Beaverdale, Saskatchewan

Dormition of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church in Beaverdale, SK. has Praznyk each year. Praznyk is the Ukrainian Catholic celebration of the day of the saint after whom a church is named. During the Praznyk service, the names of all of those who have passed away are read. Part of Praznyk is a water blessing and, during this blessing, the priest dips a trio of candles into the water. Everyone in attendance drinks some of the blessed water and people take blessed water home. As in other congregations, blessed water is kept in the home and people drink it for special occasions or when they are sick. Following the Praznyk service, the priest blesses every grave in the cemetery. The grave blessing is followed by a meal. The parishioners of the Dormition of the Mother of God church like to have their Praznyk meal outdoors. When the weather is bad, however, they eat inside the church.  They push all of the pews to the front of the church and have their meal at the back.