UKRAINE, KHARKIV, May 22 — On the first Thursday of May, Ukraine traditionally celebrates International Vyshyvanka Day — an unofficial holiday dedicated to the country’s traditional embroidered clothing.
On May 21, Kharkiv locals wearing vyshyvankas gathered in the city center near the monument to Taras Shevchenko, the prominent Ukrainian poet and national hero.
From there, they marched toward Freedom Square, one of the largest squares in Europe, where participants unfolded the “Rushnyk of Unity,” a traditional Ukrainian ceremonial cloth measuring 50 meters (164 feet) long.
“I’m wearing an antique shirt embroidered with white-on-white cutwork. These patterns and embroidery styles were typical of the Kharkiv region,” said Kateryna, one of the participants in the procession. “For me, the vyshyvanka represents a connection to my family and our ancestors.”
Earlier, the non-governmental organization Zahyst Derzhavy (Protection of the State in English) launched a signature campaign in Kharkiv calling for Vyshyvanka Day to be declared an official state holiday in Ukraine. One of the participants, Olha, said she supports recognizing the holiday at the state level.
“It would be good if this became not only a celebration of the embroidered shirt itself, but also a day when we remember and organize educational events dedicated to traditional clothing,” Olha said.
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