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            Ukrainian Customs and Traditions in Ukraine

Traditions in Ukraine are interesting and unique, they are versatile and widespread! It is interesting that your young people are pleased to keep them – the tourists tell us. It is really true. This fact confirms the existence of the folk soul, gratitude to our ancestors, deep memory (the scientists call it the archetypical memory) and perception of generation connection. Ukrainian traditions, living and rather interesting folk heritage has been formed for many centuries. That is why despite our culturoligic European status and relatively short history of state we can take care of the spiritual continuity and we know well our native unwritten laws – the Ukrainian customs and traditions.

Ukrainian customs and traditions

The words “custom” and “habit” are paronymous words in the Ukrainian language. It is an element of our everyday life which is bred-in-the-bone – we take it in with mother's milk, with singing of the beloved grandmother or with the legends of our land. It is our pleasure to share the merry Ukrainian customs with the guests of our country, invite them to celebrate Maslenitsa (Pancake Week) or Ivana Cupala holiday, give very beautiful wedding songs, amulet or embroidered towel, raise the glass of vodka or wine and offer a round loaf of bread or treat the guests with the delicious ritual food – pancakes, kollyva or Easter cake. And to share the joy of unity of the countries, times and people.

Our guests notice the main regularity: traditions in Ukraine are closely connected with the everyday, calendar and religious life. It is quite natural. Like in many nations, a lot of Ukrainian traditions and events were connected with the agricultural calendar. Harvest songs, Christmas carols or merry songs to meet the spring have accompanied the seasonal works since long ago. It was impossible to work hard without household magic rituals and to rest without masquerades, entertainments or ritual greetings and going round. Natural hospitability and cheerfulness was passed on from generation to generation exactly through these everyday Ukrainian customs.

Family is very important for the Ukrainians. Its origination and existence is accompanied by many Ukrainian rituals and rites, Ukrainian customs and traditions. Making a formal proposal of marriage (in a traditional ceremony with matchmakers coming to the house of the prospective bride's father), engagement, arrangements and covering the head of the bride (a move from the maidenhead to the married life), bachelorette party (hen party) or wedding train, invitation and wedding march with many ransoms for the bride – our contemporaries follow all these merry elements with pleasure. By the way, our girls are very ‘tolerant’ now – if they do not like the future husband, then they would give a baked pumpkin to the matchmakers in accordance with the Ukrainian custom. And the young couple really respects the parents – they bow from the waist to them after receiving round bread with salt. Generally speaking, the ceremony of marriage is called here “fun” (‘veselye’) – it is real fun!

Ukrainian customs

Ukrainian customs connected to the birth of a child are filled with the rites and using of amulets. And also with many omens traditional in our country. The pregnant women are not recommended to meet the sick persons, look at the snakes or have their hair cut, sew or cut, buy something for a future child. The less people know about the future pregnancy – the better. Men and some women are not allowed to visit a newborn baby during the first 40 days. The Ukrainian rite of baptism is a very important one. It is a big sin to refuse the title of a godparent. A traditional Ukrainian crosswise haircut is performed at the first anniversary of birth. The Ukrainian omens are brought together with the Orthodox ones in these ritual actions.

Traditions in Ukraine are connected with the Old-Ukrainian heathen attributes. The youth, mischievous, poetic and very old holiday of Ivana Cupala (the night to July, 7), like in many Slavic nations, was connected with the Day of solstice some time ago. Nowadays you can see the girls to sing and dance in a ring and put the wreaths made of the flowers into the water and the guys jump over the fire and look for the blossoming fern. There is one more old Ukrainian tradition connected with the turn of the sun – January 7 (now – Christmas). Long time ago people used to tell fortunes in that winter time. Nowadays the Christmas Ukrainian customs include fortune-telling and addressing to the natural forces. Just before the Old New Year (January 13) children and teenagers still go round carol-singing. If you can sing or wish to celebrate someone you can earn a little of Ukrainian hrivnas or sweets. These children going round looks like American Halloween. One more Ukrainian tradition is to sanctify the water at Epiphany and believe in its wonderful and healing features at the night prior to the holiday. We clean our apartments on the Great Thursday (prior to Easter). We color the eggs and bake Easter cakes. We pray for the dead at the Commemoration Day. We see the winter off and meet the spring on Maslenitsa. We sanctify the fields and decorate our homes with the flowers on Trinity Sunday.

Ukrainian omens

And now a few words about the Ukrainian omens for you not to be very surprised spending your time in Ukraine. Put something on inside out is considered to be an omen that you will be beaten. Do not give anything across the threshold not to quarrel – better step on the threshold or even more better – come inside. We guess it is the evident sign of the famous Ukrainian hospitability! If you wish your future husband to be red-haired – do not eat up (however, it is impossible to do – the dishes are very tasty). If you wish your new home to be prosperous – let a cat be the first to come in. If your aim is loneliness – have a sit at the corner of the table and then by the Ukrainian omens, you won’t get married. If you wish to give the flowers – buy the odd number of them (the even number is given at the funerals).

And if you are not afraid of all these traditions – visit Ukraine! You will make sure in the cities and villages, in every family, in children day care centers and schools, at weddings, baptism and anniversary ceremonies that the traditions in Ukraine are real folk property and you will be given part of it from the open heart!

