About Ukraine

Ukraine is located in Central - Eastern Europe. It occupies southwest part of Eastern European Plato and part of Carpathians and Crimean mountains. South borders of Ukraine are washed by Black and Azov seas.
The geopolitical location of Ukraine bordering west and east nations and cultures has significantly influenced the historical and present development of the state.

The name of the state
For ages Ukraine has assumed many names. Among these names are Oriana, Roxolania, Scythia, Sarmatia, and the State of Anths. In the 9th century AD, the name "Rus" first appeared in Kyiv chronicle where it referred to the King and his men. According to Arab and Byzantian written sources, in the 12th century AD Rus was on the Taman Peninsula (Tmutorokan). Thereafter, Chervona (Red) Rus (or Halychyna), Bila (White) Rus (the territory of present-day Bielorus), and Western Rus Lands (Volyn) were referred to as Rus Provinces. Generally, the name "Rus" had been applied to all the lands of Kyiv Rus since the 6th century AD.
In 1334, Mala (Small) Rus was the name first used in referring to the Halytsko-Volyn Principality as a successor of the Great Kyiv Rus, which survived after the Mongol-Tatar invasion. Later, the name spread to the entire Ukrainian territory.
At the same time, the name "Ukraina" (Ukraine) was used widely as an unofficial version of "Rus". This name was first come upon in the Kyiv Manuscript (Ipatiev's version) where it was used to describe Pereyaslav, Kyiv and Chernihiv. Halych Ukraine is mentioned in the Halych-Volyn Manuscript in 1187 and 1213. In 1650, a French engineer and traveler, G.L. de Beauplan, published a book titled, "Description d'Ukraine" where he used the word "Ukraine" to describe Halychyna and Podilia (low lands). During Cossack times, since the 16th century, Cossack lands which included the lands along the Dnieper (Naddniprianshchyna) were called Ukraine. The Cossacks' State headed by Bohdan Khmelnytski was also called Ukraine. This is corroborated in the documents of many hetmans (Cossack leaders, or headmen) - from Khmelnytski to Ivan Mazepa and P. Orlyk. Ukraine became popular in Western Europe after 1661 owing to publications by G.L. de Beauplan.

National Symbols of Ukraine
The State Flag of Ukraine
Various types of flags were used in various periods of Ukrainian history. The earliest mention of the modern national colors of Ukraine dates back to the period of Hetman State and is found in the Lviv Chronicle of the 17th century. Supposedly, the coat of arms of the city of Lviv, in yellow and blue colors, was granted to the city by Prince Lev. Yellow and blue also appeared in the coat of arms of the "Ruthenian Voyevodstvo (Province)" which was part of Poland in the 14th and 15th centuries. The description of some military flags from the times of the Hetman State (after the Periaslav Council of 1654) mention azure as the color of the flag cloth bearing different embroidered emblems and mottoes. Along with azure, often in combination with yellow, the favorite colors of the Kozak state were crimson and red.
The heraldic conception of national colors that had been passed down from ancient times had been lost. Instead, blue was justified as being the color of the sky and yellow as the color of the wheat fields. On March 22, 1918 the Ukrainian Central Rada simultaneously adopted the yellow-and-blue flag and the trident as the national coat of arms. On November 12, 1918, the government of the Western Ukrainian National Republic also adopted these colors for its state flag. In accordance with the resolution of the Ukrainian National Rada of June 27, 1949, the state flag of the Ukrainian National Republic consisted of two equal horizontal stripes: blue at the top and yellow at the bottom.
When Ukraine declared its independence in 1991, it adopted a new National Flag on January 28, 1992 - a horizontally 2-striped flag. The upper stripe, blue, signifying the open sky and the bottom yellow stripe, symbolizing the wheat fields of Ukraine.
The State Emblem of Ukraine
The national emblem - the coat of arms, the flag, and the seal - alternated during the millennium of Ukrainian history owing to various political, social, cultural, and other factors - a phenomenon common to many European nations.
The contemporary national coat of arms of Ukraine, Azure or trident, is the most ancient as well as most dignified of all the Ukrainian insignia of nationwide significance. Its emblazonment represents a synthesis of a preheraldic device of the ruling dynasty in the tenth century and of the oldest Ukrainian national heraldic tinctures from the 13th century.
The problems associated with the origin and of the original meaning of the Ukrainian trident have still not been solved by scholars. The archaeological finds of tridents in Ukraine go back to the 1st century AD. Undoubtedly this emblem was a mark of authority and a mystic symbol of one or of several of the ethnic groups which inhabited ancient Ukrainian territory and which came to compose the Ukrainian nation.
The trident, left to Volodymyr the Great by his ancestors became a hereditary preheraldic badge of all his descendants and rulers of medieval Ukraine - the Grand Princes of Kyiv and the Princes of all other constituent principalities of the vast Kyivan Realm. Tridents and bidents are found on many objects of that period: coins, stones, and bricks of significant buildings (i.e., palaces, castles, cathedrals), armor, signets, seals, official jewelry, ceramics and manuscripts.
After the renascence of independent Ukraine on January 22, 1918, the trident was adopted, by a law of March 22, 1918, as the national device of the Ukrainian National Republic. It was adopted in the form of a Great and a Small Coat of Arms representing the classic trident of Volodymyr the Great in an ornamental wreath. The trident was emblazoned in official use (e.g., in uniforms of armed forces, and service flags).
 

