Wednesday, 25 May 2016

Easter in Lviv – mix of old and new traditions

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Easter Egg Museum under the open sky in Lviv. Easter Egg Museum under the open sky in Lviv. Photo: Natalie Dykhno.

For tourists Easter in Lviv is a combination of Ukrainian relaxation and entertainment. One should start from Lviv to become acquainted with Ukraine.

For better understanding Ukrainian taste Levs city must be visited accurate at the Easter celebration.

Lviv – outdoor museum of embroidery and colored eggs

The day before the party nothing will let you forget that tomorrow it is Easter. Opposite the Opera Theatre is a stretch of Easter market. Here you can buy everything: from homemade medovuha (alcoholic drink that is made from mead, ed.) to embroidery and handmade shawls.

This is the epicenter of xenophobic souvenirs, from T-shirts "Ukraine above all!" for toilet paper with the inscription of glorious 6 letters of the President of a neighboring state.

At the fair you can all day learn beadwork, dekorate Easter eggs and make lyal'ky-motanky (dolls of fabric, ed.).

ukraine lviv easter market photo natalie dykhno

One can start his experience of Easter traditions with many flavors and crafts on the Easter Market.

Not far from the market interested people can visit the Easter Egg Festival. This art exhibition of giant eggs that will transform the city into an outdoor museum of Easter eggs.

People go around the city with festively decorated baskets in their hands. In Lviv, two religious groups are actively represented: Orthodox and Catholics. Everyone goes to church to consecrate Easter cakes and Easter eggs.

People in national costumes were so many that this year Easter in Lviv could be confused with the Parade of Embroidery. Especially nice were the little Ukrainians in tiny embroidery shirts.

Parents placed garlands on their girls, boys looked like adults with their Cossack look. Children who had recently learned to walk, carried their own little baskets for sanctification.

Resurrection Morning

From morning Lemberg (the city's German name) is full of festive bells and church music. The Easter begins with a morning service. And then the people go to each other's homes to share the good news: "Christ is risen!"

Funny hayivky

After lunch, the celebration begins in Shevchenko Gai (park, ed.). It is a museum of folk music under the sky.

Here visitors will be able not only to get acquainted with the life and art of all ethnic groups in western Ukraine, but also participate in singing hayivok (Easter songs accompanied by dances and games).

ukraine lviv haivky photo natalie dykhno

Easter hayivky - the old traditions with dances and songs, and together holding hands.

Visitors at the Holidays can participate in master classes in smith's work, wine and soap manufacturing. For the youngest participants are also prepared entertainment.

ukraine lviv easter children photo natalie dykhno

Easter is the best opportunity to enjoy nature with the kids and relax in the park.

No one will stay dry!

On Watering-Monday (Polyvanyy ponedilok UKR., Ed.), nn Easter Monday, hundreds of young people gathered at Plocsha Rynok (Market Square – center of the city) and poured water on each other with everything that could be used to it. According to ancient custom, boys are pouring water on the girls "not to lose Beauty" and on women "not to be sick." But now this ritual is of entertaining character.

ukraine lviv water games photo natalie dykhno

People are spraying water on each other in the central streets of Lviv.

This year there were installed two towers and hydrants, where everybody could fetch water and take an active part in water splashes on the people on the street. Only a few could go from Plocsha Rynok in dry condition.

All this action is accompanied by loud techno music that is heard far outside the Plocsha Rynok area. Christ is risen! Everybody are wet and happy.

Ukrainian Easter in Lviv – a magical act whose atmosphere you have to feel by yourself and see with your own eyes. This is recreation for body and soul.

By Natalie Dykhno,
student of Donetsk National University,
journalism courses

Translation by Joergen Deleuran

Read 2986 times Last modified on Saturday, 02 July 2016

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