Candiac, Saskatchewan

Carol Ripplinger and Donna Colby tell about the celebration of Malanka, a holiday after New Year’s Eve. Because they wanted to attract more young people, they came up with the idea to hold a Grill Night and a big supper. At the supper, they decided to serve Ukrainian foods like cabbage rolls. The Malanka at the St. Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox church includes both a meal and a Ukrainian dance show and is a big success.

Carol and Donna are preparing for a big barbeque fundraiser to get money for their very old and remarkably well-maintained church. But they took the time out to show our team some of the costumes they use for things like the Malanka performance.

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Linda Klapak is of German descent. She married into the Candiac church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit and became an enthusiastic church member. She is the cantor for this and other churches in the circuit, playing her guitar while doing the singing. Interestingly, she did not learn how to speak Ukrainian, but she did learn how to sing in Ukrainian. Much of the credit is due to the parish priest. He transliterated the Ukrainian text for her and translated words as needed so that she knew what she was singing. Right now Linda knows church songs only. She would like to learn some folksongs as well, but she does not have anyone from whom she could learn.