Vishivanka Parade and Day of Vishivanka as New Traditions for Ukrainians of 21st Century

In contrast to the past, when traditional clothes are worn mainly at celebrations regarding national, local or religious holidays, nowadays embroidered garments are often used to express one’s ethnic origin, worldview and willingness to keep elements of a given culture alive. On the territory of Ukraine such an element of the native traditional costume is the embroidered shirt – vishivanka. In the past, as an oberig (amulet), it is believed to protect against harm and diseases. Nowadays, it is seen as a means to express one’s ethnic and national identity. As such, it takes central place in new invented traditions – marches in embroidered shirts (since 2008) and the Day of the embroidered shirt (since 2006) – introduced by young Ukrainians to preserve Ukrainian values and folk costumes and rites. In the text are considered both new traditions, i.e. their origin, spread, characteristics in Ukraine as well as by the Ukrainian diaspora in Bulgaria. Empirical data has been gathered for the period of three years (2016-2018) by means of semi-structured interviews and virtual ethnography methods. References: Torski, E., 2014. Parad vyshivanok, 23-24 avgusta 2014, Kiev (Vyshivanka parade, 23-24 August 2014, Kiev). Available at: https://informmix2000.wordpress.com/2014/08/26/парад-вышиванок-23-24-августа-2014-киев/ (accessed 23 July 2016). Ukrains’ke natsional’ne informtsiyne agenstvo ‘Ukrinform’, 2016. Parad vishivankok u Varshavi zibraw sotni lyudey (The Vishivanka parade in Warsaw gathered hundreds of people). Available at: http://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-abroad/2021253-parad-visivanok-u-varsavi-zibrav-sotni-ludej.html (accessed 24 July 2016). Zhinka-Ukraynka, 2016. Vsevitniy den’ vishivanki – plan zahodiv (The World Vishivanka Day – Plan of Actions). Available at: http://ukrainka.org.ua/node/6985 (accessed 27 October 2017). Zhukivskiy, V., 2013. Ukraintsite v Bulgaria organiziraha unikalno shestvie s shevitsi (The Ukrainians in Bulgaria organized a unique parade with embroideries). Available at: http://www.ukrpressbg.com/dia-20130928-vyshyvanka-hoda.html (accessed 10 September 2017). Zhukivskiy, V., 2015. Ukraintsite se vklychiha v shestvieto na 24 mai (Ukrainians took part in the parade on May 24th). Available at: http://ukrpressbg.com/ar-diaspora-2015.html (accessed 10 September 2017). Zhukivs’kiy, V., 2013. Hoda v ukrayns’kih vishivankah – unikal’niy dlya Bolgariy zahid! (March in Ukrainian vishivankas – a Unique for Bulgaria Action). Available at: http://www.ukrpressbg.com/ar-diaspora-2013.html (accessed 10 September 2017).