The Somerset Palace Seoul is hosting a special “Orthodox Christians New Year’s Event” for those looking to spend the New Year in Slavic tradition.

Orthodox Christians traditionally celebrated the New Year holiday following the Julian Calendar ― which corresponds to Jan. 14 of the Gregorian calendar this year ― participating in festive ceremonies and wishing each other good health and prosperity throughout the year. This tradition continues to be celebrated in many Eastern European nations including Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Serbia and other Orthodox countries.

The Somerset will be hosting a special get-together today, sponsored by the Embassy of Ukraine, at which guests can experience a myriad of European folk traditions as well as treat their tastes buds to borscht (a traditional Ukrainian soup of pork, tomatoes, cabbage, red beet and onion); golubtsy (a mix of rice, meat, carrot and onion wrapped in cabbage leaves and stewed in tomato sauce); varenyky (dumplings with potato and mushrooms); and canape, served with black bread and salo (Ukrainian bacon).

Guests will also be able to enjoy traditional Ukrainian music with special performances by Lee Yeon-sung and Ukranian Valentyn Dudarenko, who will serenade the audience with several songs including “Zeleneye Jyto,” “Nich Yaka Misiachna,” “Moonlit Night” and “Dyvlius Ya Na Nebo.”

The “Orthodox Christian New Year’s Event” will be held Monday at the Somerset Palace Seminar Room on the second floor from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call (02) 6730-8009.

By Julie Jackson
(juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)