All-Ukrainian Vyshyvanka Day

19.5.2021

The Faculty of Ukrainian Philology and Social Communications celebrates the All-Ukrainian Vyshyvanka Day.

It has become a good tradition to celebrate the All-Ukrainian Vyshyvanka Day on the third Thursday of May.

Vyshyvanka is not just clothes and a fashion trend, it is the soul of the Ukrainian nation. She is a traditional symbol of health and beauty, happiness and family memory, love and fidelity. Vyshyvanka is a national shrine, the genetic code of Ukrainians, therefore it symbolizes and carries the spiritual wealth, wisdom and traditional connection of many generations. To embroider a shirt meant to cleanse the soul.

It is known that embroidery is passed down from generation to generation and is preserved as a priceless relic. For our ancestors, it was both casual and festive clothing. The originality of Ukrainian embroidered shirt allows to wear it on holidays, to church, birthdays, weddings and other important events in the life of every person.

The Ukrainian girl first put on a shirt, on it – a skirt or block, then a spare tire, tied it with a belt and finally – a carset, boots or smart shoes – on the legs, a wreath – on the head,  a necklace – on the neck. 

The fabric of the shirt, embroidery and even the color of the threads were believed to have magical powers. People made linen using spinning wheels, reels, spindles, weaving looms and decorated them with magical signs of the sun, field, and water. These signs allegedly scared away evil, hostile forces, diseases, misfortunes. Therefore, the weaving from the hands of the ancient weavers came out as if bewitched by good deeds. Then the shirt was embroidered, and sewing was also simple: among the threads there were threads of red, because this color is considered a magic amulet. And not only red threads, but all magical signs and symbols that protect a person are called amulets.

Today more and more men and boys are beginning to wear embroidered shirts. Among women and girls, there is also more modern clothing with embroidery. Such a return of traditions will enrich the modern spiritual world of every Ukrainian.

It is impossible not to mention also the Ukrainian embroidered towel, symbolizing hospitality, benevolence, purity of feelings, boundless love for their children. It is generously laid out for close and distant friends and guests. The embroidered towel embodies not only the aesthetic tastes of Ukrainians, but also is a kind of visiting card, or rather, the face of the house, and then the hostess. It was once said that a girl who embroidered at least one towel in her life cannot be indifferent.

It has long been said among the people: “To stand on a towel is to find a friend forever”, “A house without towels is like a family without children”. Therefore, let the fate spread to you with rushniks!

Traditionally, the following contests are held at Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University: the exhibition-competition “Colors Intertwined Like a Rainbow”, the “Vyshyvanka With Own Hands” competition, the photo competition “My Family in Vyshyvanka 2021”. Students, teachers, university staff take part in competitions in order to preserve and use vyshyvanka as a unique phenomenon of the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people, to popularize traditional arts and crafts, customs and traditions.

Let’s be Ukrainians! Let’s be beautiful, healthy, wise!

According to the FUPSC