Kostiuk Tetiana

                                 

Folk dance

                                       

Folk dance. In prehistoric and ancient times dance was a ritual means of communicating with nature and the divine forces. Only isolated elements of ancient folk calendar ritual and cult dances have survived through the centuries. With the introduction of Christianity in Ukraine (see Christianization of Ukraine), the archaic relics of these dances blended with Christian rituals and were adapted to the church calendar and Christian festivals. Certain mentions of ancient dances can be found in written sources, but the largest number of them can be found in ancient Ukrainianfolk songs. The oldest Slavic word for the dance is plias; the modern word tanets was borrowed from West European languages.

Ancient Ukrainian dances were actually agricultural dance games (khorovody; see Khorovod); their basic form was the circle, associated with the cult of the sun, the greatest life-giving power. The most widely known are the spring khorovody (circular choral dances), such as kryvyi tanets, podolianochka, perepilka, yahilochka, and verbova doshchechka. In time, the vesnianky-hahilky were enriched by new themes, and some of them conveyed the image of life under serfdom (zelman, bondarivna, and others). In general, the vesnianky-hahilky have a lyrical character; their movements are gentle, tranquil, and restrained.

In the summer the dances of the Kupalo festival, which was probably connected with the pre-Christian feast of Rusalii, were performed. In the Hutsul region, on the eve of Saint George's day, girls performed a ritual dance called lelia, which was reminiscent of the old Roman festival of roses (dies rosae, rosalia, rosatio) and invoked the happiness of love. Dances were also performed during the Whitsuntide celebrations (see Pentecost). In the late summer and early autumn the harvest feast (obzhynky) was celebrated by circular dances (obzhynkovi khorovody), which constituted a dramatization of the song content and an imitation of agricultural work (see Harvest rituals). The harvest circular songs (see Harvest songs) were performed mainly by women, and the scything ones by men. The pre-Lenten carnivalperiod (miasnytsi) was also the time for weddings, which have in part preserved the traditional ritual character of dance. The carnival dances are performed primarily by women. Such dances as podushkovyi, kocherha, and stilchyk are mimetic representations of the wedding songs. The wedding dances are similar in certain respects to the ancient funeral dances.

Ukrainian ritual dances are performed mostly to the accompaniment of a churchlike, antiphonic chant. They are rarely performed to music. The chorals most typical of these dances are supplicative and commemorative in nature. The ritual folk dance has been little studied. It is presumed that the separation of song and dance began during the early Middle Ages, as the ancient cult rites became divided with the introduction of Christianity. One part was retained in the form of folk dancing; the other was taken over by professional dancers, who replaced the song in the dance with mime. Dance became a form of pure entertainment. New types of traveling dancers (the skomorokhy) appeared. They performed their art in squares or in palaces, where they entertained the princes and nobles.

Ukrainian folk dances can be divided into two groups: those performed to the accompaniment of songs and those performed to music. Musical instruments (husli, flutes, horns, tsymbaly, kobza, and others [see Folk musical instruments]) were introduced later as a means of maintaining the rhythm of the dance. The dances are classified as circular and topical, the latter including dances that reflect folkways, occupational and humorous dances, and others. The majority of Ukrainian folk dances closely resemble the circular dance types but are enriched by figurative intricacies; the pair and solo dances evolved from this type. Their structure is linear, even geometrical, showing a tendency towards imaginative patterns (circle, cross, serpent, chain, rows, and others), spatiality, and rounded lines. They unfold in a horizontal direction, except for the vertical dances of the mountain peoples. The circular dances are accompanied by a song. The choreographic image depends on the song's content. These dances contain many ancient elements and are ritually allegoric or symbolic, but their technique is somewhat poorer because, as group dances, they are subordinated to one leading performer.

Through their movements, gestures, and type of music, the topical dances portray events that occur in nature or in everyday life. While they have a variety of steps and figures, their content is simple. Performed to a song that has a 2/4 musical beat, they are based on one or two steps, are quite diverse in composition, and are arranged in an orderly and successive manner. The dances that are most popular today in Ukraine are those that portray the people's way of life. They are performed at weddings, dances, parties, and so on.

Performed originally by females only, the following dances are now performed by men and women: metelytsia, Kateryna, Vasylykha, dribushka, horlytsia, volynianka,and tropotianka. At one time exclusively men's dances, the following are now also performed as male-female pair, group, or solo dances: chumak, hopak, chaban, veselyi, vivchar, ocheret, zaporozhets, kozachok, and arkan. The kolomyika, popular in Western Ukraine and performed with a variety of steps (holubka, merezhka) to the accompaniment of dialogue-type songs, is reminiscent of the ancient circular dances and has a 2/4 musical beat. Ukraine's historic past is reflected in men's dances, for example, the Gonta, which symbolizes heroism, manliness, and patriotism. The hopak, which features physical strength and almost acrobatic agility, has, in time, become transformed into a pair or group dance. Its theme is a youth's wooing of a girl. The youth executes ingenious leaps, kicks, and squats in order to gain the girl's favor. The theme of labor finds expression in such topical dances as kravchyk, shevchyk, lisoruby, and kovali; various movements in these dances convey the intricacies of a trade or occupation and the dexterity of the artisan. There are also humorous dances (eg, bychky, husak, kozlyk, and others) that depict the behavior ofanimals and birds.

