Home is where the Heart is

In my walkabouts around the Crowsnest Pass , I have noted some interesting houses here and there of different ages and styles. When I study someone’s house, I think to myself: “I wonder who the owner or mistress of this house is and what their character or habits are? Because after all, our houses often reflect who we are. We invest in them not only our money, but also our soul, our strength, and from this the house becomes “alive”. Nowadays, with real estate prices rising many people cannot always afford to buy their own home. Many rent houses and in that rented house they too try to create their own little world, one that will make them feel comfortable and safe.

As a result of military actions against my country, Ukraine, many people have lost their homes which has brought a great deal of pain and tragedy. I have met some of these people and talked to them. They showed me photos of their destroyed houses, in which there was everything that was dear to them: old photo albums, memorable souvenirs, even a favorite tea set. Despite that these people have lost they thanked God that they remained alive.

In Ukraine, since ancient times, people built their houses and passed them on from generation to generation. The house was a symbol of well-being and a place for family gatherings. Their domicile was considered a place of power, where the roots of generations of the family were closely intertwined. Various ceremonies like weddings or funerals, were often held there. After construction it was customary to consecrate the house so that it would have peace and prosperity within it. Usually a priest was invited who read prayers and sprinkled the walls and corners of the house with holy water. It was believed that one should not build a house on the site of a dried-up river or where there used to be a road. It was also undesirable to locate your house in places where there used to be a barn or stable or somewhere where there had been frequent quarrels or where people got sick.

People took the choice of a place to build their home very seriously and often asked elders for advice.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, traditional housing in Ukraine was called a hata (cottage) and often had a thatched or reed roof. The use of straw, unlike reeds, was considered a sign of the…