Project: Twelve Dishes – Sviat Vechir (Christmas Eve) back to projects
Presented by the Ukrainian Institute of America & Yara Arts Group

TWELVE DISHES / SVIAT VECHIR and KOLIADA KOLIADNYKY (traditional carolers) sing the songs of the Kokiada, a cycle of Ukrainian winter rituals. The koliadnyky are from the village of Kryvorivnia, high in the Carpathian Mountains which has preserved an ancient winter ritual that now coincides with Christmas, but is much older in its origin, traditions and symbolism. It is considered to be the most important event of the year in the area, since people believed that the spring and harvest will not come to the village unless these songs are sung in every household. The Koliada begins with a ritual dinner of twelve dishes.

The Ukrainian Institute of America is dedicated to the promotion of Ukrainian culture, history and arts to the general public.

Yara Arts Group brings together drama, poetry, song, historical materials and movement to create original performance pieces that explore timely issues rooted in the East. They began its collaboration with traditional artists from the Carpathians in 1995 and have recorded the winter song ritual in Kryvorivnia and the surrounding villages.