Podlachian folk dances (eg, haiduk, kozak, shatalier) have retained most of their ancient elements. In Slobidska Ukraine such ancient dances as dudochka, horlytsia, and zaveriukha have been preserved, and in southern Ukraine there are still traces of the old Cossack dances (eg, zaporozhets). Lemko folk dances (eg, koshychok, kolechko, obertas, kyvanyi, Dzhurylo, and striasuvanets) have preserved some ancient elements, but they have been influenced considerably by Slovak folk culture. Transcarpathian folk dances have movements not know elsewhere in Ukraine.

Because of their recurring motifs, Ukrainian folk dances, like those of other peoples of the world, appear as a whole to be slightly repetitious in presentation. Yet, even though they do have many common elements, they vary by region in choreographic method, content, and dynamics. Ukrainian folk dances, unlike those of other peoples, were not affected strongly by court dances. Therefore they preserved their virtuosity and originality for a longer period of time. It should be emphasized that the female in Ukrainian folk dances has a dignified role: she dances gracefully and behaves modestly; she may at times act flirtatiously, but she always expresses her feelings in a restrained manner. The esthetic beauty and originality of the Ukrainian folk dances are augmented by the colorful folk costumes of the dancers and the melodic musical accompaniment.

Since the 1950s, with the growth of professional and amateur dance troupes in Ukrainian SSR and later, in Ukraine, a greater repertoire of folk dances, based both on traditional folk culture and on new choreographic improvisations, has been created. The dances reflect history (zaporozhtsi), a former folkway (chumatski radoshchi), contemporary rural life (na kukurudzianomu poli, kolhospna polka, kolhospne vesillia, novorichna metelytsia), or contemporary industrial life (shakhtiarskyi sviatkovyi).

Kostiuk Tetiana

Christmas in Ukraine

                                                                                      Christmas in Ukraine

Christmas is a wonderful holiday, it’s a feast of Christ’s birth and it’s celebrated on the eve of 7th of January. In the mid-4th century it was established by the Roman Catholic church as a separate feast and was celebrated on 25 December according to the Julian calendar. In the 10th century with the introduction of the Christianity into Rus it was fused with the local pagan celebrations of the sun’s return or the commencement of the agricultural year. In some areas was used the pre-Christian name of the feast — Koliada. The Christmas Eve is considered as the most interesting part of Christmas as it has ritual and magic acts aimed at ensuring a good harvest and a life of plenty. Caroling is a characteristic feature of the feast, it expresses respect for the master of the house and his children, and sometimes it’s accompanied by a puppet theatre (vertep). The religious festival lasts three days and involves Christmas liturgies, caroling, visiting and entertaining relatives and acquaintances. The Christmas tree was adopted from Western Europe, but today it’s the element of the New Year celebration in Ukraine.
The «holy supper» on Christmas Eve is a meal of 12 ritual meatless and milkless dishes. The order of the dishes and dishes themselves aren’t uniform everywhere. In the Hutsul region, for example, the dishes were served in the following order: beans, fish, boiled potato, dumplings, cabbage rolls, kutya, potatoes mashed with garlic, stewed fruit, plums with beans and some other dishes.
Christmas is the holiday when all members of the family gather together. This is the holiday of joy. Comparatively with Great Britain and some other countries Ukrainian people don’t exchange presents on this holiday. For many years only religious people observed this holiday, but today it’s an official state holiday. Children like to have fun on this holiday, they go from door to door, sing carols and people give sweets to them. As it was already mentioned, «Kutya» is a traditional Ukrainian Christmas dish. It’s cooked by mothers and godchildren take it to their godparents. Although this holiday appeared long ago but nowadays many people still like to go church and listen to Christmas sermons.

