Ukrainian Easter Music

Music is an extremely important part of Ukrainian culture. During WW1 and WW2 the Soviet Union took over the Ukraine and the traditional music of Ukraine was threatened by the USSR because it 'supported a specific national identity'. Religious music and ceremonies were not tolerated during the Soviet regime. Ukrainians were unable to celebrate Easter during this time as the members of the USSR did not believe in God or support any religion. After Ukraine gained independence in 1991, they were free to celebrate Easter and play their traditional music. On Easter Sunday, old Orthodox hymns are sung in Ukrainian. The music is slightly more up beat than typical Sunday gatherings as Easter is a joyous celebration. The overall atmosphere of the church service and music is still relatively sombre and there is definitely no clapping or hooting and hollering like in Ukrainian dance music!  Instruments are not commonly played during Easter mass, instead vocals are the main instrument. 

A Great Example of a Ukrainian Easter Hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA7PLpNb7zg

After the church service the congregation gathers downstairs or outside the church building to enjoy an Easter meal as well as sing Ukrainian folk songs, dance and play games. This type of Ukrainian music is high-energy and upbeat where everyone is clapping, shouting, singing a dancing - quite a contrast to the slower more solemn music sung in the mass earlier on in the day. Here music and dance go hand in hand, both of equal importance in Ukrainian holidays and celebrations. The songs and dances are accompanied by a Ukrainian band which would consist of a violin, a button accordion, guitar, bandura, mandolin, tambourine, and drums. This is also a setting where the the young men and women dress in Ukrainian dance costumes and perform the Pryvit, Hopak and the Kalmeyka.  

Here's a link of Easter Celebrations in Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO4T7qHU3oA

Ukrainian Easter Baskets

On Easter Sunday, Ukrainian families wake up early in the morning to bring their Easter basket to the church to be blessed. Each basket is packed with a number of symbolic foods like paska (round bread symbolizing the joy of new life), butter (shaped in the form of a  lamb), candles, kielbasa (spicy sausage, representing generosity) and pysanky (Easter eggs, symbolizing rebirth) covered with a white linen cloth that signifies Christ's shroud. After the service, families return home with their blessed baskets and feast on the contents. 

Paska Recipe

HOW TO MAKE UKRAINIAN PASKA

• 
  
• INGREDIENTS
• 1/3 ounce active-dry yeast (from two 1/4-ounce envelopes)
• 6 2/3 cups plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/3 cup warm water
• 1 1/3 cups high-gluten bread flour
• 1 2/3 cups milk, warmed
• 2 large eggs
• 8 large egg yolks
• 1/3 cup canola oil, plus more for bowl and brushing dough
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Zest of 1/2 lemon
• 1 teaspoon spiced rum
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 large egg white, beaten

DIRECTIONS

1. STEP 1

   In a large bowl, stir together yeast, 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon sugar, and warm water; let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, high-gluten flour, and milk; stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place until bubbles form, about 30 minutes.

2. STEP 2

   Meanwhile, in the 5-quart bowl of a professional-size 10-speed mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together eggs, 6 egg yolks, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar on high speed. Slowly add canola oil and mix until pale and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add vanilla, lemon zest, and rum; mix to combine.

3. STEP 3

   Attach the dough hook attachment to mixer. Add salt, 4 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, and yeast mixture. Mix on low speed until dough comes together. Slowly add butter; continue mixing until dough is no longer sticky, 10 to 15 minutes, adding remaining 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, a tablespoon at a time, to prevent sticking. Alternatively, you can knead dough by hand until smooth, 20 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a large lightly-oiled bowl; shape into a ball and lightly coat top with oil. Cover with a clean kitchen towel, followed by a layer of plastic wrap, and then a second clean kitchen towel; let stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.

4. STEP 4

   Line the bottom of two 6-quart ovenproof saucepans with waxed paper rounds. Line sides with waxed paper, leaving an overhang of 3 inches; spray paper with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

5. STEP 5

   Weight out two 1 1/2-pound pieces of dough; pinch and shape each piece into a flat disk and transfer to prepared saucepans. Using a toothpick, pierce the dough to remove air bubbles. Cover with a clean kitchen towel; let stand in a warm place while preparing decorations.

6. STEP 6

   Form remaining dough into suns, cross shapes, and fertility symbols for decoration. Brush tops of each loaf with egg white and top with decorative dough; secure using toothpicks. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let loaves stand in a warm place until dough comes to top of pan, about 2 hours.

