For Ukrainians, the vyshyvanka is a symbol of prosperity and love within the family, while Vyshyvanka Day itself symbolizes the national unity of our people.
Vyshyvanka Day 2017 will take place on May 18.
Vyshyvanka Day is held on the third Thursday of May.
This year, Vyshyvanka Day will be celebrated on Thursday, May 18.
On this day, everyone is encouraged to take their vyshyvankas, dresses, skirts, and blouses out of their closets and get ready for the festive event.
Vyshyvanka Day has not yet become an official holiday, despite the fact that the tradition of decorating clothing with embroidery dates back thousands of years.
Vyshyvanka Day is a relatively young celebration; it originated in the spring of 2006. Today, it is evident that the popularity of national ethnic clothing is growing among Ukrainians. Renowned designers are releasing beautiful collections for bright and stylish vyshyvanka lovers. Although everyone loves vyshyvankas and they are very popular, few people know exactly when the vyshyvanka parade takes place. Since 2006, World Vyshyvanka Day has been consistently celebrated on the third Thursday of May.
How Vyshyvanka Day began
Lesia Voroniuk, a student at Chernivtsi National University, was the pioneer of this event. No one had ever organized anything like an "International Vyshyvanka Day" before her. She suggested that people gather and walk through the city wearing traditional Ukrainian attire. Lesia says she was inspired by a good acquaintance who wore an embroidered shirt every day, always looking neat and handsome. In 2006, just a few students and university lecturers dressed in vyshyvankas, but over the years, this celebration has grown into a national event. The activist noted that students often wore vyshyvankas to classes, so organizing a flash mob featuring mass wearing of traditional clothing would not be difficult. It promised to be a beautiful, spectacular, and deeply patriotic event. Everyone is welcome to join the celebration, which will feature plenty of Ukrainian songs, dances, round dances, and a sea of fun and positive vibes!
Vyshyvanka Day in Kyiv is celebrated on May 18, while in Lviv, it was planned to hold the celebration a day later – on May 19. Year after year, the holiday is becoming a significant, vibrant, and large-scale event for the country. The main goal of the event is the preservation and popularization of Ukrainian traditions and values among our people.
