Top 11 Things About Ukraine You Should Know
Ukraine is a very traditional country where certain habits and practices are very important to the culture. Younger generations eagerly accept and follow these ... read more...traditions, making them even more vibrant and contemporary. Here are the top 11 things about Ukraine you should know before traveling.
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Maslenitsa week is a popular Ukrainian ritual. This feast before Kievan Rus. Because the pancake was regarded as a sign of the sun (yellow, round, and hot), it represented saying goodbye to winter and hello to spring. Maslenitsa is a joyful occasion celebrated in the penultimate week before Great Lent. Every day, people offer freshly cooked pancakes, visit one another, sled, ski, and simply enjoy life.
It is widely assumed that Ukrainians prepare largely pancakes for the celebration, however, this is not totally correct. A pancake, like any other circular bread, signifies the sun. Ukrainians intended to use it to fast entice spring into their country and bid farewell to winter. However, in most parts of Ukraine, dumplings (vareniki) are cooked with a variety of ingredients other than meat. This is one of the things about Ukraine you should know.
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Christmas in Ukraine is a family occasion during which all relatives congregate. They create a festive table with 12 traditional foods (like the apostles did), sing Christmas songs, reflect on all the good things that transpired in the previous year, and wish each other health and happiness. The custom of carolling is also observed throughout the Christmas season. Children walk from house to house, singing Christmas carols and wishing the hosts a Merry Christmas. The most significant aspect is "seeding" the floor with wheat or barley grains, which brings wealth and pleasure into the home. In response, the hosts must provide money, chocolates, or other delicacies to the carolers.
The dinner is usually served with 12 courses to commemorate Jesus' 12 disciples. Traditionally, the dishes do not contain any meat, eggs, or milk. The main course is frequently 'kutia,' a sort of sweet wheat porridge. Other foods include mushrooms, sauerkraut, red borsch (beet soup), 'varenyky' (Pierogi), 'holopchi' (cabbage rolls, made without meat in them during Christmas! ), 'pyrizhky' (cabbage buns), whitefish, and 'kolach' (special Christmas bread). Here is one of the things about Ukraine you should know when coming to this country.
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Although vyshyvanka (an embroidered shirt) is a traditional element of Ukrainian costume, it is also a stylish piece for everyday wear. Many Ukrainian manufacturers have made their own variations of its design, color, and length, making it a popular item all over the world. Fashion superstars such as Anna Dello Russo (Vogue Japan writer) and Dita Von Teese have been photographed wearing vyshyvanka by Ukrainian designer Vita Kin. Locals also take advantage of the chance to flaunt their embroidered attire. This is one of the things about Ukraine you should know before coming to this place.
The white hue of the linen thread fabric, the incision of the sinuses in the center, and the embroidered embellishment are the major elements of the traditional Ukrainian shirt. There appears to be no other object in all of the ornamental art that would focus so many varied symbolic meanings.
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Ukrainians are extremely polite and inviting people. They enjoy huge parties and events, are constantly willing to help others, and consider everyone around them to be their greatest friends. So, if you go to a party in Ukraine, don't worry; you'll undoubtedly make some friends and will speak, laugh, and sing your favorite songs till the sun comes up. This is one of the things about Ukraine you should know.
Every girl is unique in terms of her personality, temperament, and ideals. However, when it comes to Ukrainian females, people must acknowledge that the majority of them are quite emotional. They might be difficult and rebellious at times, yet they can also be loyal and dedicated. And, historically, they have been free and self-sufficient. As a result, if you can win her heart, you'll be rewarded with the greatest qualities of Ukrainian girls: sensitivity, care and love, a polite demeanor, and real devotion. In one person, a Ukrainian lady is a passionate lover, a caring mother of your children, and a loving wife.
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The most essential Easter ingredients are krashenki (multicolored cooked eggs) and pysanka (painted eggs). Because each feature of the patterns implies something, the latter has a very profound symbolic value. For example, the color red represents the good and joy of living. Green represents optimism, while yellow represents warmth and harvests. Superstitious Ukrainians have been following this practice for generations and cheerfully continue to put their heart and soul into it even today. Here is one of the things about Ukraine you should know.
With Easter approaching this Sunday and the current conflict in Ukraine, there is fresh interest in one of the country's most cherished Easter customs. Do you think you can tint eggs with grocery store food coloring? Look at these artistically adorned Ukrainian Easter eggs, Pysanky (pronounced "pih-sahn-KIH"). These vibrant pieces of artwork become small diamonds and are kept safe for numerous generations because of a wax-resist procedure known as batik.
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The ritual of purchasing a bride is as old as the Ukrainian wedding itself. In the past, such a rite had tremendous ramifications. Today, however, this custom is only a harmless pastime. He enters tournaments and receives humorous assignments with the help of friends and an entourage in order to prove that he is worthy of the bride.
