January 1 marks the first day of the New Year in most of the world. That’s according to the Gregorian calendar. Ask any Ukrainian, and they’ll tell you that Ukrainian New Year begins the eve of January 13, and New Year’s Day is January 14. That’s according to the Julian calendar, used by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The traditional Ukrainian celebration of the New Year is a centuries old feast, Malanka! It is full of merriment and pranks and food! The magazine Ukrainian People gives a colorful expose of the holiday festivities, along with its fascinating history, which dates back to before the Ukrainian adoption of Christianity in 988. Malanka was a mythological figure in folk tales of pagan origin.
Here’s what the Ukrainian American Society of Texas wrote:
It’s on January 13th – but what is it all about
Malanka is a Ukrainian folk holiday celebrated on January 13th, which is New Year’s Eve in accordance with the Julian calendar. Malanka commemorates the feast day of St. Melania. On this night in Ukraine, carolers traditionally went from house to house playing pranks or acting out a small play (similar to “Vertep”), with a bachelor dressed in women’s clothing leading the troop. Malanka caps off the festivities of the Christmas holidays, and is often the last opportunity for partying before the solemn period of Lent which precedes Easter.
Potato Pyrohy and Holubtsi/Cabbage Rolls were among the Ukrainian specialties made by Four Corners Cafe and Catering of Fairfield, North Dakota for ethnic celebrations such as this event at the Chateau de Mores Interpretive Center in Medora, North Dakota.
No celebration is without food! Check out these recipes for some Ukrainian favorites.
from the cookbook “Steepes of Russia to the Prairies of the Dakotas” by the family members of John and Barbara Hatzenbihler
Soup bone or 1 qt. beef broth
3 qts. water
1 large onion
6 carrots
2 cups peas
2 cups green beans
1 qt. canned tomatoes
Salt and pepper ot taste
2 raw beets
4 potatoes
2 cups corn
3 cups cabbage, cut fine
3 cups fresh swiss shard
1/2 cup rice
I T. mixed pickling spice
1/4 cup sour cream
Boil soup bone and onion in water. Cut carrots, beets, and potatoes into small pieces. Add to the soup bone. Add the rest of the vegetables. Add salt and pepper. Put pickling spice in a tea ball and add to the soup. Simmer 2 hours or more, until meat and vegetables are tender. Just before serving, add sour cream. Add more water, if soup is too thick.
From Claudia’s Cookbook
Yields 145
Enjoy the best Ukrainian food around, and meet some mighty friendly people, too. Stop by Four Corners Cafe & Catering in Fairfield, North Dakota. You’ll find it on the eastern edge of the badlands, right on Highway 85 between Grassy Butte and Belfield.
Here’s how to see the real badlands in the winter! Hike Off the Beaten Path!
Join us in our explorations and adventures on Facebook, Beautiful Badlands ND.
Twelve Course Ukrainian Christmas Christmas in the Beautiful Badlands brings friends and families together. Traditions…
Bison Power Bison may be the largest North American animal in North America, and that's…
Christmas Cookies, Sweet Treats for the Holidays What could be better than family…
Stay warm while you are on a winter road trip Yeah, I don’t want to…
Turkeys are not supposed to be here...but here they are! 1. Immigrant Turkeys That's right. …
6 exciting books about the Badlands: myths, and legends, lynchings, murders and killer blizzards that…