Zhuravel Ann

Traditional Ukrainian songs

Traditional Ukrainian songs are famous all over the world. For many centuries, Ukrainian songs are carrying away people’s minds and souls. An incredible sense and sensibility of melody and lyrics, rich set of instruments create the unique rhythmical structure. Traditional songs have been transferred to every new generation with great honor and pleasure. Starting from early childhood children are brought up in the atmosphere of national art. At kindergartens, schools and institutes children, pupils and students are encouraged to participate in various plays dedicated to Ukrainian traditions, history etc.  
Traditional Ukrainian songs are a spacious and rather general notion which determines several musical genres that are united into single division. Therefore one may hear wedding songs, historical songs, calendar and family songs and all of them are considered to be traditional. People always used music as means of expression. With the help of a song one could describe his or her happiness or ease the pain of loss or whatever. Along with the song there was a hope in a good and bright future, with the joyful singing people thanked generous land for wealthy harvest, with the happy songs Ukrainians glorified the newly born or newlyweds.  Thus it is clear that song has always played an extremely significant and essential part in every person’s life.
For many centuries it was a tradition to compose songs and music. Ukrainians are known to be immensely talented people with generous and sensible soul that easily percepts and experiences all emotions and feelings. With such characteristics Ukrainians have created thousands of various songs and musical pieces that have accompanied them throughout their whole life. During times of invasions Ukrainians used songs in order to encourage brave warriors, their noble deeds, to ease their fear and to fill them with the sense of moral support. Besides the nation itself was in a constant need of moral support while the atmosphere of war and battles depressed and horrified Ukrainians. Along with the songs one believed in all good things and state of freedom and independence. The vast majority of historical songs are describing stories that are based on true events. Moreover such songs are glorifying national heroes who have bravely fought for the freedom of the native land and people. It’s rather difficult to image how a music can bring relieve and sense of mental equilibrium.
Traditional Ukrainian songs show not only the talent and mastery of composing but reveal the general characteristics and qualities of Ukrainians in broad terms. Numerous family traditions and rituals, relationship between family members, places and lands where people lived are vividly depicted in Ukrainian songs. It seems that none domestic or harvest or any other work was done without singing corresponding songs. Very often songs have escorted numerous feasts where people united to sing all together, that was an entertaining part with was preceded with dances and funny competitions with music certainly. During such events people preferred to sing humorous songs that created light, free and easy pastime. Young people in turns sang numerous songs where their feelings were described but of course it had ambiguous meaning while it was uneasy to say whether girl or boy had some feelings indeed or they were just kidding.
All this created an incredible atmosphere that helped people to enjoy everyday life and overcome any difficulties or tough times. One should not be cast down because no matter what life goes on and so are we. Ukrainians preferred to find consolation and comfort with the help of the song and music, where merry melodies were healers.

Кельвіча Данила

Ukrainian borscht recipe (рецепт украинского борща)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1kg beef (on the bone)
• 2 liters water 
• 50 ml vegetable oil
• 1 beet (boil)
• 1 onion 
• 200g cabbage 
• 1 carrot 
• Parsley to taste
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  
  1)Prepare all the ingredients. Put the beet in a small saucepan, cover with water (the water should completely cover the beet) and boil until cooked.
  2)Take a medium sized saucepan, put a piece of beef (preferably use a piece of beef with bone) in it and cover with water. The water should completely cover the beef, while it is boiling. Remove the foam, which allocates while water is boiling. As soon as the water starts to boil reduce heat and simmer for an hour and a half without a lid. At the end add some salt. If you wish, you can add spices or a little vinegar to remove the peculiar smell of boiled meat.3)Chop the cabbage.
  4)Grate peeled raw carrot.
  5)Grade boiled beet.
  6)Chop the onion finely.
  7)Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan. Fry the onion for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.
  8)Add the cabbage.
  9)Add some salt and cook the cabbage and onion for 5-6 minutes over medium heat
  10)Add the carrot.
  11)Add the tomato paste, stir, cover the pan with a lid and stew for 4-5 minutes over medium heat.
  12)Add some fresh parsley.
  13)Squeeze a couple of cloves of garlic.
  14)Take the meat out of the broth, cut into cubes and let it cool down. Carefully put the vegetables from the pan in the broth. Put the broth with vegetables on the fire, add the bay leaf, bring to the boil and cook over medium heat for 25-30 minutes.
  15)Add the grated beet and diced meat, remove the saucepan from heat, cover and let it infuse for 10-15 minutes. Check for salt.
  
  

Національний одяг вбирає в себе багатогранність історії, унікальність традицій і багату культуру країни і її народу. Національний одяг українців демонструє світогляд жителів різних регіонів.
Незважаючи на все розмаїття сучасного жіночого гардеробу, кожна дівчина повинна мати сорочку або сукню в українському стилі. Завдяки дизайнерам етнічні мотиви гармонійно «вплітаються» в повсякденну моду , так і у вечірні образи. Це і офісні вбрання, і коктейльні або нарядні сукні. Не обов'язково, щоб на вас була плахта або пояс. Достатньо, щоб одяг прикрашала хоча б невелика вишивка.

Особливості жіночого українського національної одягу

Основою для вишитого плаття в українському стилі служили вишиванки, які складалися з двох частин. Нижня робилася з грубої і щільної тканини. Зверху сорочки дівчина одягала плахту і запаску. Стримана плахта обмотуються навколо талії, прив'язувалася поясом. Зверху повинна була бути запаска, нагадує фартух.
Такий наряд неможливо уявити без акцентів. Швидше не аксесуар, а невід'ємною частиною образу є пояс. Він вигідно підкреслить талію, добре доповнить сукню. Прикрасити волосся або шию дуже просто. Використовуйте прості намиста, ґердани або елегантну шпильку в народному стилі. Раніше кількість намистин на прикрасах дівчини прямо говорило про достаток родини.
На свята дівчата надівали свої найкрасивіші сукні. Наряди рясніли візерунками і багатством колірних рішень. Без бус і вінків не обходилося жодне свято.
Символіка народних вишивок на національному одязі
Одним з основних в мистецтві вишивки предки вважали білий колір. Його асоціювали з Богом і природою в цілому. Тому білий орнамент, вишита на білому полотні - цілком закономірне явище. Зелений орнамент відображає природне начало, спокій і мир. Протягом всієї історії синій служив оберегом і асоціювався з постійністю і вірністю.
Червоний - найулюбленіше забарвлення українців. Це символ любові, гармонії. Як стверджують знавці, він відганяє злі сили. Сильним кольором є чорний. Він втілює достаток і багатство. Кажуть, що він нейтралізує негативний вплив на людину, притягує хорошу енергію.
Приємно усвідомлювати, що етнічне плаття в національному українському стилі або сорочка служать не тільки своєрідним оберегом, але і дуже елегантним виробом в гардеробі. Виділяйтеся з натовпу - носити національний одяг України. Крім того, це дасть вам можливість відчути себе по-новому.

