Students Learn the Beauty of Ukrainian Easter Bread Making

Rosanne Fortier

News Correspondent

Besides being a pleasant sight to look at and a savoury food to eat, Ukrainian Easter Breads-paska and babka are symbolic and traditional food which represent historical happenings from the Christian faith for the Ukrainian Easter’s celebration which happened on Easter Sunday on April 28.

On April 23, Grades One and Two’s Ukrainian Bilingual Students from A.L. Horton School learned about the process involved in creating paska and babka while they had the chance to create the ropes and make the designs on the bread’s dough.

Educational Assistant, Mrs. Svitlana Fedorouk showcases a final product of the paska bread dough which is ready to go in the oven.

(Rosanne Fortier/photo)

Grade one teacher, Ms. Hyshka explained to the children to put the bun in the middle of the pan. The bun represents them and the way the Holy Spirit lives within every person. Then they had to take two ropes of dough and they twisted it. This symbolizes God and His son, Jesus which represents that their lives should always have Christ. They are in the center which means they should always have God and Jesus around to protect and help them. On the top, they had to make a cross because Jesus died for us. They also could put a flower on top or leaves or whatever they wish to. This bread-making is all about rebirth and resurrection, as well as, nature and new life.

Parent Volunteer, Bernie Ezio showed how to mix the dough to make paska and other parent- volunteers kneaded the dough and helped the children make the ropes and designs on the buns.

April 25 found the Ukrainian Bilingual Kindergarten students designing the Easter bread and the Grades Four and Five Ukrainian Bilingual students made the bread dough.