{"id":4608,"date":"2022-12-22T10:55:39","date_gmt":"2022-12-22T10:55:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/starapravda.com.ua\/?p=4608"},"modified":"2023-01-05T00:51:50","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T00:51:50","slug":"ukrayinska-vyshyvka-istoriya-symvolika-ta-osoblyvosti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starapravda.com.ua\/en\/blog\/ukrayinska-vyshyvka-istoriya-symvolika-ta-osoblyvosti\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukrainian embroidery: history, symbolism, and features"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Ukrainian culture? Most readers will definitely recall bor<\/span>scht<\/span>, traditional national clothes, huts with thatched roofs, kobza, and… embroidery. Yes, it is embroidery that is an important part of our culture and traditions, and it is vyshyvanka (embroidered shirts) that are now worn to feel part of the great and strong Ukrainian nation.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, when exactly did <\/span>Ukrainian folk embroidery<\/span>, which we all saw and knew, originate? In order to understand this, we suggest you plunge into the history, symbolism, and features of embroidery art.<\/span><\/p>\n

History of Ukrainian embroidery<\/h2>\n

To understand what exactly all those patterns and ornaments mean, let’s go back to ancient times, namely the 1<\/span>st<\/span> century BC, the period when the Sarmatians lived and worked on the lands of modern Ukraine, who, like the Scythians and Cimmerians, decorated their clothes and utensils with patterns depicting swastikas, geometric shapes, and wavy ornaments. This is evidenced by the annals of Herodotus, the ancient Greek historian, as well as the excavations of archaeologists. So, in the Sokolova Grave, in the territory of the modern Mykolaiv Oblast, a Sarmatian priestess was found, who was buried with a piece of silk fabric with an embroidered gold ornament. Historians believe that in those days, similar products were made “in the cut” when the pattern itself was first laid out with gold thread and then the ornament was sewn to the fabric.<\/span><\/p>\n

Archaeologists have also managed to find ceramic pots and dishes created by the Tripilians, which were also decorated with wavy and complex patterns. The next important find, which only confirmed the guesses of scientists regarding the thousand-year history of Ukrainian embroidery, was the Martyniv treasure, a treasure of more than twenty products dated to the 6<\/span>th<\/span> \u2013 7<\/span>th<\/span> centuries AD, found near the village of Martynivka in the Cherkasy region. During the search, a metal figure of a man wearing a shirt with embroidery on the chest was discovered. Later, similar finds were also made on “stone women” in the steppes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another significant evidence of the prevalence of embroidery among the population and nobility of that time was the Ipatiev Chronicle, where the author described the outfit of Danylo Halytskyi on the day of his meeting with the king in 1252, which was lined with gold lace. Modern historians are certain that the Slavs, the direct ancestors of Ukrainians, wore embroidered clothes even after the 10<\/span>th<\/span> century and also created schools where the craft was taught to all who wanted to. There is evidence that even Volodymyr Monomakh’s sister Anna organized an institution where girls were taught embroidery with silver and gold threads.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite close contact with other people and countries,<\/span> traditional Ukrainian embroidery<\/span> has not been affected by foreign influences and has preserved its authenticity and uniqueness. In addition, over the years, the ornaments of embroidery art have become not only a decoration for clothes but also for towels, blankets, and kitchen utensils.<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n

The symbolism of Ukrainian embroidery<\/h2>\n

Over time, the <\/span>ornaments of Ukrainian embroidery<\/span> were only improved and refined. Despite popular opinion, our ancestors applied patterns not only to decorate things but also for protection, defense, and support. The flowers we all recognize appeared only in the 20th century, while in more ancient times, strict, clear, and direct ornaments predominated, each of which had its own symbolism and meaning. The entire painting was created so that even the smallest element carried a sacred meaning and had special importance. Let’s consider a few of them:<\/span><\/p>\n