The Second Christmas In Camp Ohio

December 23, 2018.  In the last posting, the first Christmas in Camp Ohio was described, based on the information available to date.  (See The First Christmas In Camp Ohio)

The information we have on the second Christmas in Camp Ohio revolves around Saint Nikolaus.  For the Ukrainian population of Camp Ohio, Christmas began with the Feast day of Saint Nikolaus, a bishop who lived in the 4th century in Myra, Asia Minor, which is presently Demre in Turkey. Traditionally, he has been honoured on December 6 in Western Christian countries which follow the Gregorian calendar, and on December 19 in Eastern Christian countries, such as the area of present-day Ukraine, that follow the Julian calendar.

I didn’t grow up with the tradition of Saint Nikolaus. It wasn’t celebrated in our family in Canada, although my father’s family back in Ukraine did.  Being married to a Dutch guy, I’m more familiar with the tradition of Sinterklaas, the Dutch version of Saint Nikolaus, who arrives in The Netherlands by boat from Spain every December 5, and travels throughout the country on his white horse Amerigo, accompanied by his Moorish helpers.  There are special treats to eat and, as with the Ukrainian Saint Nikolaus, there is the tradition of giving gifts, particularly to children.

And of course, there are special songs, such as the Ukrainian song ‘Who Loves Saint Nikolaus’, heard here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0mFpgIqZt8 and performed by Zakharii.

The residents of the camp put great effort into making Saint Nikolaus Day memorable for the children. Camp Ohio resident Bohdan KOWAL recorded an event that happened on Sunday, December 15, 1946: “The feast day of Saint Nikolaus was organized for the children of the camp. The performances of the children were prepared by Mrs. Natalia Kowal. The first, second, and third classes sang songs and danced the Hopak, Kolomyjka, and the dance of the horse, under the accompaniment of folk dance music, played as always by Mrs. Hlibowych and Engineer Berezowsky.

In the second part, a small theater piece was presented by Mrs. and Mr. Schumylowych, the text of which Mr. Schumylowych wrote himself. The end of the Festival was celebrated in the presence of St. Nikolaus. Mr. Semen had much in common with St. Nikolaus. Together with the angels, he distributed gifts among the children. Apart from the children, also present at the Festival were Mr. Mitlehner of the UNRRA, and it’s Head of Care Station, Mrs. Kaljash.  The Women’s Club prepared the gifts for the children.”

A hopak is an improvised Ukrainian folk dance whose name is derived from hopaty, which means ‘to leap and stamp one’s feet’.  A kolomyjka is a Hutsul area folk dance from the town of Kolomyia.  Participants form a circle, joining hands. The dance begins with participants turning the circle, usually counter clockwise, then clockwise. Further into the dance, soloists will perform in the centre of the circle.  Are any readers familiar with the ‘dance of the horse’?

No photos have been found as yet of this Festival, but thanks to Olga Katchan, there is a photo for the school Christmas party for the children.

In the photo, among the adults are school principal Iwan BODNARUK, teacher Natalia KOWAL, and teacher Mykola SWIDERSKI.  Halyna KOWAL, whose daughter Vala was a student in the Camp Ohio school, is also in the photo.  Olga Katchan, nee Swiderski, explained that “This is a school Christmas party, with Vala’s mother still sporting the apron she wore to do the cooking for it. Vala was sick at the time, thus not in the photo.”  Do you recognize anyone else in the photo?

Many of the residents of Camp Ohio had trees in the barracks, as did Olga Katchan, who shared accommodation with her father, Mykola SWIDERSKI.  In the photo below, Olga recalled that “The tree is in my room in the barracks. You can see my icon in the corner.  I would have shared the room with my Dad.”

Thank you to Olga Katchan for sharing the photos and providing her recollections.  More Christmas stories from Camp Ohio to come in the next posting!  Do you have any Camp Ohio Christmas memories or photos to share? Comments can be made on this blog or by sending an email to dariadv@yahoo.ca. Don’t forget to check out the photos on our website at http://www.dpcamps.org/burgdorf.html.

© Daria Valkenburg