On This Day – In Ukraine

The first month of spring! Despite its coolness, we feel the awakening of nature. In the Ukraine this month is associated with International Women’s Day. For Ukrainians, this holiday is a day of respect and love for women, recognition of their value and their services to family and society. This is a day of feminine beauty and warmth. In the Ukraine, March 8th is a non-working public holiday and on this day it is customary to congratulate all women without exception, regardless of their age and status.

On this day men gift their ladies delicate spring flowers, such as tulips or daffodils. With special anticipation we congratulate and honour our mothers. On this day, along with other flowers, we give mothers a sprig of mimosa. This beautiful plant with delicate leaves and yellow blooms has its own symbolism. Mimosa is the personification of eternal love and constancy of feelings. On a global scale, this bright yellow flower is associated with the sun. It is believed that mimosa flowers also have medicinal properties and that tinctures made from them help with sadness and melancholy. I have not tried this elixir, but with great pleasure I used to give a sprig of mimosa to my mother and her mood always improved.

Women in Ukraine had a hard time especially after World War II when many had lost their husbands and were forced to take on the role of breadwinner in the family. Considering that four or more children were the norm at the time, women had a difficult burden. Where did they get their strength from? Creativity and handicrafts helped them cope. I still have an old towel with embroidered patterns which is the work of my aunt Olga, who is no longer alive. I brought her towel with me from Ukraine to Canada as it is very valuable to me as a memory and a talisman. Our women have always loved beautiful outfits and jewellery. An example of this is how embroidered shirts appeared which is a traditional shirt or blouse with hand-embroidered decor.

Usually, such a shirt was woven of linen. In the old days, this was done on a loom, and in our time, they began to use not only linen, but also cotton or knitwear. In each region of Ukraine, the vyshyvanka (pronounced vichy vanka) or shirts, differ in style, colour palette and have their own sacred meaning. The ornamentation on the vyshyvanka has many symbols. Women most often used the cross-stitch method. It was believed that crosses on clothes were signs of the sun, which protected a person from darkness and misfortune. Many patterns were associated with nature. And it was these patterns that were preferable for women. It was believed that they endowed her with magical power and the ability to protect her clan and her family from misfortunes and troubles.

Symbolism was very important. For example, viburnum flowers on clothes symbolized the immortality of the clan and the longevity of its members, as well as love and a strong married life. Chamomile is considered an image of purity and youth and sunflowers symbolized the sun, which gives blessings and goodness. Women wore vyshyvankas both in everyday life and on holidays. For holidays, women always had special outfits with more varied patterns and bright colours. Not a single wedding took place without embroidered shirts and embroidered towels. These practices and traditionally patterned shirts continue to this day.

I remember how once girls in beautiful embroidered shirts with bright ribbons in their hair came to my grandmother’s house. They invited my grandmother and our whole family to their friend’s wedding. It was very funny and touching at the same time. There is a tradition that before the wedding the bride had to embroider a pattern on the wedding towel with her own hands. The towels were used as part of the wedding ceremonies. There is a further tradition that the bride and groom, during the wedding ceremony, must stand on an embroidered towel so that their life together would be strong and long-lasting.

I also remember a funny custom in that was it was believed that whoever stepped on the wedding towel first would be the leader of the family. Many people talk about the matriarchy of Ukrainian culture, which includes the family structure, mentality and lifestyle. And no matter what opponents of this theory say, researchers of this topic have found evidence of it primarily in marital relations. In Ukrainian families, a woman occupies a rather honourable place, despite the fact that the head of the family is considered to be a man. There is a humorous folk saying: “A man is the head, and a woman is the neck. Where the neck turns, the head looks there.” A woman has always had the right to her own opinion and free expression of her desires and needs. The unruly nature of a Ukrainian woman was often mentioned in Ukrainian folk songs. For example, in the Ukrainian folk song “Galya Carries Water” about a girl’s obstinate nature.

In the modern world, Ukrainian women began to devote more time to self-realization in society, to be interested in politics, business and other areas of modern life. In this regard, the way of life began to change in many families and the family ceased to have a decisive importance in the life of society, but fortunately did not lose its value as such.

Our women have always loved to sing songs. Not a single feast was complete without their performance. And many women have talent and beautiful voices that delight us now in different parts of the world. One of the most recognized famous Ukrainian singers is Solomiya Krushelnytska. This singer and teacher conquered the opera houses of France, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Argentina, Chile and Egypt with her talent. Many outstanding singers considered it an honour to appear on the same stage with her. Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Madame Butterfly” became very popular only thanks to Krushelnytska. Solomiya was the first Ukrainian opera singer who toured the USA and Canada and was a great success.

In the Crowsnest Pass, there are also many women who love to sing songs and do it very talentedly. I see how women like to realize themselves, like to share their emotions with others. It seems to me that despite our origin and mentality, we are all very similar. It has become more complicated for women now. Every year there are new requirements and standards that are difficult to keep up with. A woman needs to be able to find a balance between work, family and at the same time maintain her beauty and youth. Women often have to suppress many emotions and feelings in themselves, so as not to show the world their fragility and vulnerability. But this is what makes us feminine, what poets of all times have sung about in their poems, and great artists have depicted on their canvases.

I want to wish all women peace, love and prosperity. May every day of spring please us with its warmth, and we will respond to it with our sweet smiles.

Hope For The Best

Take you will into your own hands

At the call of fate

You are capable of winning the best role

Between summer and snow and apple blossom

You will be happy to walk around the world

And in the darkness of the night find your wings.

You only know where you lost them

And the sea and the mountains are your disobedience.

You paved the way to the real yesterday

Tired today, your temples have turned gray

And your palms have become a little weaker

But your dream warms you with fire

Love comes from people and hope comes from God

- Irina Alekseevna