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