Celebration of Holidays and Memorial Days by Interned Soldiers of the Ukrainian Galician Army in Czechoslovakia, late 1920 – 1922 (Based on Materials from the Magazine “Ukrayinskyi Skytalets”)

Abstract

The article reconstructs the process of celebrating holidays and memorial days by interned Ukrainian Army soldiers in the Czechoslovak Republic in the early 1920s, which was carried out based on the materials from the camp magazine “Ukrayinskyi Skytalets”. Festive events can be divided into three categories: religious holidays, national daysand commemorative days. Camp choirs and amateur orchestras, as well as amateur artists, who performed theatrical performances by Ukrainian playwrights, were indispensable in their celebrations.

Thanks to their implementation, it became possible to further socialize the campers and strengthen their moral and psychological spirit and national feelings. In addition, the joint efforts of the internees in preparing the holidays, the program of which almost always included concerts and theatrical performances, brought the soldiers closer together, allowing them to demonstrate their talents in music, declamation, or singing. This, in turn, distracted them from joyless nostalgic thoughts and strengthened their faith in a better future, which was very important in the conditions of camp isolation.

The involvement of campers in organizing holidays has always been on a voluntary basis, as they considered it their patriotic duty. At the same time, it is good to note the importance of the organizational efforts in preparing the holidays of the Cultural and Educational Group, which had limited funds at its disposal and could financially support the internees, especially when it came to strengthening the morale of the soldiers and strengthening their faith in returning to their homeland. Holidays and religious ceremonies in the camps of former Ukrainian Army soldiers in Czechoslovakia played an important role in preserving Ukrainian culture and traditions during their internment abroad.