Thank you for sharing the robust and rich history of Ukraine's Schedryk! And thank you for the links to raise funds, to see Ukrainian carols performed, and to learn more about Ukraine. I will soon be headed out for my sixth deployment to volunteer in Ukraine. I am grateful I get to give my time there. My heart is with my dear friends there every day.
And in the meantime, it is essential that we all continue supporting United24 and all who are doing good work to support Ukraine!
Thank you for your beautiful words and translation of "Shedryk". Being of Ukrainian ancestry this song always pulled on my heartstrings since early childhood when my grandfather sang the traditional Ukrainian words as the "Carol of the Bells" played on the radio. It is wonderful that this beautiful Ukrainian melody is finally receiving the recognition it deserves. Saddened that this horrific war is what has brought awareness to the origin story behind "Carol of the Bells". #SlavaUkraini
Thank you for sharing this history. If it demonstrates anything, it shows a shared heritage by many (even if not well known), and how interconnected so many people on this earth are, and can be. The issues that divide us are nothing compared to the basic humanity that connects us all.
I think I first learned about this piece of music, and how it came to be turned into a Christmas Carol, from Prof. Snyders Yale lectures about the history of the Ukraine, which are free online. While to my ear some westernized renditions, and even worse the westernized and modernized versions, are bordering on kitsch, the Ukrainian originals are achingly beautiful and, dare I say, divine. It is also obvious that the song is much more fitting for Spring. And when I'm listening to it now (on some of the links provided by Prof. Snyder) I fervently hope a Free Ukraine will make it to next Spring and will sing and dance on their Easter Festivals.
Thank you. Thank you for the interview you did with Rachel Maddow from November. Thank you for linking your thoughts with your hearing of this Carol in Toronto. I often think about how you view these concerns from your new space in Ontario as we fight the same issues here but with a Canadian lens
Perhaps you will run across a group of members of Climate Action Seniors groups like SCAN! Or CALL who are actively demanding that this government take action in minimizing Climate Catastrophe now.
May you and your family and friends have good holidays/ solstice celebrations despite what faces us.
Thank you. This is also my favorite Christmas song. Both renditions are gorgeous although the Ukrainian version was spell binding. I had the privilege of singing this song once in a choir on Christmas Eve. Problem was I was new to the choir, had only rehearsed it a time or two, and found out when I got to church that night that 2/3rds of the sopranos were traveling at Christmas. There were only three or four of us. As I recall, the song went wonderfully well as I fell under its spell.
I had no idea what you were talking about until I played it - then the memories flooded in! The fact that you have experienced that culture on an intimate level makes you the teacher and writer that you are. Thanks for the memories.
All true - but (awakened in our souls by your reminder) perhaps this song, like the people and treasures of any culture embroiled in devastating conflict, is only in a kind of exile, kept safe and alive in a new and welcoming foreign home until it can return to its true life in its own land. May your - and its - current melancholy be soon transformed to the joy of spring’s resurrection.
Thank you for sharing the rich history of this carol. Ive always wondered about it as it didnt fit w the Christian nativity tradition. I deeply appreciate how this song is rooted in the rituals of the seasons of nature and humanity's participation, connection and response to the Mother nature. Thank you for the English translation. It is all moving and shows the divine nature in humanity.
Thank you for your work and dedication to democracy and speaminv truth to power. Blessings on you and yours this holiday season.
I read your article about the Carnegie Hall performance back in 2022. It was a much more hopeful time. The world thought Ukraine would prevail given the support they were getting. Now the times are much more grim. I often think about how much the world has changed. As a boomer child, I felt the hopefulness in the world. That is no longer the case.
I'm glad to read your post, as I find that the history of this song is not commonly known in the US. On one of my visits to Ukraine (my family is from there), a young guide told me the story of the carol. Every time I hear it, I feel the enormity of what happened to people in Ukraine, including my relatives and their friends. It's a uniquely beautiful and haunting song.
Thank you for sharing the robust and rich history of Ukraine's Schedryk! And thank you for the links to raise funds, to see Ukrainian carols performed, and to learn more about Ukraine. I will soon be headed out for my sixth deployment to volunteer in Ukraine. I am grateful I get to give my time there. My heart is with my dear friends there every day.