      
Костюк Тетяна

UKRAINE. THE NATIONAL SYMBOLS

The Constitution states that the national symbols of Ukraine shall be the National Flag, the National Emblem and the National Anthem.
The Ukrainian flag consists of two horizontal stripes of equal width. The top is blue, the bottom is yellow. Blue and yellow, the colours of the sky, mountains, streams, and golden fields had symbolized Kyivan Rus' long before the introduction of Christianity. With the acceptance of Christianity, blue and gold were incorporated into church symbolism. After the Mongol-Tatar invasion in the 1200s, the-use of blue and gold was interrupted to be revived again in church ornaments and city crests some time later. The emblem of the city of Myrhorod, for example, was a gold trident over a blue background. Another city, Pryluky, used the head of an ox in gold over a blue background as its insignia. And in Lubny the city emblem pictured a hand holding a golden mace over a blue background. The banners of the Cossacks (XVII century) were blue with gold stars, a gold cross or with pictures of saints rendered in gold.
The National Emblem is a trident. The first image of a trident appeared in the IX century A.D. When Ihor, Prince of Kyivan Rus' from 912 to.945, sent ambassadors to sign a treaty with the Byzantine emperor, they sealed the document with a trident. As the official emblem of the Kyivan princes, the trident was stamped on coins and seals; it was depicted on porcelain and in frescos. It is thought that the tridentrepresented -the division of the world into three spheres: the earthly, the celestial and the spiritual — as well as the union of the three natural elements: air, water and earth. The trident was endorsed as the National Emblem of Ukraine, and the blue and yellow flag — as the National Flag of Ukraine — by the Verkhovna Rada in 1992.
The lyrics to the anthem of Ukraine were written by Pavlo Chubynsky — a scientist and poet — in 1862. The music was composed by M. Verbytsky.

10-A class Boltivets Alina

Easter in Ukraine

Easter is the feast of Christ’s resurrection, which in its observance combines both pagan and Christian elements. Easter (in Ukrainian: ‘Velykden’ or ‘Paskha’) is preceded by seven weeks of Lent and celebrated on each first week after vernal equinox and full moon. It is the most cheerful holiday for orthodox believers.
In Ukraine Easter is called Velykden (The Great Day). In Ukraine Easter has been celebrated over a long period of history and has had many rich folk traditions.
Ukrainian Easter is a historical combination of heathen and Christian traditions. Velykden was celebrated thousands of years ago as the victory of the Light over the Dark, Day over Night, Spring over Winter. The Resurrection was celebrated only from 988 when Kiev Rus was baptized. For some time these two systems coexisted, for some time it was forbidden for people to follow heathen traditions, but later the church decided to use in its Easter ceremony the heathen customs like painting eggs and backing Easter cake.
The last Sunday before Easter is called Willow Sunday (Verbna nedilia). On this day pussy-willow branches are blessed in the church.
The week before Easter, the Great (Velykyi) Week (Holy Week), is called the White (Bilyi) or Pure (Chystyi) Week. During this time an effort is made to finish all field work before Thursday, since from Thursday on work is forbidden. Pure (Maundy) Thursday is connected with ritual of clarification by water.
On Passion (Strasna) Friday—Good Friday—no work is done. In some localities, the Holy Shroud (plashchanytsia) is carried solemnly three times around the church and, after appropriate services, laid out for public veneration.
Saturday evening people gather in the church for the Easter vigil till the very morning when priests bless the food believers brought. After that people go home to celebrate Easter with their families. If they meet other people on the way they say: “Christ is risen!” and these people should reply “Risen indeed”. All the people exchange Easter greetings and give each other painted eggs (krashanky).
Easter cake (‘Kulich’) and painted eggs (‘Krashanki’) are the symbols of Ukrainian Easter and obligatory food on the table this day. Kulich is baked from yeast dough in the form of cylinder. Krashanka is a boiled and painted egg. On this Day Ukrainian kids play their favorite Easter game: knocking the eggs. If you knock somebody’s egg and you egg is not broken than you are the winner.
The krashanky and pysanky (Easter eggs) are an old pre-Christian element and have an important role in the Easter rites. On this day they are given as gifts or exchanged. There is also the rite of sprinkling with water, which is still carried on in Western Ukraine on the next day afrer Easter (Wet Monday, Oblyvanyi ponedilok). It is practiced by young people, the boys usually splashing the girls with water.
During the Easter season in Ukraine the cult of the dead is observed. The dead are remembered during the whole week after Easter, especially on the first Sunday following Easter Sunday. People gather in the cemeteries, bringing with them a dish containing some food and wine, which they consume, leaving the rest at the graves.

