Hutsul caroling marks Orthodox Christmas Day скачать в хорошем качестве

Hutsul caroling marks Orthodox Christmas Day

(8 Jan 2021) LEAD IN: Orthodox Christmas caroling is a tradition that goes back thousands of years in Ukraine. It takes place at this time of year and is unique enough to be considered a potential addition to UNESCO's World Heritage List. STORY-LINE The horns are blowing loudly in the picturesque mountain village of Kryvorivnya to mark the beginning of Hutsul Christmas caroling, a tradition that goes back thousands of years. Here in Kryvorivnya, the tradition is particularly powerful and has survived the conversion to Christianity and persecution during the Soviet era. With support of passionate local community members, who pass the custom and knowledge from one generation to another, Hutsul carol singing brings joy and blessing to each home in the village every year. "Caroling is a theatrical performance which dates back thousands of years. And praised be God it is still around today," says Yuriy Krechunyak, a scientific researcher at the Hutsuls Museum in Verkovyna. "In the first years of Ukrainian independence, we had ten and more groups of carol singers in each village, who through caroling were glorifying our creator, asking for a happy future for Ukraine." It all begins on Christmas Day, traditionally celebrated in Orthodoxy on January 7. Men of different ages dress in traditional outfits of Hutsul culture, known for bright decorations and woolen hats. Long horns and small axes are used in the caroling performances. The gathering point is the local Church of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin, which has a long and eventful history itself. The church is one of the oldest in Hutsul culture, and in over 300 years of existence has never been closed or destroyed. A Christmas mass begins, followed by a blessing, and the first carol of the season is performed outside the church, in a big circle. "Afterwards, they split into their groups. We have nine carol singers groups in our village and they go around the church one time. Then comes the moment for each group to go and carol in their part of the village," says the priest at the Church of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin in Kryvorivnya, Ivan Rybaruk. Being a Hutsul carol singer is both an honour and a big responsibility. Christmas Day is the start of 20 days of caroling, with each carol singer taking an oath to be particularly law obedient during this special period. "In these days they are messengers to God," Krechunyak explains. Most of the groups are made up of older generations of men, but the tradition has also been picked up by young people, like Roma Sokolovsky, who went on his first caroling adventure this year. "I would really like for more people of my age to join in our tradition of carol singing, that's why I joined myself this year," he says. As the custom goes, carol singers come to every home in the village, singing outside and whenever possible being invited inside for more singing and feasting. And nothing has stopped the tradition from continuing, apart from a small break during Soviet times, when the carol singers were viewed as potentially dangerous. "There was a period of silence. During the Soviet Union, the KGB believed that these (carol singers) were some sort of small combat units, and thus they used to be dispersed," says Ivan Zelenchuk, who has been caroling for 30 years. The groups always have a senior, the person who makes sure the lyrics are followed. Traditionally, Hutsul caroling is a "male" business. "Ours are strictly male collectives, women don't participate in the group caroling," explains carol singer Petro Zelenchuk. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...