Ukrainian Embroidery

Embroidery for Ukrainians is much more than just a way of decorating clothes or various household items. Embroidery is part of the Ukrainian world outlook, of the Ukrainian self-awareness; it is a sort of sacred ritual of their life. Ukrainians used to wear embroidered shirts when they got married, when they had their children baptized, when they died and were put into coffins. Embroidered towels used to be draped around arms of brides and grooms at church weddings; embroidered towels were draped over icons in Ukrainian homes; tablecloths were decorated with embroidery – in fact, embroidery, these magic patterns on linen, accompanied Ukrainians at all the major events of their lives.

Only a couple of generations back, needlework was a widespread occupation in the Ukrainian countryside. Our grandmothers embroidered shirt and towels and kept them in old decorated trunks. Our parents grew in “the happy family of Soviet peoples” in which traditional handicrafts, needlework included, were neglected.

At present, in urban areas, traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts, either purchased or passed down from older generations, are mostly kept in the families of intellectuals. Embroidered shirts are worn on holidays, infants are baptized wearing tiny embroidered shirts, brides and grooms stand on embroidered towels at church weddings when they take an oath of marriage. These traditions live on in the Ukrainian hearts, though they do not find as much outward expression as they used to.

ЗАВДАННЯ ДО ТЕКСТУ:

1. Доповніть речення словами з тексту:

1. Embroided towels used to be drapt around arms of brides and … at the church weddings.

2. Towels were drapt over … in Ukraine homes.

3. Infants are … wearing tiny embroidered shirts.

4. … shirts are worn on holidays.

5. Towels were kept in old decorated ….

6. During Soviet times traditional … were ….

2. Перекладіть англійською мовою наступні слова та словосполучення:

Поширення заняття, старі прикрашені скрині, вінчання, вишиті рушники, світогляд.

3. Дайте відповіді на запитання:

1. What is embroidery for Ukrainians?

2. When did Ukrainians wear embroidered shirts?

3. What was a widespread occupation in Ukrainian countryside?

4. Where did our grandmothers keep embroidered shirts and towels?

5. What are present Ukrainian traditions connected with embroidered shirts and towels?

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