7.1 Celebrating Vyshyvanka Day

Each week, we introduce you to a different Ukrainian celebration. We start with Vyshyvanka Day.

Vyshyvanka (вишиванка) is the Ukrainian word for an embroidered shirt. Ukraine has a very rich tradition of embroidery. Every region of Ukraine has its own designs. Since 2006 the third Thursday in May has been celebrated as Vyshyvanka Day, when people in Ukraine put on vyshyvankas to celebrate this part of their heritage. Gradually, Ukrainians abroad started to organise Vyshyvanka marches in capitals around the world. In 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, people of different ethnic backgrounds and religions came to support Ukrainians on the Vyshyvanka March in London.

Figure 11: The Vyshyvanka March in London, UK, on Sunday 22 May 2022.
Figure 12: The Vyshyvanka March in London, UK, on Sunday 22 May 2022.
Figure 13: The Vyshyvanka March in London, UK, on Sunday 22 May 2022.

OpenLearn - Introduction to Ukrainian language and culture
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