Whitesand, Saskatchewan

John Popowich remembers celebrating many Ukrainian traditions when he was a boy. He has especially fond memories of Christmas. As John tells it, his father used to go to the barns and say a blessing for each of the animals, while also giving each animal some food. The family used to keep straw and a horse collar under the table and place a didukh (a straw figure) on top of the table. They also threw kutia (a special dish of boiled wheat berries mixed with honey and poppy seeds) at the ceiling. John also remembers caroling with a group of 20-25 people and walking 12 miles to do so. The group of carolers would go to each house on the quarter sections and, after they sang, the family would then treat them to drinks and food. John’s fond memories include the pleasure he found in the company of the other carolers.