By Sarah Rolles

Malanka celebrations commemorate 125 years of Ukrainian culture in Canada

Jan 10, 2016 | 11:02 AM

Prince Albert’s Veselka Club has a lot to celebrate this New Year. 2016 marks 125 years since the first Ukrainian immigrants arrived in Canada.

The heritage club will be ringing in the Ukrainian New Year with an official Malanka celebration at the Prince Albert Travelodge on Jan. 16.

Iris Smisko, second vice president for the Prince Albert Veselka Club, said the celebration, which traditionally celebrates the coming of spring, will also acknowledge the first Ukrainian pioneers that worked so hard to build a better life for their families.

“They left their home land and all their families. A lot of them coming here knew absolutely nobody and started a brand new life,” said Smisko. “And they had to go through many physical hardships and surrounding hardships to do that.

“They worked extremely hard to make the good life that we can all enjoy today,” she added.

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While most celebrated New Year’s Day on Jan. 1 many Ukrainians still celebrate the “Old New Year,” or Orthodox New Year on Jan. 14. Smisko said they decided to put off their Malanka celebration until the following Saturday on Jan. 16 to make it easier for people to attend.

The celebrations will feature a dinner, some entertainment that includes the local Veselka choir, Ukrainian dancers and a traditional Vertep play.

“The Vertep version of the Malanka is more of a religious one depicting the nativity scene. People go caroling and do a little drama with it to ring in the New Year,” Smisko said.

Anyone wishing to attend the celebrations, whether they are Ukrainian or not, are encouraged to check out the festivities.

“If you enjoy eating and if you enjoy dancing and if you enjoy listening to entertainment please come out,” said Smisko.

Tickets for the event are $40 and can be purchased at The Floor Store, Ben’s Auto Glass and Harold’s Family Foods in Prince Albert.

Cocktails will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a dinner to follow. Entertainment will begin at roughly 7:30 p.m.

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