A wedding gown is the most significant item for a bride. The traditional color in Ukraine is white. A light hue is said to represent purity and a bright future. Beige and ivory have recently grown in popularity. The traditional Ukrainian wedding gown, on the other hand, would appear like this. Grooms typically wear black suits with ties or bow ties. Many individuals feel that the clothing must be new, or the family will be divided. A veil is an essential part of the young outfit. People thought that it protected the bride from bad spirits even in ancient times. Ukraine wedding rings are becoming an essential part of every wedding. Gold rings represent people's real and serious aspirations to live together for the rest of their lives.
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A ridiculous yet amusing New Year's tradition in Ukraine is to put a piece of charred paper in a glass of champagne and drink it. A written and ingested wish is said to be certain to come true. The most difficult thing is that you have to execute it while the clock strikes twelve. It is a funny and meaningful thing about Ukrainian activity on New Year you should know.
The clock begins to cling at like 10 seconds before midnight and before New Year's, and everyone begins to yell and shout. Pour champagne, and just before that, there is a quirky ritual that not everyone follows, but everyone is aware of. You should put down your wishes on paper and burn them. Put your ashes into the champagne and consume it when the clock is ticking 10 seconds before midnight. That's extremely intriguing and entertaining. When the New Year arrives, everyone starts cheering and drinking champagne. When the new year arrives, they begin the fireworks and salutes, and everyone enjoys watching the fireworks from their windows because they can be seen from anywhere in the city.
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Ukraine celebrates the Old New Year on the night of January 13. Despite the fact that this is not an official holiday, locals never pass up an opportunity to celebrate it. A change in calendars caused such a historical occurrence. People in Kievan Rus followed the Julian calendar, which was 13 days behind European time. To close this gap, the Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1918, and January 14 became the date of the Old New Year.
In Ukraine, the New Year (December 31) and the Old New Year (January 14) are celebrated twice to commemorate the old ways. The New Year's celebration in Ukraine differs little from that of the rest of the world. The main square in every city is decked out with Christmas trees. Ukrainians should buy living or artificial firtrees for their homes. This holiday is especially enjoyable for children, as there are children's entertainment events for two weeks from New Year to Old-New Year. Furthermore, the main attraction of the New Year is the gifts from Santa Claus. The guys are looking forward to New Year's Eve because there will be many gifts under the Christmas tree.
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People in Ukraine place a high value on interpersonal relationships. If there is a concept in Germany of dying Termine (the appointment) that cannot be changed (and of strictly adhering to rules in general), it is a bit more flexible in Eastern European countries: there is a possibility of kindly asking for a reschedule, explaining your circumstances, and getting what you want. The same rule applies to almost every aspect of daily life.
As a result, to express gratitude, locals typically purchase flowers, chocolate, or alcohol and present them to someone who has been extremely helpful. When selecting a gift to express gratitude, choose something meaningful over something monetary. Gratitude is a gift in and of itself, but giving a thoughtful, personal gift that can be kept, displayed, and treasured is something truly unique. A useful thing about Ukraine people you should know is that, and you can have some idea about your gift from that.
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Commemoration week in Ukraine follows Easter and ends on the ninth day after the holiday. This period is known as Radonitsa or Hrobki. The tradition has pre-Christian roots and is closely related to the ancestor cult. The ancient Slavs visited the graves of their deceased relatives because they believed that the dead rejoiced in hearing warm memories of themselves. Even though the church does not condone having fun at the graveyard, people still come here to place food on the grave, have a snack, and thus share it with their deceased relatives.
Locals bring food to the cemetery and dine at the table or bench near the burial, against the church's prohibition. According to popular belief, these are the days when the spirits of the departed descend to earth. As a result, the meal is blessed before being eaten with the needy and among themselves at the burial. Easter cakes, eggs (pysankas), salo (pig fat), and pies are brought.
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Plunging into an ice hole on January 19th (the day of Jesus' Baptism) is a Ukrainian national tradition. However, because the Epiphany frosts are considered the coldest, people believe that getting sick is impossible. On the contrary, on this day, the waters become holy and heal all diseases. So, if you see Ukrainians screaming while swimming in icy waters in the winter, don't be surprised, and remember this odd tradition.
Go to a specifically prepared location where a hole has been cut previously; they are located near the river's mouth.
Then you'll see a gathering, priests, and an ambulance car in case someone becomes unwell. It is vital to arrive with a good attitude and a strong will. Prepare to dive. It is essential to dive three times, crossing after each time and saying "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To avoid overcooling, do not linger in the water for more than a minute. Grab out of there and hurry to get a cup of tea. It is another thing that you should know about Ukraine.