The Revolution is Just a вишиванка Away

May nineteenth seemed like any regular Thursday to me, and why not? I didn't have any particular reason to celebrate....but millions of Ukrainians worldwide did. As with any third Thursday of May, the streets are awash with people wearing their colorful embroidered shirts, the vyshyvanka (вишиванка).  Twenty years ago the streets of Donetsk in the east were not filled with these beautifully designed shirts so that is perhaps why I have no recollection of this day. But it is now 2016 and much has changed in Ukraine especially over the past two years.

So what is a вишиванка? It is a white long sleeved shirt that is woven on a loom and embroidered by hand. It's design speaks much of Ukrainain culture in that it features nature motifs such as flowers, leaves, vines, and the lozenge which symbolizes fertility. It also has many spiritual and superstitious connections as the symbols are located in vulnerable places such as the sleeves, neck, bosom, and cuffs. The motifs were placed there to ward off evil spirits and death. An interesting story can be found here: http://euromaidanpress.com/2015/05/21/legend-of-the-vyshyvanka-traditional-ukrainian-embroidered-shirt/. The вишиванка is not restricted to shirts either as the designs can be embroidered on dresses, aprons, pants, and sheets. You can also determine where a вишиванка was made as each region has its own design.

But what gives at gives this unofficial holiday its edge is the current political situation in the East. Ever since the EuroMaidan protests followed by the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, patriotism has been growing. Add to this the earlier Soviet suppression of Ukrainian embroidery during Stalin's drive for Russification, and you have a tailor-made political holiday. The вишиванка took center stage in the trial of political prisioner Nadiya Savchenko when she donned her white on white shirt (Poltava region, I believe). This small act was a thumb in the eye of the Russian government who wanted to make an example of her. (http://euromaidanpress.com/2015/01/23/nadiya-savchenko-the-pow-that-became-ukraines-poster-girl-for-independence/)

So next year, on the third Thursday of May, be sure to don your вишиванка and look towards Ukraine. To (mis)quote Billy Bragg, "...join the struggle while you may, the Revolution is just a вишиванка away!"