And in the meantime, it is essential that we all continue supporting United24 and all who are doing good work to support Ukraine!
Thank you for volunteering for Ukraine!
I support United24 and Professor Snyder's NAFO truck project.
I pray for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
God Bless You and Keep you Safe, Leanna!
Slava Ukraini!
Heroiam Slava!
Thank you for sharing this history and the lovely translation. It is much more magical to me knowing this, and it has always felt pretty magical!
Thank you for your beautiful words and translation of "Shedryk". Being of Ukrainian ancestry this song always pulled on my heartstrings since early childhood when my grandfather sang the traditional Ukrainian words as the "Carol of the Bells" played on the radio. It is wonderful that this beautiful Ukrainian melody is finally receiving the recognition it deserves. Saddened that this horrific war is what has brought awareness to the origin story behind "Carol of the Bells". #SlavaUkraini
Thank you for sharing this history. If it demonstrates anything, it shows a shared heritage by many (even if not well known), and how interconnected so many people on this earth are, and can be. The issues that divide us are nothing compared to the basic humanity that connects us all.
And generous is he who wrote this beautiful and important essay.
THANK YOU.
I think I first learned about this piece of music, and how it came to be turned into a Christmas Carol, from Prof. Snyders Yale lectures about the history of the Ukraine, which are free online. While to my ear some westernized renditions, and even worse the westernized and modernized versions, are bordering on kitsch, the Ukrainian originals are achingly beautiful and, dare I say, divine. It is also obvious that the song is much more fitting for Spring. And when I'm listening to it now (on some of the links provided by Prof. Snyder) I fervently hope a Free Ukraine will make it to next Spring and will sing and dance on their Easter Festivals.
I also learned about the song from those Yale lectures. This essay has brought some warmth and cheer to a day of generally dreadful news.
Thank you. Thank you for the interview you did with Rachel Maddow from November. Thank you for linking your thoughts with your hearing of this Carol in Toronto. I often think about how you view these concerns from your new space in Ontario as we fight the same issues here but with a Canadian lens
Perhaps you will run across a group of members of Climate Action Seniors groups like SCAN! Or CALL who are actively demanding that this government take action in minimizing Climate Catastrophe now.
May you and your family and friends have good holidays/ solstice celebrations despite what faces us.
Thank you. This is also my favorite Christmas song. Both renditions are gorgeous although the Ukrainian version was spell binding. I had the privilege of singing this song once in a choir on Christmas Eve. Problem was I was new to the choir, had only rehearsed it a time or two, and found out when I got to church that night that 2/3rds of the sopranos were traveling at Christmas. There were only three or four of us. As I recall, the song went wonderfully well as I fell under its spell.
Thank you for this beautiful history and advocacy. You are a treasure. Jo Brown, Yale Class of ‘76.
I had no idea what you were talking about until I played it - then the memories flooded in! The fact that you have experienced that culture on an intimate level makes you the teacher and writer that you are. Thanks for the memories.
All true - but (awakened in our souls by your reminder) perhaps this song, like the people and treasures of any culture embroiled in devastating conflict, is only in a kind of exile, kept safe and alive in a new and welcoming foreign home until it can return to its true life in its own land. May your - and its - current melancholy be soon transformed to the joy of spring’s resurrection.
Thank you for sharing the rich history of this carol. Ive always wondered about it as it didnt fit w the Christian nativity tradition. I deeply appreciate how this song is rooted in the rituals of the seasons of nature and humanity's participation, connection and response to the Mother nature. Thank you for the English translation. It is all moving and shows the divine nature in humanity.
Thank you for your work and dedication to democracy and speaminv truth to power. Blessings on you and yours this holiday season.
I read your article about the Carnegie Hall performance back in 2022. It was a much more hopeful time. The world thought Ukraine would prevail given the support they were getting. Now the times are much more grim. I often think about how much the world has changed. As a boomer child, I felt the hopefulness in the world. That is no longer the case.
Everyone,
Work at staying free and help others do the same.
Thank you for this transcendently beautiful information.
I'm glad to read your post, as I find that the history of this song is not commonly known in the US. On one of my visits to Ukraine (my family is from there), a young guide told me the story of the carol. Every time I hear it, I feel the enormity of what happened to people in Ukraine, including my relatives and their friends. It's a uniquely beautiful and haunting song.