Written by Considering current events, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate Ukraine, its culture, and its people.
The country, currently under siege by its much larger neighbor, has been independent since the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Ukrainians are fiercely proud of their culture and independence.
From the ancient monasteries of Kyiv to the bright, cheery sunflower fields that are represented in their national flag, Ukraine is a country with a rich and unique history – one that most folks likely don’t know much about.
This dedicated post will provide a short summary of pieces – or sunflower petals – of Ukrainian culture.
Language
Language has been a talking point in Ukraine for years and for good reason.
Oblasts in the East speak Russian, those in the West speak Ukrainian.
And those in some central oblasts speak a combination of both, called Surzhyk.
The language divide is due to the East’s proximity to Russia and the country’s historical ties with its neighbor.
While both languages use Cyrillic, the Ukrainian alphabet has the letters – “Ґ ґ,” “Є є,” “Ї ї,” and “І і” – while the Russian alphabet does not; and the Russian alphabet has the letters – “ы,” “Ё ё,” and “ъ” – while the Ukrainian alphabet does not.
The languages are similar in grammar and vocalization, but the Ukrainian language is actually more closely related to its northern neighbor, Poland, when it comes to vocabulary.
Many who live in Ukraine are of Russian descent, with 17.3 percent of the population identifying as ethnically Russian in 2001.
Thus, since Crimea was annexed in 2014 and the eastern oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk became occupied territories, language has become a hot-button issue in Ukrainian politics.
Traditions and Customs
Some of the country’s brightest traditions and customs come in the form of celebration.
As mentioned, the colors of the Ukrainian flag represent the vast sunflower fields and the brilliant blue skies that paint the countryside – a true sight to behold.
Traditional dress includes the vyshyvanka, an embroidered shirt.
Often featuring black, white, and red thread, the embroidery design is specific to Ukrainian folk costumes.
The famous Ukrainian decorated egg, the pysanka (derived from the word for “to write” or “to inscribe”), is made around Easter.
Every pattern, detail, and coloring of the painted eggs means something.
And, according to legend, if the painting of the pysanka ceases, so does the world’s existence, as evil will overrun the world.
Slava Ukraini: Glory to Ukraine
“Ukraine is not yet dead, nor its glory and freedom”
“Ukraine is not yet dead, nor its glory and freedom,
Luck will still smile on us brother-Ukrainians.
Our enemies will die, as the dew does in the sunshine,
and we, too, brothers, we’ll live happily in our land.
We’ll not spare either our souls or bodies to get freedom
and we’ll prove that we brothers are of Kozak kin.”
These are the lyrics to the Ukrainian national anthem, translated.
The phrase you may be hearing frequently, “Slava Ukraini,” means “Glory to Ukraine.”
As this country continues to fight for its life, I hope every one of us watching can celebrate the great character and pride of its people.
Success Across Cultures 