Christmas in Ukraine [Hardcover]

World Book Encyclopedia (Author), World Book Inc. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1997

Each 80-page Christmas Around the World book includes full narratives explaining the customs of the region covered, photography and illustrations, special sections of native songs, recipes, and fun-to-do crafts. The books are produced by the editors of World Book Encyclopedia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: World Book Inc (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716608979
• ISBN-13: 978-0716608974
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,407,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful insight into Ukrainian Christmas traditions, March 22, 2007

By 

Bill Egan "Christmas Historian" (Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas in Ukraine (Hardcover)

Part of a series developed by World Book Inc. several decades ago for young people, these 80-page books have evolved into a rich storehouse of information for anyone of any age who enjoys learning the Christmas history, stories, regional Christmas songs, Christmas crafts, and holiday recipes of many nations.

One of the highlights of "Christmas in Ukraine" is the description of the special feast days leading up to Christmas. They include: The Feast of the Presentation on December 4, Saint Catherine's Day on December 7, The Day of the Apostle Andrew on December 13, Saint Barbara's Day on December 17, and Saint Nicholas Day on December 19.

The book is richly illustrated with full-color photos. Three Ukrainian carols have the original language, English translation, and treble notes - "Eternal God," "All the Universe Rejoices," and "Heaven and Earth."

Recipes in the book include Beet Soup with Mushroom Dumplings, Dried Fruit Compote, Honey Cake, and Christmas Honey Balls. Included with the book are six recipe cards for additional Christmas treats and an Advent calendar.

Collect the whole series for your home library, re-read them every December, and share them with friends and family.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas in Ukraine, November 14, 2010

By 

Juliana Sawyer (Tavares, FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christmas in Ukraine (Hardcover)

I was very pleased with Christmas in Ukraine. It not only contained information about the celebration of Christmas, but vibrant photos, music, recipes and crafts. Outstanding!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ukrainian carols, crafts, customs, music, mythology, photos and recipes in a handsome coffee table edition sure to delight all!, March 18, 2010

By 

Yaroslava Benko "Mandrivnyk" (Arlington Heights, IL - USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christmas in Ukraine (Hardcover)

Albeit the title begins with the words "Christmas in," this review isn't about the 1945 classic Christmas movie called "Christmas in Connecticut," but it's about a choice Christmas book, surely bound for Christmas classic status, entitled, "Christmas in Ukraine." As you lift the cover, you'll span time zones and cultures and arrive in a land which has over the decades delighted audiences worldwide with its symphonic sensuous sounds of Shchedryk (by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych), commonly known worldwide as the Carol of the Bells. It's a land resounding with folklore and folktales, mythology and magic; it's a land where Christmas holydays/holidays are observed and celebrated with not only special religious rituals, but also with the merriment and festivities and good cheer that only St. Nicholas can bestow.

Christmas in Ukraine is part of the Christmas Around the World series from World Book, Inc. Enticing in appearance, I first picked up this volume to browse before perusal. Some of my initial impressions and observations were: a quality product; large, beautiful Ukrainian embroidery designs embellish each chapter; truthful text; Ukrainian spellings of locales and artifacts are used throughout (although Kiev [Russian] instead of Kyiv [Ukrainian] is used); accurate transliterations; numerous pertinent photos that enhance the educational, informative text throughout; and, an overall professional production, which will grace shelves wherever Christmas in Ukraine is to be found. Some of the contributors to this book are personally known to me, and I've visited the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago more than once to hear lectures and to view exhibits--so, to me, that this is a professional presentation is without a doubt. As a supplement, to see 156 images depicting Ukrainian-American life in America, including images of the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago, please visit my review of Ukrainians in America by Dr. Myron Kuropas (0822519550).

As I started to savor visually the images displayed before me, it didn't take long to recognized the style and images of professional photographer Ukrainian-American Tania D'Avignon, who has had over eighty personal photo exhibits in various countries. She's worked for National Geographic Magazine, and her photos have appeared in hundreds of books, magazines, and newspapers; moreover, she's an avid traveler, and has photographed on four continents. Please see my review of her book of photography, Simply Ukraine. Albeit D'Avignon's is the photograph which graces the cover of Christmas in Ukraine, other photographers have also contributed their very fine images, and some illustrations were even created exclusively for World Book, Inc.

To add an additional dimension/perspective to several of the images within this book, I've included some of my personal photos, which may be accessed via the image link on the product detail page of this book. The cover of Christmas in Ukraine by Tania D'Avignon shows the promenade in front of the Lviv Opera House (I've included my images of the promenade and of the Opera House exterior and interior); the Contents page shows Manyavsky Monastery in Manyava, Ukraine in winter (I've included my images of the monastery taken in summer); page 18 shows Ukrainian embroidery (I've included my images of the largest servetka shown); and, the chapter entitled, The Beauty of Ukrainian Churches shows a close-up of a church at the Pecherska Lavra Monastery in Kyiv (I've included my photo of the Church of the Holy Trinity built above the main gate of Kyiv around 1106 at Pecherska Lavra Monastery in Kyiv).

