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.

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Photo of ethnically diverse people on the Vyshyvanka March in London on 22 May 2022, carrying placards. One man holds up a placard saying ‘Stop the genocide in Ukraine.’ His neighbour is wearing a Ukrainian flag and holding up a placard with a photo of tanks and explosions.

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.

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Photo of a Ukrainian band and people in traditional embroidered shirts at the head of the Vyshyvanka March in London on 22 May 2022. People are carrying Ukrainian blue and yellow flags and placards.

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.

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Ukrainian band and people in Vyshyvankas at the head of the march. Centre and Right: Photos of ethnically diverse people on the Vyshyvanka March, wearing or carrying Ukrainian flags or placards.

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