choir perform Boh Predvychniy (Eternal God), conducted by Stefan Zamulinskyj. This is followed by a speech in Ukrainian and English by Wolodymyr Demtschuk, who talks about the strength of the Christmas message for Ukrainians, ongoing Russian imperialism and the invasion of Chechnya, the lasting impact of Chornobyl [Chernobyl] (including fundraising by the Duma choir and an appearance by a pianist whose health has been impacted by the radioactive fallout).
The concert is compered by Mrs I Tchoryk who announces each act in English and Ukrainian. The programme continues with a performance of Shedriy Vechir (Generous Evening) by Dibrova, a performance of three carols by the Kobzar Brotherhood from Bolton; the CYM choir perform carols with accordion accompaniment; the Duma choir from Keighley perform carols; recital of two Christmas poems (one by a young boy and one by a woman); a duet comprising of Amanda Thompson on piano and Margaret Foster, who sing three carols in English; the children from the Ukrainian School perform the Enchanted Christmas Tree; a performance of shedryk by two girls, one on bandura and one on the flute; three songs performed by the Duma choir with piano accompaniment; a performance by the Kobzar Brotherhood from Bolton; a performance of Christmas carols by the Dibrova choir.
The concert draws to a close with a final word from Mrs Tchoryk, who thanks all the performers and asks the Lord Mayor onstage to give a short speech. The concert ends with the singing of the Ukrainian and British national anthems.
The second part of the film is the Yalynka Christmas meal and it begins immediately after the concert. There are scenes of people seated at long tables in the hall being served food, followed by performances from the Ukrainian school children including carols, poetry and a vertep.
Context
For centuries, Orthodox and Greek Catholic (Uniate) Christian Ukrainians have celebrated Christmas according to the Julian rather than the Gregorian calendar, although this is set to change in 2023. In common with many other European countries, Christmas Eve is celebrated with a solemn meal comprising of twelve dishes which symbolise the twelve apostles. The meal is meatless and includes the ritual dish of Kutya (poppy seeds, wheat and honey), followed typically by borshcht, holubsti...
For centuries, Orthodox and Greek Catholic (Uniate) Christian Ukrainians have celebrated Christmas according to the Julian rather than the Gregorian calendar, although this is set to change in 2023. In common with many other European countries, Christmas Eve is celebrated with a solemn meal comprising of twelve dishes which symbolise the twelve apostles. The meal is meatless and includes the ritual dish of Kutya (poppy seeds, wheat and honey), followed typically by borshcht, holubsti (stuffed cabbage leaves), varenyky (pierogi or dumplings), marinated herrings or another fish dish, pickled food and sweet treats such as compote (dried fruit stew). The meal cannot be eaten until the first star appears in the sky, and a place is always set for any deceased member of the family. It is traditional to decorate the table with a diduk – a sheaf of wheat tied with a ribbon – as well as a ritual bread called a kolach, into which a candle is placed and lit when the meal begins. The meal begins with a prayer, and this is followed by the breaking of a bread called prosfora which is dipped into honey and passed around the table to wish everyone a sweet year to come. This is followed by the kutya and the other dishes. The family then attends midnight mass. Presents are not usually exchanged at Christmas this happens at St Nicholas Day instead (19 Dec). On Christmas Day, a Christmas Day service is attended. In Bradford, the Ukrainian community also celebrated Christmas with two community events - a carol concert and a community Christmas meal, known as Yalynka (Christmas Tree).
A vertep (nativity scene) is a common feature of a Ukrainian Christmas. In common with many Christian cultures, a vertep can appear as a static nativity scene placed in a church, a home or a community space. In Ukrainian tradition, a vertep is also a dramatic performance by children, young people or amateur actors, and either performed as part of a celebration or during the course of house to house carol singing. The characters which feature in a vertep can include Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the donkey, shepherds, the three kings / wise men, goats and sheep, soldiers and King Herod, as well as Cossacks, Jews, the devil and death. The characters are stereotypes and caricatured, and the scripts often rely as much on apocryphal texts and legends as well as the gospels. |
