MAYFIELD - Donning a kings' costumes and crowns, three children tried their best to convince Babushka to join them on their journey to see "Holy Child."
But just like the Russian Christmas story introduced years ago, Babushka on Sunday opted to stay at home - only later realizing she should have taken the trip to see Jesus.
"She learns she shouldn't be so consumed by the materialistic things in life," said Alexa Suchnick, who played Babushka. "She realizes the importance of Christ."
On Sunday, close to 30 children from St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Cathedral brought to life the story as part of the annual Christmas "Yolka" celebration.
Then, the children switched costumes - trading in robes for colorful Sarafan dresses and Sharovary baggy pants - and performed Russian folk dances in front of a crowd of more than 150 people.
Yolka, which means Christmas tree in Russian, falls on the Sunday after the Russian Orthodox Church's celebration of Christmas on Jan. 7 under the Julian calendar, said the Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest John Sorochka.
This year, it just happened to fall on New Year's Eve as well.
"It's a great way to ring in the new year," said Father Sorochka, who said the church's Yolka is one of the few in the area. "We do this because we don't want to give up our tradition. Without tradition, you don't have roots, and without roots you don't have anything."
Standing behind the curtains, choreographer Masha Pavuk listened as parents cheered on the children while they twirled, kicked and stepped in unison.
"It brings people back to their childhood because some of these dances have been around forever," Ms. Pavuk said. "It is important to keep these traditions alive, and keep practicing them."
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