10-A class Boltivets Alina

Folk Trades, Customs and Traditions of the Ukrainian People

Folk Trades, Customs and Traditions of the Ukrainian People

Hutsulshchyna is rich in people's trades, customs, and tradition. The centres of the people's trades are Kosiv and Yavoriv. Famous engravers, ceramists, weavers, and embroiders live there. Their works are exhibited in museum all over the world. Embroidery of Hutsulshchyna is one of the most famous kinds of people's art. It is a general Slavic tradition to embroider the clothes. Hutsul embroidery is remarkable for its colour and technique. Hutsul embroidery as a rule uses geometrical ornament. When people meet quests they put bread and salt on the embroidered towel. Another popular tradition is ornamenting (decorating) eggs during Easter holidays. Such eggs were usually ornamented by women and giris and rarely by boys and men. Hutsul customs and ceremonies from the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century are preserved nowadays. The family and calendar holidays are Christmas, Easter, Green Holidays, and Spas. Before Green Holidays the Ukrainian people usually decorate their houses and fences with green branches of time trees. There are many ceremonies connected with these holidays such as shchedrivka, carol singing and hayivky.

Family customs and ceremonies mark the most important events in the life of a man: the birth of a baby, marriage, death. For instance, a bride embroiders a towel and the young couple stands on it during the wedding church service.

Zhuravel Ann

Ukrainian customs and traditions 

The best way to know a nation, its character and history is to get acquainted with its customs and traditions. Ukrainian traditions are very old. Some of them arose in pre — historic times and evolved through the centuries of Ukrainian history. With the spread of modern civilization transformed Ukrainian customs and traditions. Nowadays persistent efforts are made to revive folk customs. In the last few decades people learned more about customs and traditions of their country. They sing special carols (shchedrivky), as a New Year's tradition. People sing vesnianky, when spring comes. In villages and towns the Kupalo festival is widely celebrated. Many of these customs and traditions have their deep meaning. They are aimed at ensuring a good harvest and a life of plenty.

A great deal of Ukrainian customs is tied to ancient beliefs, symbols and images. The New Year, particularly, the New Year's Eve, was connected with a rich repertoire of folk customs. Their primary purpose was to secure the family's health and happiness. The key rituals were eating kutia, children's caroling, walking Malanka around the village, fortune telling and forecasting the weather for the next year, and the symbolic sowing of wheat.

Christmas and most interesting part Christmas Eve (Sviat-Vechir) is also connected with many magical acts, which should bring wealth to the family. Among them are caroling, vertep and did or didukh. Did or didukh is a sheaf of wheat and symbolizes dead family members who participate in the eve's celebration. The religious festival lasts for three days. The Christmas tree, which was adopted from Western Europe, is today an element of the New Year celebration in Ukraine. The Christmas theme has an important place, more important than Easter, in Ukrainian painting, particularly church painting, and in poetry. The «holy supper» on Christmas Eve is a meal of 12 symbolic meat and milk free dishes. The order of the dishes and even the dishes themselves are not uniform everywhere, for every region has its own tradition. In the Hutsul region, for example, the dishes were served in the following order: beans, fish, boiled potato dumplings (pyrohy or varenyky), cabbage rolls (holubtsi), kutia, potatoes mashed with garlic, stewed fruit and so on.

Epiphany (Bogoiavlennia) is a religious holiday on January 6 (the Old Style), or January 19 (the New Style). It is often called Vodokhryshchi. The Eve of Epiphany is called "the second Holy Eve" or "Hungry Kutia". In Podillia it is also called Shchedryi Vechir (Generous Eve). It is a more simple meal than on Christmas Eve, but with kutia still as the main traditional dish. The principal ceremony of Epiphany is blessing the water. After the blessing, everyone present drinks the water and also takes some home to be kept there for a whole year.

One more important Ukrainian religious holiday is Easter. In Ukrainian, Easter is called «Velykden» (the Great Day). The last Sunday before Easter (Palm Sunday) is called Willow Sunday (Verbna nedilia). On this day willow branches are blessed in the church. The week before Easter, the Great Week (Holy Week), is called the White or Pure Week. In the evening of "Pure" Thursday, the passion (strasti) service is performed. After it, people return home with lighted candles. This is really one of the most beautiful traditions in Ukraine.

