Festive season just getting started

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA RELEASE

January 6, 2008

Over one million Ukrainians in Canada celebrate Christmas January 7

January 6, 2008, OAKVILLE - Just when the majority of Canadians think the festive season is over and it's back to business as usual, close to 1.1 million Ukrainian Canadians are beginning their Christmas festivities - starting with Christmas Eve celebrations on January 6.

Canada has the world's third-largest Ukrainian population; only the Ukraine and Russia have more. They're a community that hasn't forgotten their roots as they still observe age-old customs and traditions passed down from generation to generation.

Festivities begin Christmas Eve and end 12 days later with the Feast of the Epiphany, bringing the family together to eat special foods and recall past traditions. For instance, two tablecloths are spread over the table, one for past ancestors and another for those still living. And as not to forget the real reason for the season, hay is placed under the tablecloths and under the table to remember Christ's birth in a manger.

"One of the traditions I like best is the twelve courses served for supper honouring each of Christ's Apostles," says John Vellinga, President of Multiculture Bevco. "It's great to celebrate with family and friends - dancing, singing and, enjoying Ukrainian products such as Slavutich and Livivske."

In a recent visit to Toronto, Petr Chernyshov, CEO of Baltic Beverages Holding (BBH), one of Ukraine's largest brewers announced that BBH is dedicated to growing sales of Slavutich and Lvivske in Canada. He also unveiled the new logo and can design for both beers, which will be available in Canadian stores early this year.

"Canada is going to be one of BBH's most important export markets," said Petr Chernyshov .

Slavutich and Lvivske, through Multiculture Bevco, support hundreds of Ukrainian community organizations, including the Bloor West Ukrainian Festival, the Dauphin Canadian National Ukrainian Festival, and the Shumka Ukrainian Dancers.

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For further information or interviews contact:

Peter Turkington / Strategic Communications Solutions / ON BEHALF OF MULTICULTURE BEVCO / Direct Phone: 905.901.9218 / Email: pturkington@stratcommsolutions.ca