One aspect of my ongoing project documenting rituals in faith and religion is noticing how much so many diverse cultures have in common. Surprisingly in how they express their faith with rituals, but also what they celebrate.
One example of this observation came this weekend, when the Steppe Kolektyv group met for the Vesniaknky celebration. Vesniaknky is a ritual pre-dating the introduction of Christianity to Ukraine, and is meant to welcome spring, and its warmth and promise of new life after the long cold purgatory of winter.
If I had to describe what I saw and experienced, it would be “joyful energy” - despite so much sorrow and violence being visited upon the people of Ukraine, new emigres and Canadian-born people with Ukrainian heritage came together simply in joy. It was a pleasure to bear witness to.
