By Olga Dubanyevich
Folk traditions—do they still have a place in today’s globalized world? Ukrainian Easter was celebrated on the weekend of 12th April this year and Canada is home to the largest diasporas of Ukrainians (approximately 1.3 million people) shaped by multiple generations. The Ukrainian diaspora comprises ethnic Ukrainians and their descendants living outside Ukraine, with global estimates placing its population between 12 and 20 million across more than 50 countries. Its largest historic communities after Canada are in the United States with more than 1 million people claiming Ukrainian ancestry in US, Brazil with about 500,000, and Russia, where 884,000 identified as Ukrainian in the 2021 census, down from 1.9 million in 2010.
Easter has always been a special time for us Ukrainians, filled with light, family warmth, the hope of spring, and cherished traditions. When you look at a beautifully arranged basket, a fragrant Easter bread (paska), or intricately decorated easter eggs (pysanky), your memory immediately brings back moments from childhood. You recall the anticipation of the holiday, the gentle hands of your mother or grandmother kneading the dough, and your first timid attempts at painting Easter eggs. Instantly, it feels bright, cozy, and festive—even if your loved ones are not nearby.
Since ancient times, Ukrainians have decorated easter eggs (pysanky), filling them with love, and every pattern carried its own meaning. For example, the sun symbolized light and warmth, a wish for happiness, energy, and protection; flowers and trees represented growth, prosperity, and the continuation of life; birds symbolized freedom, love, and family happiness. The round shape of the Easter Bread (paska) symbolizes eternity, elevation, and growth.
As long as traditions live, so does the nation. Just as a tree cannot grow without roots, a person needs a connection to their origins, their family, and their past. By preserving traditions, you seem to touch the depths of centuries, while at the same time connecting the memory of your ancestors with future generations through an invisible thread, passing these traditions on to your descendants.
Today millions of Ukrainians are far from home and children are growing up in different cultural environments. Many sons and daughters of Ukraine have given their lives for freedom and have lost the chance to continue passing on the heritage of their people. Therefore, traditions are especially important today for Ukrainians.
Olga Dubanyevich hails from Denepropetrovsk, in Ukraine, holds a Master’s Degree in Law, and currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada. She published a book of poems in her hometown in her college years. She is a frequent contributor and her past articles can be read here here and here, and will feature in our anthology From Conflict to Civilization: Generation1.ca Changemakers of a New World.
