Revival of Ukrainian culture and traditions

Within the years of Soviet government Ukrainians people have lost the part of their traditions. In that years the connection of generations was lot, Ukrainian songs were forgotten, Ukrainian language and Ukrainian popular wisdom were ridiculed. Just 20 years we live in the independent Ukraine and have the possibility to develop our culture and traditions. But in this day we feel the lack of information about the traditional Ukrainian lifestyle; some links of our culture were almost lost and forgotten forever.

Doll-motanka is a shining example of the connection of Ukrainian culture and national religions. Modern children have got accustomed to beautiful plastic dolls which are very much like people. Ukrainian children some centuries ago played with quite other toys made from straw. This doll hasn’t got a face, it is very simple, but it has a great importance in the traditions of Ukrainian people. From time immemorial the doll was made from straw and the remnants of tissue. First of all the doll-motanka was put in the cradle and then it was permitted to put an infant. According to the popular belief this toy protects the house from evil. Doll-motanka is a symbol of popular wisdom and it symbolizes a mother.

  Doll-motanka had the healthy effect. When the child was ill, the special doll made from the collection of vulnerary plants was given to him. It was believed that this doll took the disease. Before the wedding the mother made the doll for the daughter, this doll put in a conspicuous place in the house of the newly married couple.

In the 20th century the traditions of making the doll-motanka were completely lost. Thanks for the not indifferent supporters that not only lost money but also put their whole soul into the revival of lost traditions, the technology of making the doll-motanka is restored. The young national masters not only make the doll-motanka but also can the opportunity to teach the persons interested.

The embroidered shirt (Vyshyvanka) is national Ukrainian clothes proper to every corner of our country. The types of the embroidery patterns on the embroidered shirts – it’s not just a fantasy of master. The embroidery patterns have the definite territorial peculiarities and bring the information about the history of our country. Plants, animals or abstract geometrical patterns can be represented on the Ukrainian embroidered shirt. The national masters knew more than hundreds of different embroidered techniques. White, red and grey were the traditional colours of Poltava’s shirts. On the territory of Polissia the patterns were quite simply embroidered by red colour of thread.

Our native Podilska embroidery is the most difficult by the technology of performing. It characterizes by the using a red and black thread. Besides the beauty the embroidery has more deeply significance and was passed on from one generation to another and was present in the embroidery of next generations. Horses, cocks, crosses and doves must protect their owners. The colour of threads had a great significance. Red and black are the traditional colours of Podilska’s embroidery and signified the love and the sadness. Nowadays the embroidered shirt is become very popular among the young people. The sewing workshops produce the embroidered productions (embroidered shirts, embroidered towels and bedclothes). By means of the supporters the traditions of the embroidery and the using of the embroidered productions in the traditional customs were revived.

Ukrainian businessmen who are not indifferent to our past and future finance the restoration of the ancient textile machinery. The mini-textile workshops work in the Vinnitsa’s district and produce the woven towels according to the ancient traditions. It was so difficult to find the masters at weaving because the age of these women is more than 70-80 years old. They shared the experience with young people, which is used nowadays. The Ukrainian song is inseparably linked with the village. Just in the villages people sang songs at the celebrations of holidays, at work and at the circumstances which happened in their everyday life. Thanks to the Ukrainian song the information about the events which happened in the past on the territory of our country at different times passed on to the future generations. The national Ukrainian creativity got the well-deserved reward the years of the 1990's when it was the most necessary.

The modern recording studios realize the recording of Ukrainian folk songs drinking songs, wedding songs, lyrical songs and songs for children. By means of the supporters the festivals of folk songs are held every year in the villages where many famous authors and singers perform their songs.

The important link in the chain of the national culture and traditions is the regeneration of village and the support of the country lifestyle among the population of large cities. Green tourism is becoming very popular among the Ukrainian people. Thanks to green tourism people’s customs, traditions are becoming known, Ukrainian food and Ukrainian kinds of entertainment are becoming popular.

The revival of Ukrainian people’s customs, traditions, Ukrainian culture can be reached almost totally maintaining all knowledge. A link will not work by itself.

Nowadays we can speak Ukrainian language freely, wear the embroidered shirts, use the embroidered towels during celebrations and sing Ukrainian songs. Only by the joint hard work we can not only revival the culture, but improve our life. Let’s revival our culture and traditions together!