April 2
Traditional Ukrainian folk life was filled with rituals considered necessary for everyone’s well-being. An important aspect of these rituals was the creation of items embodying talismanic and protective powers. Among such articles – created by hand under propitious, ritualistic conditions – the pysanka (Easter egg) and the rushnyk (ritual cloth) are of greatest importance; to this day, they continue to play a significant role in Ukrainian mores.
Foremost among the many symbolic meanings and ritualistic uses of these items is the concept of the mystery of life – its creation, resurrection, and continuity. The pysanka traditionally is made at the time when nature is about to be reborn or resurrected – in the spring. Creating a pysanka in springtime means acting in concert with nature, working in harmony with it, and thus aiding and strengthening it in its attempt to resurrect life. In Ukrainian tradition, being in tune with nature, through the enactment of various rituals, has always been considered essential for the well-being of the humanity.
A rushnyk traditionally is made every time a child is born; additional rushnyky are created for each auspicious occasion as the child matures and goes through life’s various rites of passage. The intricate designs incorporated into the rushnyk by the mother for her child, or by the young girl for her beloved, for her future home, or for herself, are the magical, potent symbols of life and wishes for a productive future, good fortune, and happiness. In Ukrainian tradition, to be without one’s ritual cloth is to be without one’s shadow, without protection, without guidance, without the memory of one’s past, or without visions and aspirations for one’s future.
