Rozkoliada 2026

Jan 24

Sunday January 18th, 2026 Kosa hosted a beautiful Rozkoliada Fest- culmination of the Koliada season festivities in Toronto. Held at SVI -St. Volodymyr Institute, in the beloved old theatre, the event featured a potpourri of traditional winter holiday art and customs, a colourful and joyful showcase.

Photos by Mykola Swarnyk and Carlos Gárate Photography.

Kryva Kosa folk band started the afternoon off with lively music, leading people in traditional Ukrainian village dances. The band included musicians who have been coming every Sunday to Hart House to the open band rehearsals to learn the traditional dance tunes in Kryva Kosa’s repertoire from Ukraine, Eastern Europe and the Baltics (and beyond).

All were welcomed into the home of Baba Maria and Vasyl, who generously opened their arms to all the carolers. Kosa Koliadnyky filled the space with the ringing of Ukrainian Christmas carols, followed by the Javarovy Ludzi’s Kolyadniki- sharing Belarusian carols, and a surprise visit from Honeypaw, who shared traditional carols from Lithuania and Finland.

Following an intermission when everyone spilled out of the theatre to take in the beautiful handmade crafts and food, and take a peep into the Ukrainian Museum exhibition on Kosiv, the Rozkoliada continuined with a visit from the Georgians- Ori Shalva family visited our hosts and serenaded them with ancient Georgian carols and toasts. Kosa Koliadnyky returned to the stage and brough their Koza (goat) who danced in wishes for abundance in the new year. Melanka also joined in the fun, and brought folks to their feet to dance.

The theatre and hallway was filled with the crafts and material elements that are an integral part of the winter holidays, including koliada stars, hay & straw creations, pavuky mobiles, didukhy ancestor sheaves, and papercuts adorning the windows. Thank you to all our friends and community for contributing caroling stars to our communal display, including Maria Antoniv, Bozena Hrycyna, Jurgita Zvinklyte, Sasha Baczynska, SVI students, Desna dance group, Olya Hryshchenko (Kitchener); and to our featured artisans Nadia Voloschuk and Olya Tkachenko would brought their special handwork (check out their work @hopefolkart and @olya_t_art).

Thanks to Yulia Yerofeyeva and her volunteers who cooked delicious food- $1211.50 was raised for Ukraine!

The proceeds were donated toward the purchase of tactical medicine for volunteer medics and soldiers in Zarorizhzhia (South front lines) region and to Heal a Mother’s Heart initiative by the Maple Hope Foundation.