Explore the rich traditions of Ukrainian culture as the community gathers for Ukrainian Christmas Eve celebrations on Saturday, including a Svyatay Vechir (Holy Night) dinner at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre.
While most Christian nations celebrate the birth of Christ on Dec. 25, those in traditional Ukrainian homes have long done so on Jan. 7. The date of the birth is based on the Julian, rather than the Gregorian, calendar. The Julian calendar is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar until 2099.
To Ukrainians, Sviata Verhera (Holy Supper) is the most important of Christmas Eve celebrations. Dinner tables generally include wisps of hay as a reminder of the manger.
Saturday’s dinner will feature a traditional meatless buffet dinner composed of 12 dishes.
In many homes, a prayer is said and the head of the household says the traditional Christmas greeting, Khristos rodyvsya (Christ is born), which is answered by the family with Slavite Yoho (Let us glorify Him).
At the end of Sviata Verhera, the family often gathers to sing kolyadki (Ukrainian Christmas carols). On Saturday, people can join the Luna Ensemble in song, or just enjoy the music.
One of the most famous Ukrainian carols is Boh Predvichny Narodivsja (Eternal God Born Tonight). Multiple versions of this carol, ranging from two to 10 verses, exist. Some carols mention Ukraine, while others are ancient pagan songs converted into Christian carols.
Saturday’s event is the first local Svyatay Vechir celebration in two years. It is hosted by the Ukrainian Studies Society.
Admission is $40 for adults, $20 for students and $8 for children ages four to six. The event starts at 6 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre, 3277 Douglas St. Advance tickets only. Tickets are available by calling 250-475-2585 or emailing ucc1@shaw.ca. For more information, go to the Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Society of Vancouver Island at uccvi.com.
Guitar virtuoso in Victoria debut
You can hear one of Europe’s most talented guitar virtuosos at a guitar recital at the University of Victoria on Wednesday.
Born in Toulouse, France, Thibault Garcia picked up the guitar at seven. At 16, he entered the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. By 21, he had won six international competitions.
His first disc, Demain dès l’aube, produced by the label Contrastes Records, debuted in 2014.
Garcia’s Victoria debut includes works of Weiss, Manjón, Rodrigo and the Four Seasons of Piazzolla.
Tickets are $20 at the door. The recital starts at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Philip T. Young Recital Hall, B125 MacLaurin Building at the University of Victoria. For more information, contact antares.sc@gmail.com.
Last chance of season to skate at Bear Mountain
This is the last weekend to skate outdoors and take in views of Victoria at Skate in Wonderland, at the Bear Mountain Skating Rink, until Sunday.
The Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa welcomes guests and locals to lace up their skates and take to the ice at the temporary ice rink, set up in the resort’s backyard.
While families are welcome, adults get their own skate time on Saturday, complete with a fire to gather around and a lounge nearby offering seasonal drinks.
Admission is $5 per person, free for children age eight and under. The rink is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Sunday. The adults-only skate runs from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday. Please note that opening of the rink is weather-dependent. Both events take place at the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa, 1999 Country Club Way. For more information, go to bearmountain.ca/recreation/skating-rink.
Matheson Lake walk heralds new beginnings
Start 2017 right by burning off some of your holiday treats at New Year, New Beginnings, an adult guided walk around Matheson Lake Regional Park on Saturday.
A CRD Regional Parks naturalist will take visitors ages 18 and older on a two-hour walk to explain the cultural and natural history of the multi-use park, located in Metchosin.
Visitors are encouraged to bring a snack and water and wear sturdy footwear.
Although the program is free, pre-registration is required at 250-478-3344, as space is limited. The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon, with a meeting location disclosed upon registration. Arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of the program. Participants are advised to leave pets at home. For more information, go to crd.bc.ca/parks.
Step out with a walking club or activity group
Make new friends while getting fit in the new year when you join one of the many walking clubs and groups active in Greater Victoria.
You can join traditional, long-established clubs, such as the Garden City Wanderers Volkssport Club, which have events throughout the year.
They offer a variety of walks throughout the region, exploring parks, forests, urban streets and trails. New members are welcome, but membership is not mandatory to join one of their walks.
Most walks are about 10 kilometres in length and take between one and a half and two hours. The first five walks are free, and the cost is $1 or $2 per walk thereafter. For more information, go to gardencitywanderers.ca.
Walk Smart Victoria boasts more than 70 routes, with a ladies’ walking group that meets at 8:50 a.m. Monday to Thursday at the Royal Oak Shopping Centre, 4475 Viewmont Ave. Call 250-479-4087 or email walksmartvictoria@shaw.ca.
Bird lovers can join a weekly bird walk at the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary. The walks take place 9 to 10:30 a.m. every Sunday and Wednesday from the parking lot of the sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Rd. For more information, call 250-479-0211.
In this age of social media, there is, naturally, an app for walking groups.
On the Meetup site, there are 37 active meet-up groups in Victoria. Areas of interest include nature walks, dog-walking groups, photographers, geocaching enthusiasts, various LGBTQ groups and groups based on age and geographic location.
Each group has a contact person who establishes the theme and organizes meet-ups. The Nature Walkers group, for example, boasts 801 members who have been on almost 400 walks since 2011. Their next meet-up is to climb Triangle Mountain at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, with 20 walkers already confirmed.
It’s free to join, but new members must be approved by the organizer to participate.
To see the list of meet-ups or to join, go to meetup.com/topics/walkers/ca/bc/victoria.
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