https://localcultures.ukrfolk.ca%2Fohms%2Frender.php%3Fcachefile%3D2004-091-1754.xml#segment0
Segment Synopsis: Pauline Norosky's maiden name is Shewchuk. She was born in Ozerna, Manitoba in 1917. She is older than her husband, Joe, but that does not matter. Pauline's father came to Canada in the late 1800s and was 84 years old when he died between 1920 and 1930. Pauline's mother came to Canada earlier, when she was 7 years old. Pauline doesn't know where they came to Canada originally. Two of Pauline's aunts died in infancy of typhoid fever when Pauline's mother was very young. They were buried in one large grave. Pauline's mother survived. When Pauline's mother was 12, she went to work while Pauline's grandmother picked berries. Once, Pauline's mother came home to discover the family buried after the home had been struck by lightning. She went to live with her uncle after that.
https://localcultures.ukrfolk.ca%2Fohms%2Frender.php%3Fcachefile%3D2004-091-1754.xml#segment335
Segment Synopsis: Pauline finished grade 8. Teachers would usually stay for 1 or 2 years, but one teacher stayed for 9 or 10 years. That teacher taught everything, including Ukrainian (after school). Pauline took those classes and can read and write Ukrainian. Pauline was always asked to write letters in Ukrainian to her uncle on behalf of her mother. Pauline's father had a car, so they would visit with Pauline's uncle. Pauline had 6 sisters and 1 brother. She was fortunate to have a big family and a close family. Their house was large, as well: 4 bedrooms upstairs and 1 downstairs. Those were the good old days as they were happy. They would clean the garden and do other work together. Pauline's mother died in 1939 at a young age: 49 years old. Pauline was the oldest one at home as her older sisters were married.
https://localcultures.ukrfolk.ca%2Fohms%2Frender.php%3Fcachefile%3D2004-091-1754.xml#segment541
Segment Synopsis: Christmas Eve was the biggest celebration and it was beautiful. Christmas Day was beautiful, because they went to church or something, but the celebration in the evening was excellent. They had a big supper with 12 Ukrainian dishes without meat. Pauline and Joe talk about all the different dishes they had. There was hay in every room, and it would be gathered and turned into a cross outside and burned. That was the tradition.
Gifts were exchanged on Christmas Day. The kids would go to bed and a present for everyone would be placed outside the bedrooms for them. Pauline says the kids are not satisfied with just dolls these days as they have too much already. They did not set up a Christmas tree in the beginning, though they did later. There was no Christmas tree in the community hall, but there were christmas decorations in the community hall.
The wheat was the first dish eaten at Christmas. Pauline isn't sure if the boiled wheat was thrown at the ceiling in her family, but she has heard of the tradition. Pauline's mom wouldn't like that as it was a lot of work to clean it. After dinner, the dishes were cleared and then people sang. Carollers would go from house to house over several days. It was mostly men that did it as the snow was extremely deep. The carollers weren't invited in advance as it was just a custom. The money gathered would go to the church. The carollers would be hosted with supper and a drink (if they wanted). Carollers brought bells with them as they made the rounds. One year, they brought an accordion and a guitar (it was a warm winter). The carollers walked between houses, but houses were closer together back then (only a half mile between houses).
https://localcultures.ukrfolk.ca%2Fohms%2Frender.php%3Fcachefile%3D2004-091-1754.xml#segment1167
Segment Synopsis: The New Year was celebrated. They went walking and people would give them money.
Malanka was not celebrated.
Iordan was a church celebration. Water was blessed at the church and taken home in a jar. The water was kept in the fridge in case someone got sick and needed holy water.
Pauline's mother would make chicken soup in case someone got sick, but they also had aspirin. Stomach aches were treated with laxatives. Pauline doesn't think she went to hospital growing up. She was born at home, not in a hospital. Joe's grandmother was Pauline's midwife.
Birthdays were a big thing to celebrate back then, but not like today. It was a simple affair back then.
Mother's Day was not celebrated back then. Pauline isn't sure if they had Mother's Day at the time.
Thanksgiving was the same: not celebrated.
Halloween was mischief and pranks played by men. Joe mentions a number of pranks that were played.
Dominion Day was not celebrated, it was an ordinary day.
Victoria Day was the same: not celebrated.
Shevchenko's Days were not celebrated as her family was not involved in that sort of thing. Pauline knows it's important to some people, but not her.
Remembrance Day was not really celebrated then: just an ordinary day.
Her family never worked on Sundays. Pauline's mother was very pious: Sunday was for church. If Ukrainian Church was unavailable, they would use the Polish Church. They could walk to church.