Merry Christmas, Khristos Razhdayetsya

The "Carol of the Bells" (Shchedryk) is one of my favorite Christmas songs.  Many people are unaware of its true origin.  From The Unknown Ukrainian Carol that everyone knows:

"There’s a Ukrainian folksong that you know. Except that you don’t know that it’s Ukrainian, and a folksong. The enchanting music that from the pen of Peter J. Wilhousky became known to the world as “Carol of the Bells” was composed by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1904 based on a Ukrainian folk song. Peter J. Wilhousky made his arrangement following a performance of the original song by Alexander Koshetz’s Ukrainian National Chorus at Carnegie Hall on October 5, 1921."  

A number of years ago I created the video below with the Windows Movie Maker, a part of the Windows Essentials 2012 suite which, sadly for many, reached end of support on January 10, 2017.  The video includes examples of some of the traditional foods that are part of the Ukrainian Christmas Eve celebration. 

Merry Christmas to all my family, friends and Security Garden readers.

Sending warmest wishes to you and your family. 
May you enjoy the spirit of Christmas every day of the coming year.

References:

• Christmas Traditions in Ukraine
• The Unknown Ukrainian Carol that everyone knows
• Ukrainian Christmas

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...