Ukrainian community celebrated Easter on May 5

By Joan Janzen

Members of the Ukrainian community met at Saskatoon to celebrate Ukrainian Easter on May 5th at a church in the city. The Voloshyn family from Kindersley joined in the celebration, including Vita and Vasyl and their children Orest and Dasha.

UKRAINIAN EASTER CELEBRATION: Dasha Voloshyn from Kindersley (far left) joins her family and friends at Saskatoon to Celebrate Ukrainian Easter on May 5, 2024. SUBMITTED

A typical Ukrainian Easter basket. SUBMITTED

During the period called Lent leading up to Easter, Ukrainians do not eat meat or food originating from animals such as milk, butter and eggs. They also don’t drink alcohol during this time. Along with candles and willow branches, these foods, including eggs, salt, butter, sausage, ham, sweet bread (Paska), horseradish and cheese are placed in Easter baskets. The food will be eaten later at dinner.

The various foods are also symbolic. Sausage and ham symbolize the wealth and prosperity of a person. Eggs represent fertility, and are often intricately decorated, which is an old tradition passed down through the generations. The colourful dyed eggs are called Pysanka, which comes from the Ukrainian word “to write”. Salt has traditionally been a symbol of prosperity, and the horseradish’s bitter flavour is thought to be a reminder of Christ’s suffering before Resurrection Sunday.