Your Gateway To Real Ukraine
For every American traveller, the architecture of Ukraine’s old cities should look strikingly ancient and intriguingly sophisticated. The cultural and architectural history of entire Russia, actually, started in Ukraine, when Kiev, the present capital of the country, became the center of the Russian statehood then called the Kievan Rus. Since the 9th century, Ukraine was both developing its own style in construction and absorbing great architectural influences of Byzantine, Greece, and France.
Bread is not only a staple food in Ukraine, it is also a symbol of prosperity, divinity, and hospitality. Since the first agrarians settled the Ukrainian land, grains, porridges and breads have become sacred objects of worship and rituals, closely connected with folklore and traditional customs.
Ivan Kupala Day is one of the most expressive traditional holidays in Ukraine. It is still very popular among many locals, especially those living in the vast Ukrainian countryside. This pre-Christian rite, which is celebrated at the summer solstice, around June 24, signifies the connection of people with “Dazhbog” - the Slavic God of the Sun. Originally, Ivan Kupala Day was a joyful fertility festival honouring the light energy of the sun that was believed to provide people with good harvest, beauty, love, and healing powers. Later, the holiday was even accepted by the Orthodox Christian Church and included in the Church Calendar.
Borscht, a deep red beet and cabbage soup, is popular all around Ukraine. The recipe might slightly differ by regions, but the main ingredients still remain the same - cabbage, beets, potatoes, onions, garlic, sour cream, and dill. Depending on a season, borscht can be served hot and cold, with cold varieties often being light or vegetarian.
You are currently browsing the Ukrainian Guide weblog archives for the month October, 2007.
Longer entries are truncated. Click the headline of an entry to read it in its entirety.
© 2001 - 2008 Ukrainian Guide. All rights reserved.
Ukrainian Guide is Digg proof thanks to caching by WP Super Cache!