Published by Hrushova Victoria

Ukrainian dance

• Central Ukrainian or Kozak Dances, representing the culture and traditions of the Ukrainian Kozaks (Kozaky), Poltava and other central Ukrainian lands surrounding the river Dnipro (Dnieper); these are the dances most commonly associated with Ukrainian dance. The culture of central and eastern Ukraine developed under many foreign influences, due to both trade and foreign invasion. The greatest indigenous cultural influence was the semi-military society of the Kozaks, whose love of social dances spawned the Hopak , the Kozachok , the Povzunets, the Chumaky  and many others. The men's costumes for these dances are styled after Kozak dress, with boots, a comfortable shirt, a sash (poyas) tied around the waist, and loose, billowy riding trousers (sharovary); common accessories include overcoats, hats, and swords. The women's costumes have subtler variations, since the woman's blouse generally displays more embroidery than the men's shirt, the skirt (plakhta) is woven with various geometric and color patterns, and they wear a headpiece of flowers and ribbons (vinok). All of these pieces can vary from village to village, or even based on a family tradition, although most professional ensembles dress their performers with identical costumes, for aesthetic reasons. The style of these dances is acrobatic and physically demanding for the men, who are often showcased individually; women have traditionally played secondary roles, displaying grace and beauty while often dancing in technically demanding unison.
• Hutsul Dances, representing the culture and traditions of Hutsulshchyna. While Vasyl Avramenko's Hutsul dances are notoriously inaccurate depictions of the dances of the Hutsuls, the highlanders who inhabit the Carpathian Mountains, the demand for additional research to fill in the gaps of Verkhovynets initial work eventually brought about a revived interest in Hutsul customs and traditions, and soon Hutsul and Carpathian dance ensembles had developed the second most-recognizable style of Ukrainian dance. The well known dances of the region of Pokuttia is the Kolomyika  which is named after the biggest city of the region, Kolomea; the Hutsulka 2 on . The mountainous Hutsul region of Ukraine, Hutsulshchyna, is adjacent to the Romanian regions of Bukovina and Maramureş, and the regions are ethno-culturally linked. In depicting Hutsuls dances, dancers traditionally wear leather moccasins known as postoly, and decorated vests known as keptari. Men's pants are not as loose as the kozak dress, and women wear a skirt composed of front and back panels, tied at the waist. Hutsul costumes traditionally incorporate orange, brown, green, and yellow embroidery. Hutsul dances are well known for being lively and energetic, characterized by quick stamping and intricate footwork, combined with swift vertical movements. A well-known Hutsul dance is the arkan ('lasso', cf. Romanian arcan), in which men dance around a fire.
• Transcarpathian Dances, representing the culture and traditions of Ukrainian Zakarpattia. Dances from this region are known for their large sweeping movements and colourful costumes, with the general movement being "bouncy". A signature dance from this region is bereznianka.
• Bukovynian Dances, representing the culture and traditions of Bukovyna, a transitional highland between Ukraine and Romania, historically ruled by the Romanian Principality of Moldavia, as well as the Habsburg Empire and the Tatars. Ukrainian dances depicting Bukovynian music and dance is peppered with dichotomies and contrapuntal themes, perhaps reflecting the political histories of the region. In these dances, both men and women perform a variety of foot-stamps. Usually, the girls' headpieces are very distinctive, consisting of tall wheat stalks, ostrich feathers, or other unique protuberances. The embroidery on the blouses and shirts is typically stitched with darker and heavier threads, and women's skirts are sometimes open at the front, revealing an embroidered slip.
• Volyn' Dances, representing the culture and traditions of Volyn'. This region is located in north-western Ukraine. The representative costumes worn by Ukrainian dancers are bright and vibrant, while the dance steps are characterized by energetic jumping, high legs, and lively arms. The dances representing this region have been influenced by the traditional dances of Poland, due to Volyn's geographical proximity with Poland, and Poland's extended rule over the area.
• Polissian Dances, representing the culture and traditions of Polissia. The steps of Polissian dance as depicted by Ukrainian dancers are characteristically very bouncy and with emphasis on high knee movement. The costumes often incorporate white, red, and beige as the main colors, and girls often wear aprons. A popular Polissian dance is called mazurochky.
• Lemko Dances, representing the culture and traditions of Lemkivshchyna. The ethnographic region of the Lemkos lays mainly in Poland, with a small part falling within current Ukrainian borders. Relatively isolated from ethnic Ukrainians, the Lemko people have a unique lifestyle and ethnography, like that of the Hutsuls, which Ukrainian dance choreographers enjoy depicting. The dance costumes typically depict the men and women with short vests, with the style of dance being light-hearted as well as lively.
• Podillian Dances, representing the culture and traditions of Podillia.
• Boiko Dances, representing the culture and traditions of Boikivshchyna.
• Gypsy Dances, representing the culture and traditions of Ukrainian Tsyhany: The Romani people have lived in Ukraine for centuries. Those inhabiting the Carpathian Mountains have even developed their own dialect of the Rom language, as well as customs and traditional dances limited to their own villages. Many Ukrainian folk-stage dance ensembles have incorporated stylized Tsyhans'ky ("Gypsy") dances into their repertoire
• Rostyslav Marych

Dance, Art, Holidays and Music Explored

Dance, Art, Holidays and Music Explored

Since Ukraine is geographically located between Europe and Asia, much of its culture exhibits both Eastern and Western influences. Over the years it has been invariably influenced by movements such as those brought about during the Byzantine Empire and the Renaissance. Today, the country is somewhat culturally divided with the western regions bearing a stronger European influence and the eastern regions showing a strong Russian influence.

It is interesting to note that Communist rule in Russia had quite a strong effect on the art and writing of Ukraine. During the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Soviet authorities began enforcing the socialist realism art style in Ukraine. This style dictated that all artists and writers glorify the Soviet Regime with their talents. However, it wasn't long before the Soviet Union collapsed and artists and writers again became free to express themselves as they wanted. Unfortunately the collapse of the union also brought about a decrease in government subsidies. Writers chose to emulate the styles used in the 11th and 13th centuries, whileartlists expanded their horizons trying new techniques, subject matters and styles.

