«Ukraine» means border land. Foremost, the notion UKRAINE denoted regions on a border with steppe. Steppe was a dividing line between marine ports (harbours) and civilizations of nomads. At first, steppe to the north of the Black sea was gradually inhabited by the Ukrainian peasants since the second half of the 18th century. Only Cossacks were pushed away farther to the small rivers since the 16th century, and Dnepr Cossacks, as typical inhabitants of border land played a prominent role in the history of Ukraine.
The absence of the real borders in the west and in the east made the penetration (invasion) of foreign troops much easier. Ukraine always was the place of demonstrations of the armed collisions (contradictions). Those were the wars for borders with nomads-riders. Those were Scandinavian wars of the 17th c. and beginning of the 18th century. Those were also both World Wars. The great neighbour countries to the west (Poland, Hungary, Austria) and to the east (Russia) conquered parts of Ukraine and they did not regard it as an equal, strong country, but only as a border land, as UKRAINE of their own state.
The location of borders resulted in that fact, that Ukraine played a considerable part of the mediator between the west and the east. It was situated on the intersection of trade-routes between the Black sea and the Baltic Sea and between Orients (Near and Middle) and Central Europe. River Dnepr was an important trade route from the Baltic Sea to the Black sea since early Middle Ages, «from Varyag to Greeks». A good transport location of Ukraine attracted the chandlers of different mobile Diaspora groups.
Holidays and customs in Ukraine
As well as all the nationalities in the world, the Ukrainian people have their traditional holidays and customs. Some of these holidays are celebrated in the whole world; others are connected only with the history and traditions of our people.
A large holiday for every citizen of our country is a holiday of Independence. This holiday is celebrated on the 24th of August. On that day in 1991 Verkhovna Rada proclaimed the Independence of Ukraine. Festive concerts are held in many cities of our country. And magnificent firework lights up the whole sky above all cities of Ukraine in the evening.
The 28th of June is the Day of the Constitution of Ukraine. On that day in 1996 the Constitution of independent Ukraine was ratified. This historical day became a holiday for all Ukrainian people.
On the 9th of March the entire country celebrates the Shevchenko's Day. On that day in 1814 the great Ukrainian poet Taras Grigoryevich Shevchenko was born. The Ukrainians honour the memory of his life and his works, organize literary evenings, and visit Shevchenko's monuments and museums. You can see a lot of flowers in front of his monuments.
A wonderful spring holiday, the Women's Day is celebrated on the 8th of March. On this day men congratulate their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters on this holiday and give them the first spring flowers and presents. It is one of the most favourite holidays of the Ukrainian people.
On the 9th of May we celebrate Victory Day over fascist invaders in the Second World War. In spite of the fact that a lot of veterans did not survive, every family always remembers about their heroic deeds and wishes, that there would be no new war. People lay flowers to the tombs of soldiers and officers, who died in the war. The Ukrainian folk respects its heroes.
Religious holidays
As well as in the whole world, there are a lot of religious holidays in Ukraine. The most important of them are: Christmas, Easter and Trinity.
At Christmas the Christians of the whole world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a family holiday. In Ukraine Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January. And on the 6th of January is Holy Evening. All families gather together in the evening. People eat sacred supper with Kytja and other 12 dishes. On the Holy Evening Day children and also adults are on their way in villages. They walk from one house to another and sing Christmas songs which are named Kolyadky in Ukraine. There is also another tradition: godsons visit their cross parents and treat them with Kytja.
Easter is devoted to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This holiday is celebrated in spring, when nature wakes up. There is no certain date of this holiday, the date is determined according to the Moon calendar. Many customs are related to Easter. Every family bakes an Easter dish (Pasku), which is presented to relatives and friends. There is also one old custom: to paint eggs or to draw them all over with different colours. Easter eggs are also presented. It gives special pleasure to children. A lot of people on this day go to the church and consecrate Easter food and Easter eggs. They must bring success and protect people from many illnesses.
Trinity is celebrated in 40 days after Easter. This holiday is based on a certain folk tradition. Earlier it was a spring holiday. On this day people sang and danced much. Nowadays people decorate their apartments with the branches of linden-tree. Some families go to the country in order to have a great rest.
Dear clients!
During your stay in town Vinnitsya, we can offer you unforgettable excursions to many places of interest of our country. It will be very romantic to visit them together with your lady: Uman, Kamyanets-Podolskiy, Odessa, Kiev, Lviv, and others. Our city's favourable geographical position ( it is situated in the center of Ukraine) allows our guests to visit a lot of wonderful, picturesque and historical places of interest within only a couple of days.
As for Uman and its Dendropark ("Dendro" means "tree"), people often call it "paradise". There was no single tourist, which would not be charmed with the beauty of this park. More than 200 years ago, a very rich man, named count Pototskiy, built this park for his wife Sofia. The park was named after Mrs. Sofia. The count built this park for the woman, showing his eternal love to her (as a sign of his love). It is very popular romantic place, which attracts not only the Ukrainian and Russian tourists, but also - visitors from Europe and the whole world.
A journey to Odessa includes swimming in the Black sea (in summer) and visiting unforgettable and known in the whole world places of this city: central Deribasovskaya Street (with many shops and cafes), the Theater of Opera and Ballet, the Marine port of Odessa, Potjomkin's stairs and a lot of others.
Lviv(Lemberg) is one of the greatest Ukrainian economic, cultural and historical centers. In the past this city belonged to Poland, but the city saved its old European culture, architecture and traditions. Here you can find the worldwide known Theater of Opera and Ballet. This city is considered to be the most "modern European city of Ukraine ".
A journey to Kamyanets-Podolskiy includes visiting the Old fortress (12c.-18 century); people are charmed with the beauty and its mystery and with the stone fortress in town Khotyn.
Khotyn, the district center in Chernovtsy region, appeared in the 8th century on banks of the river Dniestr as settlement of eastern Slavs. The main place of interest is a stone fortress. It was founded in the 13th century; it was repeatedly reconstructed later and enlarged, until it lost its military usage in the 18th century. The fortress had plenty of historical events, related to the fight of the Ukrainian people against foreign invaders, taken place during the last years - against Turkish feudal lords, Polish and Romanian nobility. In 2002 the city celebrated its thousand anniversary!!!
Our city Vinnitsya has the population of almost 332,400 citizens. The city was founded 643 years ago. People which arrive to us, with a great interest visit "Mausoleum" of the well known surgeon Pirogov (where the embalmed body lies as a body of Lenin in Moscow, in Russia, or body of Mao Dzyadun in China); also bunker (rate) of Hitler in which the "leader" spent approximately 2 years during the 2 World War; a lot of catholic, orthodox and protestant churches and cathedrals, and a lot of other places which are worth visiting.
