Orthodox Christians in communities across Alaska celebrated Christmas Jan. 7. In the village of Nanwalek on the southern Kenai Peninsula, people spent Christmas Eve singing at the Saint Sergius and Herman church.
In the community of about 300 people, many of who are of Alutiiq (also known as Sugpiaq) descent, they sing in Slavonic, a liturgical language used by the Orthodox Church in Russia and Eastern Europe. It’s a remnant of the fur trade era and Russian colonialism.
Starring followed Christmas Eve services Wednesday. Nanwalek resident Sperry Ash says the practice represents the journey of the three wise men.
“Each region in Alaska that practices this style of caroling, what we call Slaviq, they all have variations. But generally they follow a star, a wooden frame that’s decorated with the icon of nativity in the center and that star guides the carolers house to house,” said Ash.
Food and treats are offered to the visitors at each house.
“Starring is really an enjoyable event – to be able to go house-to-house and see each family and greet them. That fellowship is really special at this time of year,” said Ash.
Nanwalek used to be known as English Bay. The village was originally the site of a Russian trading post called Alexandrovski during the fur trade of the 1700s. Locals changed the community name back to the original Native name of Nanwalek, meaning “place by a lagoon.” Nanwalek is situated along Cook Inlet at the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula.
Starring starts at the chief’s house. Subdeacon Ephim Moonin says a prayer. Then the singing starts in front of an icon on a shelf beside the family Christmas tree.
Chief John Kvasnikoff says the tradition and the story of the nativity are important to preserve in the face of outside influences.
“We got a lot of influences you know, internet and all this new technology. Kids are seeing, you know they see outside. But people can see in here too. And I’m glad they’re still holding onto it. It makes you a better person. It makes you want to help people who need help,” said Kvasnikoff.
Next they’ll star at the houses of newborn babies and elders, like Sally Ash, Sperry’s mother. She’s is the Sugt’stun language teacher in Nanwalek and she says she’s teaching all her grandchildren the language. Ash say she enjoys the Slavonic hymns, but says, in the future, she’d like to see some songs sung in Sugt’stun too.
“The kids, if they don’t know who they are, us being Sugpiaq, and if they don’t know their culture and their religion, they just get lost – just be a lost soul and then they follow what’s on TV. And so I think it’s really important that they know not only Christmas but also Pascha and other major feasts we celebrate throughout the year. It’s very important, yeah,” said Ash.
Pascha is Easter. Some holiday tables will have traditional octopus and chiton, or as the locals call them bidarkis or, in Sugt’stun, Urritaq gathered from the local reef, along with dry fish and seal oil, says Ash.
Food is a big part of the holidays in Nanwalek and the table is a mix of Russian, Sugpiaq and Western influences. She has a pot of turkey soup on the stove she says because the store had to give away defrosting turkeys due to a power outage last week. And having the power out has set everyone behind on their holiday preparations. With the power back on people are out to get what they need, like Adelle Kvasnikoff, the Chief’s niece.
“We have pilot crackers. So we’re going to prepare a traditional pilot cracker with salmon eggs and cream cheese. And my husband loves to use the Nally’s chili and we mix it with fresh cheddar cheese and we melt it together and we get tortilla chips and use it as a dip. And I grabbed a couple of small candies for stocking stuffers for my kids tomorrow,” said Kvasnikoff.
Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th, according to the Julian calendar. Starring will continue for the next several days. The holiday season runs through the Orthodox New Year on January 14th.
The holiday is also celebrated in Anchorage, the Y-K Delta, Southeast, Kodiak and along the Aleutian chain.
