Culture of Ukraine

Strong family values and religion, alongside the traditions of Ukrainian embroidery and folk music are integral aspects of the country's culture.

[citation needed] The earliest evidence of cultural artefacts in the Ukrainian lands can be traced to decorated mammoth tusks in the Neanderthal era.

[6] Later, the nomadic tribes of the southern lands of the 4th century BCE, like the Scythians, produced finely worked gold ornaments such as the pectoral found in the Tovsta Mohyla mound.

Traditional peasant folk art, embroidery and vernacular architecture are critical to Ukrainian culture, and its elements have often been determined by the resources available at the time.

[13] Ukrainian culture has had to overcome numerous obstacles in order to survive and retain its originality, since foreign powers and empires who dominated the country and its people in the past often implemented policies aimed at assimilating the Ukrainian population into their own population, as well as trying to eradicate and purge elements of the culture.

[13] Whilst progressing into modernity, Ukraine remains a highly traditional country, where the observance of certain customs and practices play a central role in its culture.

[citation needed] Different regions in Ukraine have their own distinctive style of vernacular architecture, based on local traditions and the knowledge handed down through generations.

[23] From the illuminated manuscripts of the Peresopnytsia Gospel[24] to the famous pysanky and vytynanky, intricate details have ancient meaning.

Much of the oral history was lost during the past 300 years of Russification of Ukraine when Ukrainian culture and language were forbidden.

The iconic embroidered shirt or blouse, the vyshyvanka,[29] is the most recognizable part of Ukrainian national costume, and even has its own public celebration in May.

Garments are made using elaborate structural design, complicated weaving techniques, extensive embroidery, and cutwork needlework.

However, foreign rule by Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Turkey, left behind new words thereby enriching Ukrainian.

This award was only presented to one Ukrainian after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Andriy Shevchenko,[39] the former captain of the Ukraine national football team.

[40] The national team made its debut in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champions, Italy.

[43] Other popular sports in Ukraine include handball, tennis, rugby union, basketball, gymnastics, and ice hockey.

Yurts or nomadic tents have traditionally played an important role in the cultural history of Crimean Tatars.

On the Nowruz holiday, Crimean Tatars usually cook eggs, chicken soup, puff meat pie (kobete), halva, and sweet biscuits.

The songs of mountainous and southern coastal Crimean Tatars, called Türkü, are sung with richly ornamented melodies.