7. STEP 7

   Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining 2 egg yolks with 2 teaspoons water. Brush tops of loaves with egg yolk mixture and transfer to oven; bake until tops are golden brown, about 1 hour. If paska begins to brown too quickly, cover with parchment paper-lined aluminum foil.

8. STEP 8

   Remove paska from oven. Immediately remove from pans and gently remove toothpicks from bread. Transfer to clean kitchen towel and cover with a second clean kitchen towel to cool. Paska can be frozen for up to 6 months.
9. 
   
10. How to Decorate your Paska Bread Link: http://www.marthastewart.com/926601/decorating-ukrainian-easter-bread-part-1

Pysanky How-To

MATERIALS

• Pencil
• Egg
• Hot beeswax
• Kystka or electric stylus
• Spoon
• Dyes, room temperature
• Candle
• Cotton swab or small paintbrush
• Tissue
• Cloth
• Varnish
• Small paintbrush
• Pin
• Rubber ear syringe (optional)
• Fine wire, for hanging

STEPS

1. STEP 1

   Using a pencil, draw faint lines on the egg to serve as guidelines for any areas of the design you want to leave white. Hold the egg on a table with one hand, and draw with the other. Don't erase pencil marks, as this may scratch the egg.

2. STEP 2

   Apply beeswax to the egg with a kystka, following the pencil marks. Heat the kystka's head in a candle's flame, then scoop up a bit of beeswax. (An electric stylus does not have to be heated.) Keep the kystka at right angles with the egg so that the wax flows evenly. Refill as necessary.

3. STEP 3

   Using a spoon, dip the egg in the lightest dye you will use on the egg. Keep the egg in the dye for 5 to 7 minutes. The area where the wax was applied will resist the color of the dye.

4. STEP 4

   Reheat the kystka, and draw the lines that you want to appear in the lightest color, then dip the egg in the next lightest color. Repeat this process for each dye color, working from the lightest to the darkest. To fill in a space that is larger than the hairline width of your stylus's line, use a cotton swab or a small brush to dab the area with dye. Pat dry with a tissue, then cover the newly colored areas with wax, using the kystka.

5. STEP 5

   When you have completed your pattern, hold the egg to the side of the candle's flame for a few seconds until the wax starts to melt. Don't hold the egg directly over the flame; the egg will turn black from the carbon. Use a cloth to wipe away the melted wax, a bit at a time, revealing your design.

6. STEP 6

   Apply one coat of varnish to seal the color.

7. STEP 7

   Blow out the egg: Make a small pinhole at one end of the egg and a slightly larger pinhole at the other end, making sure the pin breaks the yolks. Place the egg over a bowl, and gently expel its contents using a syringe or by blowing with your mouth. When dry, give the egg a second coat of varnish. To hang, insert a fine wire through the pinholes.

How to Paint Pysanky Video Link: http://www.marthastewart.com/918620/ukrainian-easter-eggs-part-1

Pysanky Symbols

Ladders prosperity, or prayer.	Pine Needles health, stamina, eternal youth.	Crosses Christ, or the Four Corners of the World.	Wheat wishes for good health and a good harvest.	The Sun and Stars life, fortune, growth.
Deer, Horses,and/or Rams wealth and prosperity.	Fish Christianity	Curls defense or protection.	Roses love, caring.	Poppies beloved Ukrainian art motif, symbolizing joy and beauty.
Triangles trinities, eg.: air, fire, & water; the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit; heaven, earth, & hell.	The Saw fire, life-giving heat (also known as Wolves' teeth, symbolizing loyalty and wisdom).	Birds fulfillment of wishes, and fertility. The bird is always shown at rest, never flying.	Nets Christ's reference to becoming "fishers of people".	Ribbons everlasting life, and water.

Preparing for Presentation

We made a second trip to the European market and had better luck finding Ukrainian Easter products. We were able to purchase two easy Ukrainian egg decorating packages which were made in Ukraine as well as a beautiful round Ukrainian Paska loaf. Victoria and I had also purchased some kielbasa  to put in our own Ukrainian Easter basket! 

Preparing for our Class Presentation

Today we presented what we learned about Ukrainian Easter traditions to our university ethnomusicology class. We prepared a Ukrainian Easter basket filled with paska, pysanky, kielbasa, horse radish and a candle to show the class. Monica and I showed the class a few basic dance steps from the Hopak. We also brought in perogies, kielbasa, paska, and apple strudel for the class to taste. 


We really enjoyed learning about Ukrainian Easter traditions over the last couple of months! Thanks for checking out our blog :) 

Monica & our Easter basket

The Ukrainian Easter Basket we created