Thanksgiving Day for Each of Us

This year, the generous Ukrainian soil gave my parents a bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables. They had plenty of apples, plums, pears, grapes, and a huge amount of tomatoes to harvest. Dad told me he and Mom made juice, ketchup, pickled tomatoes, and much more from the tomatoes. Dad is sad that this year they can’t share their delicious dishes with their children and grandchildren, who are currently abroad due to the dangerous situation in the country. But my parents are very kind and happily share their harvest with everyone who comes to their hospitable home. 

Near my parents’ house, there’s an old well, next to which grows a large apple tree. It blooms beautifully with white flowers in the spring, and in the fall, its branches droop under the weight of its fruit. When I visited my parents, Mom and Dad would treat me to delicious apples. Mom traditionally baked delicious apple strudel, and I made apple pancakes. I’m sure the most precious and memorable aroma for us is the scent of our parents’ home and our mother’s cooking. The aroma of my mother’s apple strudel will always be with me.

Apple baked goods are very popular in Ukraine. They can often be found in stores and on home cooks’ tables. Antonovka apples are preferred for baking as they are a classic culinary apple whose flavour is revealed during baking. Antonovka is famous for its distinctly tart flavour and rich aroma. Using this variety, cooks create delicious, incredibly aromatic baked goods. I remember how we searched for this particular apple variety at the market. But you can also use other apples with a similar flavour. The main thing is that they are juicy and slightly tart.

In Ukrainian cuisine, apples are used not only for baking. They are also added to salads and meat dishes. For example, I really love duck stuffed with apple pieces, and sometimes I add grated apple to the ground meat for cutlets. This makes the dish juicy and flavourful, with a slight apple tartness and a hint of sweetness.

People often preserve fruit for the winter. Dried fruit is used to make a fruit drink called uzvar. This drink is very popular in Ukraine and is traditional. It is prepared for many special occasions and holidays. Uzvar is a must-have dish at Christmas, and this delicious drink is one of the main symbols of the Easter Eve. Uzvar is made with dried apples and pears, as well as prunes or dark plums, which give it a rich colour and deep flavour. Raisins or rose hips are sometimes added and honey is preferred over sugar. The drink becomes especially tasty and rich after sitting in the refrigerator for a few hours. 

In the hot summer months, I love making fruit compote from fresh fruit. Fruit compote is very healthy, and you can use apples, plums, apricots, grapes, cherries, and even raspberries and strawberries to enhance the flavour. In the spring, a few raspberry or currant leaves are sometimes added to the compote for even more flavour and nutrients. At Crowsnest Pass, I treated my friends to homemade compote, and I was thrilled to know they enjoyed it. I would recommend making fruit compote a part of their summer diet. It can be used as a substitute for sweet sodas and tea, if you have any contraindications.

I would like to focus specifically on apples because for the Ukrainian people, to which I belong, the apple is very symbolic. In Ukrainian culture and folklore, it is a multifaceted symbol of health, beauty, fertility, love, and vitality. In their paintings, artists often depicted the apple as the bounty of the earth, prosperity, and well-being. It is also a symbol of longevity and freshness. In literature and art, the apple tree is associated with a person’s “inner garden,” and apple picking is associated with the fruits of spiritual work and unity.

The Orthodox Church traditionally celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Spas) every year. On this day, people bless the first fruit harvests. This holiday is celebrated on August 6th according to the New Julian calendar. It’s called Apple Spas. It used to be celebrated on August 19th, and many others continue to celebrate it this way. This holiday is especially important to me because my family celebrates my mother’s birthday on August 19th. It’s considered a blessing to be born on a major church holiday, and my mother is a special person to me. She has endured many trials, and I hope God will continue to support her strength for many years to come. 

Ukrainian folklore contains many proverbs about apples and apple trees, which we use in conversation.  Here are some of them:

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree (about how children resemble their parents)

If you want to eat an apple, plant a tree

Apple trees are loved for their fruit, and people for their deeds

There’s no room for apples to fall (when there’s a large crowd)

Ukrainian songs also use images of apple trees and apples. For example, an apple tree near a house is a traditional symbol of the parental home, memories of childhood and the native land. Apple blossoms are compared to the beauty of a woman, purity of feelings, and first love. A healthy apple signifies wealth, wisdom, and the continuation of the family line.

The song “The Apple Tree Blossoms White” by Ukrainian composer and singer Ivan Popovych is very beautiful and has deep meaning. It has the following lyrics:

“When I saw the village,

My soul advised me,

I came to the yard,

A tear rolled down.

A deserted house stands,

And no one is anywhere,

Only apple blossoms

Meet me...

The apple tree, the apple tree blooms with white blossoms,

As if mom and dad are meeting me!”

When I listen to this song, tears come to my eyes. And I want to wish all our parents long life and good health.

I want to share with you another interesting Ukrainian tradition related to apples. This is the tradition of planting an apple tree in your garden. It has a profound symbolic meaning. This tree has long been considered sacred, symbolizing fertility, love, family well-being, and the connection between generations.  An apple tree planted near a home is considered a living talisman, protecting the family from illness and evil influences. When planting a new garden near a new home, apple and pear trees were often the first to be planted, to ensure prosperity and a “sweet” life in the home.

While researching this article, I came across a photo that touched me deeply. It’s a photo of a Ukrainian soldier who was released from captivity on April 26, 2023. Journalists were deeply moved by the suffering man’s reaction to the apple. He recounted the torture and cruelty he endured during his 11-month captivity.  Maksym Kolesnikov went to defend his homeland on the first day of the full-scale war with Russia, defended Kyiv, and was captured. Other soldiers were also delighted to receive the fruit. “I’ve been dreaming about it (the apple) for a year,” said one of the defenders. (Source: ukr.net)

I congratulate the residents of Crowsnest Pass on a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. A good harvest is not only about fruits and vegetables. I would also add good and responsive people, loyal friends, children, grandchildren, and pleasant experiences from everything that life gives us. I wish everyone peace, prosperity, and a good harvest.

Iryna Oleksiivna photos

Photos top to bottom, left to right: 

Apples near my parents well

Standing next to my parents apple tree

This years harvest

My lovely parents in their yard

Ukrainian POW Maksym Kolesnikov weeps over an apple