Preparing for Christmas

With Christmas being one of the busiest times in the Ukrainian calendar, CYM was busy as usual for Christmas 2004 (7 Jan 2004). Preparing dances for the Christmas concert, decorating the Christmas tree in the Ukrainian Catholic Church, even celebrating, were all on the list of things to do.

It began by preparing for the Christmas concert. In Manchester to celebrate Christmas, every organisation in the Ukrainian community comes together once a year to entertain both Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians alike with their traditional dancing and singing. One of these organisations was CYM, and preparations began early in order to perform at the concert.

Our CYM dance group, Podillya, perform at many concerts and events. Known for their range of interesting and exciting dances, the planned performance for the Christmas concert was no different. Extra practices ensured it went almost trouble-free on the day!

Elsewhere – at The Assumption of the Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, in fact – there was another job to be done. One December evening, a group of sumivtsi went along to prepare the tree for the Christmas festivities. But being over four metres tall, it was certainly a tough job!

First came the difficult jobs of standing the tree in the corner of the church, and lining the leaves with Christmas lights – less simple than it sounds!

But after refuelling with chocolates (an early Christmas treat) came the job of decorating the tree. Armed with two ladders, boxfuls of baubles, an hour or two and tons of festive spirit, it certainly was fun. And after a few hours of work, the effort paid off when the lights were turned off and the best-dressed tree in Manchester shone in the dark. Finished off with a carol or two by the Nativity scene, the church was certainly prepared for Christmas!