As most people around the world, we are deeply saddened by the invasion of Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis unfolding there. With all that is going on, in this blogpost we wanted to pay tribute to the culture, traditions, and foods of Ukraine. At the end of this blogpost, you can find some links that we have researched and put together for ways we can help from abroad.
Ukraine’s culture is very diverse and unique, but these past couple of years it has been influenced by its eastern and western neighbour's. This influence is reflected in its architecture, art, and music. Folk culture is fundamental in Ukraine and Ukrainian professional science, literature and art have been gradually formed on it. A lot of Ukraine's beautiful culture and its originality has been influenced by the geographical conditions, particularities of the historical process, and interaction with other ethnic cultures. In the 10th century, Christianity was adopted which was one of the important historical stages of Ukrainian culture. A lot of the customs of Ukraine are influenced by Christianity (Orthodox), which is also the more popular religion in the country. The largest church in the country is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The second most widely practiced religion in Ukraine is Eastern Catholicism, with Protestantism and Judaism also being some of the more practiced religions. It really has a fascinating history.
Ukrainian cuisine has developed over many centuries, and it plays an important role in Ukrainian culture - mostly because of how delicious it is! The cuisine was mainly based on the products that they got from farming, which is mostly rye, wheat, barley, buckwheat, and oats. In the southern areas, Podnistrovyi and the eastern Carpathians, corn is also widely spread. Some of the best-known Ukraine dishes are:
- Salo (pork fat that is salted and can be served with or without garlic and pepper)
- Borshch (soup with a base of cabbage and beets, usually with pork or minced meat and served with sour cream)
- Pampushky (baked breads with butter, topped with garlic and dill)
- Holubtsi (cabbage rolls that are stuffed with minced meat and rice)
- Varenyky (dumplings that are stuffed with a variety of things such as potatoes, cottage cheese, curds, meat, berries…. etc.)
- Nalysnky (thin pancakes)
This is only a small list of the endless delicious dishes that are traditional in the country. Vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage, beets, legumes, cucumbers, garlic, and onions play a very important role in the Ukrainian sustenance. Generally, food in Ukraine is divided into two groups: festive and casual. During the holidays, they cook special dishes which include ritual meals, and they carry out a kind of religious-magical function.
Music is also a big part of Ukrainian culture. The different ethnic groups residing in Ukraine all have their own unique musical traditions. The feature of Ukrainian folk music that stands out the most is the wide use of minor nodes. The ritual songs are usually in recitative style, and a large part of the song’s melodies are based on scales similar to medieval nodes.
We can write about it, but experiencing this special culture is the best way to appreciate it. We hope that the war ends soon, and that the beautiful culture of Ukraine is kept alive. Below, you can find some links for donating, getting informed reliably or other ways of helping Ukraine.
Ukraine, our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with you.
- PTAK Humanitarian Hub offer support and assistance to refugees of Ukraine
https://humanitarianexpo.com/en/support-and-assistance-to-the-refugees/
- UN crisis relief take donations to provide humanitarian aid
https://crisisrelief.un.org/ukraine-crisis?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuMuRBhCJARIsAHXdnqOY3TYmEbr59msNWgm73dSx5GMvbjzF-zMwcwbBgJvVB0ZIdTbxH18aAnj_EALw_wcB
- WFP (World food program) take donations to provide food to the most vulnerable people inside Ukraine
https://www.wfp.org/support-us/stories/ukraine-appeal?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=16400205540&utm_content=132260248005&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuMuRBhCJARIsAHXdnqMlBZX8LnRteGzmoDako4wJBGtKhLlf7M_i1uMCeMYCsQMmww956YYaAmh-EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
- UNFPA (United nations population fund) take donations to support women and girls effected by the war
https://www.unfpa.org/donate/Ukraine-a?utm_campaign=HO-UA-22-Ukraine&utm_content=evergreen&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuMuRBhCJARIsAHXdnqMfrZD_N9nsXViFfKtFGHzLJc6znZka72pDgGSCQg7sSei_DyBLHvEaAqfqEALw_wcB
- Ways to help to help Ukraine
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/ways-to-help-ukraine-conflict/