Ukrainian culture is richly embedded in ancient traditions. Even today many historical songs such as the dumy and the playing of the kobza – which was popular during the 16th century – is still enjoyed. However, music has also come a long way since then and Polissia magic pop and Kolomiya rap have gained popularity. The culture scene has also seen a resurgence of Cossaks songs and song poetry. There are also a number of cultural festivals such as the Tavriya Games which are most popular.

The Ukrainian people also enjoy their culture in the form of traditional dances and dance games. Many of these originated in rural Cossack villages and some of the oldest dances can be traced back to ancient cults. Traditionally many of these dances were performed only by males or females, but today both sexes sometimes mix and enjoy the dance together. Appreciation for these dances is usually kept alive by Ukrainian dance troupes.

Many people do not know that the tradition of the Easter egg had it's beginnings in the Ukraine. In times gone by (and still sometimes today) these eggs were drawn on with wax to create patterns. Dye was then added to give the eggs their delightful colors – the dye not affecting the wax coated parts of the egg. Once the whole egg was dyed, the wax was removed leaving only the colorful pattern. The tradition is thousands of years old and predates the arrival of Christianity in the country. While Christian interpretations of this practice abound, many Ukrainians still believe that the egg has immense power and releases the earth from the restraints of winter. Even the designs have meaning and the eggs are usually given as gifts or used as decorations.

Ukrainians celebrate a number of holidays, namely Christmas, Easter, Whitsuntide, New Years and Ivana Kupala (St John's Eve). They also hold a festival every autumn to celebrate the end of the harvest. While some of these festivals are celebrated world wide, Ukrainians have their very own way of observing them. Ukrainian culture is very interesting and there is so much to say on the matter that it cannot be discussed fully here. The best way to find out more is to visit the country and learn from the locals.

Published by Hrushova Victoria

Ukrainian soups

Ukrainian borschc with smetana

• Borshch is a vegetable soup made out of beets, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, dill. There are about 30 varieties of Ukrainian borscht. It may include meat or fish.
• Kapusniak: soup made with pork, salo, cabbage, and served with smetana (sour cream).
• Rosolnyk: soup with pickled cucumbers.
• Solyanka: thick, spicy and sour soup made with meat, fish or mushrooms and various vegetables and pickles.
• Yushka: clear soup, made from various types of fish such as carp, bream, wels catfish, or even ruffe.
• Zelenyj borshch (green borscht) or shchavlevyj borshch (sorrel soup): water or broth based soup with sorrel and various vegetables, served with chopped hard boiled egg and sour cream.

Sobkovska Anna

Ukrainian music

Many of its ethnic groups living within Ukraine have their own unique musical traditions. The most striking general characteristic of authentic ethnic Ukrainian folk music is the wide use of minor modes. Ritual songs of Ukraine are frequently in recitative style, essentially monodic. For example, Shchedrivka "Shchedryk" known in the West as "Carol of the Bells". The bulk of Ukrainian folk songs melodies are based on scales identical to mеdieval modes, but differ in melodic structure.

Traditional Ukrainian instruments are: kobza (lute), bandura, violin, basolya (3-string cello), lira (hurdy-gurdy), tsymbaly, sopilka (duct flute), trembita (alpenhorn), fife, volynka (bagpipes), buben (frame drum), tulumbas (kettledrum), resheto (tambourine) and drymba / varhan (Jaw harp).

Troyisti muzyky are traditional instrumental ensembles of Ukraine. Literally it means "three musicians" who typically make up the ensemble, for example, violin, sopilka and buben.

Traditional dances of Ukraine are:Kozak, Kozachok, Hopak, Hrechanyky, Tropak, Kolomyjka and Hutsulka, Shumka, Arkan, Metelytsia, Kateryna (Kadryl) and Chabarashka.
There are also dances originating outside Ukraine, but which are quite popular: Polka, Krakowiak, Mazurka, Barynya, Csárdás, Waltz and Kamarynska.
Ukrainian instrumental and dance music has also influenced Jewish and Gypsy music.

The first professional music academy was set up in Hlukhiv, Ukraine in 1738 where students were taught to sing, play violin and bandura from manuscripts. As a result, many of the earliest composers and performers within the Russian empire were ethnically Ukrainian, having been born, or educated, in Hlukhiv, or had been closely associated with this music school. Ukrainian national school of classical music was spearheaded by Mykola Lysenko. This school includes such composers as Mykola Leontovych, Kyrylo Stetsenko and Levko Revutsky. Most of their music contains Ukrainian folk figures and are composed to Ukrainian texts.

There are also many famous composers and performers of non-Ukrainian ethnicity who were born, or at some time were citizens, or were active in Ukraine. Among them are: Franz Xavier Mozart, Rheinhold Gliere, Isaak Dunayevsky, Sergei Prokofiev and Yuliy Meitus. Among famous performers are Volodymyr Horovyts, Sviatoslav Richter, David Oistrakh and Isaac Stern. The music of these composers rarely contains Ukrainian folk motives and are more often written to the texts of Russian, or Polish poets.

  Read more about Ukrainian holiday http://bestofukraine.com/culture/holidays-in-ukraine.html#c125

  More about Ukrainian culture http://bestofukraine.com/culture.html 

  Top-5 traditional dishes http://www.activeukraine.com/five-best-ukraine-traditional-foods/

      Published by Ehor Polishchuk