Through the Lens of Tradition

Hello again, friends!

As promised in my previous post, I'm back to share more impressions from my unforgettable Easter experience in the heart of Kyiv. While the previous post brought you inside the ancient walls of Saint Sophia Cathedral, today I invite you to step outside with me, into a world of colour, music, and tradition.

Just beyond the cathedral grounds, the celebration continued. What first caught my eye were the brightly embroidered shirts — vyshyvankas — worn with pride by children and adults alike.

Ukrainian embroidery represents an incredible variety of patterns, colour combinations, stitching techniques, and tailoring styles. The vyshyvanka and the national costume overall differ significantly from region to region. Some designs are unique to just a few neighbouring villages — it’s an immense cultural legacy.

During Soviet times, there was an attempt to erase Ukrainian identity altogether. When that failed, a more subtle strategy was used: traditions were distorted, simplified, and stripped of meaning — until they began to fade.

And yet, like a phoenix, Ukrainian culture continues to revive itself. Today, replicas of historical Ukrainian garments are once again on trend. What’s more, there’s a growing trend of reinterpreting traditional styles in a modern context — blending old and new, heritage and innovation.

As I walked among the crowd, taking in the stunning variety of looks, I truly felt as though I’d stumbled into fashion week. It was exciting and inspiring. Some city dwellers took the chance to walk barefoot across the soft spring grass. If you looked closely, you could even spot a few familiar faces — well-known Ukrainian TV hosts, musicians, and bloggers mingling among the people.

Along one of the alleys were exhibited photographs of our heroes, our veterans:

Nearby was an area where craftsmen exhibited their works. All these handmade products were not for sale. But if you liked something, you could place an order or get the craftsman's contact information.

Gerdan is a woman's neck ornament made of beads.

Pysankas.

Handmade jewelry.

Straw amulets.

Motanka Dolls are traditional Ukrainian talismans. These faceless figures, crafted from scraps of fabric and thread, carry deep spiritual meaning. They were often made by grandmothers for their grandchildren, not only as toys, but also as guardians. The absence of a face isn’t a coincidence — it’s believed that without a face, no spirit can enter the doll, keeping it pure rather than personal.

Clay Whistles. I also came across little ceramic whistles shaped like birds and animals. Our ancestors once played with similar whistles, and archaeologists still find their fragments in ancient pre-Christian settlements across Ukraine. They were more than just toys — they often carried ritual meanings, symbolising nature, fertility, or protection.

Easter Bread and Little Birds

On the grass, under the wide, old tree, traditional Pasky — the festive Easter breads — were lovingly arranged on snow-white embroidered cloths - rushnyky. Each one was a little masterpiece, glowing with care and tradition.

Next to them, tiny birds made of dough, baked by children's hands, were neatly placed. Every bird had a small name tag — proudly displaying the name of its young baker.