[Sponsored Report] Somerset Palace goes Orthodox for New Year

From top: Borsh (traditional Ukrainian soup with pork, tomatoes, cabbage, red beets and onions), Golubtsy (cabbage wraps with meat, carrots and onions stewed in tomato sauce) and Varenyky (dumplings with potato and mushrooms).

Somerset Palace Seoul is today hosting its “Orthodox New Year’s Event,” mainly for international guests staying at the residence.

The Old New Year, or the Orthodox New Year, has been traditionally celebrated by Orthodox Christians on the Gregorian calendar’s Jan. 14, which equals Jan. 1 on the Julian calendar.

Orthodox Christians still celebrate the Old New Year in countries such as Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Georgia and Serbia through performing folk traditions and ceremonies. Wishing to attract health and wealth in the coming year, believers arrange ritual renditions, sing celebratory songs and cook special food in celebration.

At the Somerset event, attendants are invited to taste special dishes such as borsh, a traditional Ukrainian soup with pork, tomatoes, cabbage, red beets and onions; golubtsy, a mix of meat, carrots and onions wrapped in cabbage leaves and stewed in tomato sauce; and varenyky, dumplings with potato and mushrooms.

Attendants can also enjoy traditional music from Ukraine. Korean singer Lee Yeon-sung and Ukrainian singer Valentyn Dudarenko will perform several songs about love of the motherland, hospitality and romance such as “Zeleneye jyto,” “Nich yaka misiachna,” “Dyvlius ya na nebo” and “Oy, pry luzi.”

The event, which is sponsored by the Embassy of Ukraine, will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Somerset Palace Seoul’s seminar room.

By Park So-yeon [soyeon_park@joongang.co.kr]