Photo © 2009 - Kosmach village, Kosivsky Rayon
The people of the Ukraine are proud of their culture and show off their traditions at village and city festivals which celebrate customs, national heroes and political or cultural events. Women still make the traditional clothing by hand. The rich embroidery they sew shows the ethnic diversity of the region and has long been a part of the Ukrainian folk dress seen at traditional weddings and other celebrations.
Yuriy Chernevyy
UKRAINE
Ukraine/Ukrayina
In Eastern Europe, fertile plains flow to Black Sea and Sea of Azov, mountains in the west and south, high_land regions to west and east; 603,550 km2 (slightly < TX), 54% arable.
Capital Kyiv (Kiev) (pop est. 2.6M)
Population 45.1M (161.3/km2)
Life expectancy 69 years
HIV/AIDS 1%
Literacy 99%
Lang(s) Ukrainian (official) 67%; Russian 24%; Romanian, Polish, Hungarian 9%
Religions Orthodox (Kyiv Patriarchate) 50%, Ukrainian Orthodox (Moscow Patriarchate) 26%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 8%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 7%, Roman Catholic 2%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, other 3%
Ethnic Groups Ukrainian 78%, Russian, 17%, Belarussian 1%, other 5%
Gov’t Republic
GDP/cap $6,700
PCVs 1992 - present, community development, English language, youth development (Volunteers in country: 466; total to date: 2,297)
Nat’l holiday Independence Day 24 August (1991)
Focus word for 2012 - "Freedom"
Ukrainian - svoboda (svo-bo-da)
Russian - svaboda (sva-bo-da)
Books
The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation
by Dr. Andrew Wilson
Book Description
A sweeping introductory examination of Ukrainian identity and history. . . . An exceptional history, the kind that supplies not pat answers but food for thought within a lush context of documented and mythological past. It is fascinating reading.
Kids' Books
The mitten: a Ukrainian folktale
adapted and illustrated by Jan Brett
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons, p2009, c1989
ISBN-13: 978-0-399-25296-9
Interest Level: K-3
Ages: 6-9
Music
Mariana Sadovska
Music from Ukraine
Films
Orange Winter, Andrei Zagdansky (2007)
Recipes
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