A Little More About Ukrainian Traditional Folklore
Ukrainian folklore shares many beliefs and practices with the wider Slavic population in Eastern Europe. However, Ukraine has had unique historical experiences that have given it its own distinct traditions as well.
Traditional Ukrainian folklore reflects early influences upon the people of the region. Their lives were typically spent outdoors in close contact with the natural world. As a result, animals and plants took on special meaning in story, song, and dance. For example, the eagle and falcon have come to symbolize masculine courage and power, while the dove has become associated with women, especially younger ones. Perhaps the most familiar folkloric article associated with Ukraine is the pysanky, a vividly and intricately decorated Easter egg that was originally a symbol of spring.
Today, traditional costumes worn during religious and regional holidays bear witness to the folklore of the past. Rose, star, and falcon motifs appear in a wide variety of forms on traditional costumes, a reflection of their place in folkloric belief.
Traditional song and dance reflect an earlier time as well. Songs are often sung a capela. Folk dances tend to be danced in a circular fashion and the older ones are usually unaccompanied by musical instruments. Having their roots in the earliest times of the Ukrainian people, most of the songs and dances have been influenced by the coming of the Christian church in the Middle Ages.
Pagan holidays were the source of most of the rituals celebrated by the Ukrainians and reflected the endless cycle of nature – the solstices, the equinoxes, births, marriages, and weddings. These now have become church holidays, but the traditional celebrations lie just beneath the modern surface of the culture.
