On January 4, on the eve of Epiphany, an interesting event took place in the Ivan Franko Manor Museum – a reconstruction of the ancient traditions of Kryvorivna with loud caroling. Guests and visitors of the reserve had the opportunity to hear an authentic performance of carols that sounded a hundred or more years ago.
After all, the Hutsul carol is a unique tradition that has been preserved in the mountains. And despite any threat, Christmas is celebrated in Kryvyi Rih, because it is the hope for a new life brought by the newborn Jesus, and for victory.
As the host, Bohdan Lazorak, director of the State Historical and Cultural Reserve “Naguyevychi”, thanked the carolers from Kryvorivna for the authenticity of the Christmas holiday and fundraising for the Armed Forces.
Think about the depth of Hutsul carols. Ivan Franko was one of the first to start their study with his associates during ethnographic expeditions. The luminary of Ukrainian ethnography, Volodymyr Hnatiuk, wrote in a letter to Franko: “Dear friend, have you noticed the penetrating liturgical interspersions of this carol?”. In fact, the Hutsul carol differs from the Boyki carol in that it is built mainly on the liturgical trebnik of Peter Mohyla from 1620. It is in it that Jesus is invited to congratulate. Carolers in the Hutsul region invite Jesus Christ himself to the house to congratulate the whole family, Bohdan Lazorak said.
The Naguyevychy Nature Reserve and Kryvorivnya are implementing a joint project for the fifth year in a row – “From the Ivan Franko Museum in Kryvorivnya to the Ivan Franko Museum in Naguyevychy.” In this way, everyone present has the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Christmas traditions and hear a loud Hutsul carol.
Some of the carolers who visited Naguyevych in the past years could not come from Kryvorivna for good reasons – they are now at the front, defending their native land. Nevertheless, one of the brothers, who is on a short vacation, visited Franko’s native village as part of the band.
The carolers from Kryvorivna received the second and third volumes of the publication “Frank’s estates: scientific collection of the reserve “Naguyevychi” from the director of the “Naguyevychi” DIKZ for their Kamenyar museum in their native village.
In turn, the museum in Naguyevychi received a unique exhibit, namely the Boyki trembita. It was handed over by the Demki family from the village of Lastivka through the director of the Drohobych company “Dah Stil” Andriy Kisil.
The carolers from Kryvorivna, in addition to the loud caroling, told the audience about the unique customs and traditions of their native land. According to them, in Kryvorivna, groups of carolers are going in different directions from under the church. Because you have to go to each, even the most distant, Lord. This year there are ten carol groups in Kryvorivno. Each gang goes to its own “corner” of the village or hamlet. From Christmas to Epiphany, carolers must visit all homes without exception and convey the joy of the birth of the Son of God.
At the end of the Hutsul carol, all those present and guests together sang Boyki carols and wished each other victory in the New Year.