Topics covered include: The Ukrainian People, The Days Before Christmas, Sviata Vecheria and Rizdvo, Generous Eve, Songs of the Season, Ukrainian Crafts, Ukrainian Carols, and Ukrainian Recipes.

The chapter on Ukrainian crafts includes the following: didukh, spider ornament, dough ornament, and bookmarks.

A didukh is "a symbolic sheaf of wheat (grain) that will house the spirits of the clan throughout the Christmas celebrations, (it) is brought in the house and placed in a position of honor near the family icons and the Sviata Vecheria table. The sacred spot is often the eastern corner of the room, the first place to receive the light of the sun each day. It is used to commemorate a family's ancestors." The craft directions given are for a didukh that stands about 19 inches and may be used as a centerpiece or hung on a wall; a photo of a didukh appears on page 34.

The second craft, a spider ornament, is more detailed, and the directions span two pages. The spider ornament may be put on the edge of a platter as a table decoration or may be hung on a Christmas tree. Although at Christmastime Ukrainian houses are thoroughly cleaned, any spider web discoveries are left undisturbed throughout the holidays, since spiders and their webs are considered to be symbols of good luck. "The spider is considered a most Christmasy creature to Ukrainian children, who grow up hearing stories of the spider's legendary Christmas kindness." Two popular stories are retold in Christmas in Ukraine; additionally, to learn the legend of the Ukrainian Christmas spider web, please read my review of Silver Threads by award-winning Ukrainian-Canadian author, Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (155041903X).

Two additional crafts are presented: a dough ornament, which may be hung on the tree or placed on a paper doily on a plate as a table decoration; and, bookmarks (three examples of designs and sizes are shown). Both of these crafts are showcased on two pages and include, as do all of the crafts, colored illustrations, materials which are needed, and enumerated instructions.

Ukrainian carols with musical scores and lyrics (in English) include: Eternal God; All the Universe Rejoices; and, Heaven and Earth. To hear a brief rendition of the world-renowned `Carol of the Bells' (in Ukrainian known as `Shchedryk') by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych, please visit my Listmania list and see the Christmas list. Ukrainian Christmas carols embody the rich history of centuries of Christmas--and pre-Christmas--celebration in Ukraine. A special chapter entitled, "Songs of the Season," elaborates on the two types of Ukrainian carols: koliadky (sung at Christmastime) and shchedrivky (traditional New Year's songs).

Additionally, a different chapter is entitled, "Ukrainian Choirs." It's been said that whenever/wherever there are three Ukrainians gathered in one place, you'll have a choir. World-class Ukrainian choirs (the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of Detroit and the Dumka Chorus of New York are two examples) tour the world to sell-out crowds. The bandura player is a Banduryst who plays a bandura, a Ukrainian musical instrument similar to a lute; however, the bandura differs from other lutelike instruments. See the Encyclopedia of Ukraine for a detailed description. Lyrics to Shchedryk and the Carol of the Bells (based on Shchedryk) are provided in Christmas in Ukraine.

Ukrainian recipes include: Borsch with Vushka (meatless beet soup with mushroom dumplings); Vushka (mushroom dumplings); Pyrohy (stuffed dumplings); Potato and Cheese Filling for Pyrohy; Uzvar (dried fruit compote); Medivnyk (honey cake); Christmas Honey Balls; Holubtsi (stuffed cabbage); Mushroom Filling for Holubtsi; Mushroom Sauce for Roast Beef or Holubtsi; Walnut Torte; Coffee Custard Filling for Walnut Torte; and, Frosting for Walnut Torte.

Christmastime isn't the only time to savor these recipes, many may be made and enjoyed throughout the year; and, the brief introduction to the history of Ukraine may, too, be referenced regularly. Not only is this a handsome coffee table edition that you'll want to own, but also, it's an educational edition that all will be delighted to receive as a gift. Don't limit recipients of this book to ages 9-12; it's definitely a volume that all ages will appreciate and applaud. Further, as a bonus, visit the website of the Encyclopedia of Ukraine for much more detailed information. Additionally, please visit my Listmania list pertaining to Christmas for more information. A hearty five stars plus for Christmas in Ukraine!

Addendum: Readers, you're invited to visit each of my reviews--most of them have photos that I took in Ukraine (over 600)--you'll learn lots about Ukraine and Ukrainians. The image gallery shows smaller photos, which are out of sequence. The preferable way is to see each review through my profile page since photos that are germane to that particular book/VHS/DVD are posted there with notes and are in sequential order.

To visit my reviews: click on my pseudonym, Mandrivnyk, to get to my profile page; click on the tab called review; scroll to the bottom of the section, and click on see all reviews; click on each title, and on the left-hand side, click on see all images. The thumbnail images at the top of the page show whether photos have notes; roll your mouse over the image to find notes posted.

Also, you're invited to visit my Listmania lists, which have materials sorted by subject matter.