The State Anthem of Ukraine
The Ukrainian State Anthem, Shche ne vmerla Ukraina ("Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished" - or "Ukraine Lives On") is of quite recent origin. Rev. Mykhailo Verbytskyi (1815-70), composer of many Ukrainian songs realized the need for an anthem at the first Ukrainian concert in Peremyshl, in Western Ukraine, to honor the poet Taras Shevchenko. In the same year a poem, "Shche ne vmerla Ukraina" appeared in the Lviv magazine Meta ("The Goal"), written by Pavlo Chubynsky (1839-84). However, the magazine mistakenly accredited the poem to Shevchenko. Rev. Verbytskyi was impressed by the poem's simplicity yet strong patriotic appeal, and set it to music.
The popularity of the song rapidly spread throughout the country. In 1864 it was sung at the conclusion of a program in Permyshyl honoring Taras Shevchenko. Shche ne vmerla Ukraina was first published in 1885 in the Lviv music anthology "Kobzar". Finally, in 1917 it became the rallying song of the Ukrainian revolution and was officially adopted as the state anthem of the Ukrainian Republic.
According to Article 20 of the Constitution of Ukraine (adopted on June 28, 1996) the State Anthem of Ukraine is the national anthem with the music of M. Verbytskyi and words, confirmed by law and approved by a constitutional majority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Ukrainian is the official language of Ukraine. That is, it is the official language of Ukrainians who represent the major part of the state population. Approximately 10 to 13 million people in the Diaspora (e.g., those living in Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, the US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Australia and other countries) speak Ukrainian.
 

The language
The Ukrainian language originates from ancient times. The brothers Cyril and Methodius founded the Slav written language. From the time of Rus in the 10th and 11th centuries, the principle phonetic and grammatical features of the Ukrainian language began to form. With the appearance of the “Eneida”, written by Ivan Kotliarevskyi (1798), the new period of development of the Ukrainian literary language began on a popular basis. In the works of Taras Shevchenko, the most famous Ukrainian poet (1814-1861), the language was consolidated as one that had all means for servicing the most important sphere of social and cultural life and unlimited means for further enrichment and stylistic versatile improvement. The basis of the contemporary Ukrainian language is formed by the Middle Dnieper variety of the Southeast dialect - the most unified and the first among others with respect to the number of native speakers.
 

Law on Languages
In the period during the struggle for independence, on October 29, 1989, while under pressure from the public, the Supreme Rada adopted the Law on Languages in the Ukrainian RSR. This document legally assigned the official status to the Ukrainian language, ensured the equality of the languages of all nations inhabiting the territory of Ukraine, created the conditions for broadening the sphere of functioning of the Ukrainian language as the language of the native people.
Visiting Ukraine you can make acquaintance with the history and culture which were left for us as the heritage by the people who lived on this land long ago. The lovers of the antiquity will be interested by the excavations of the antique towns of Prichernomorye . Khersones, Olvia, Tira ...
In Kyyiv, Kamyanets-Podilsk, Chernigiv, Ovruch, Volodymir-Volinsky, Lviv, you.ll be tacquainted with the best - known historical and cultural monuments of different epochs and styles. It is worth to see the cult (religious) buildings in Kyiv, Chernigiv, Lviv, Chernivtsy, Pochayev and Ivano-Frankivsk. In the Bukovinian village Bila Krynitsa you have a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the .01d-believers. Here is the centre of the world Christian old believers.
In the fortresses of Uzhorod, Mukachiv, Kamyanets Podolsk, Khotin, Lutsk, Medzhibosh, Belgorod-Dnistrovsk and numorous muzeums in different cities and towns of Ukraine will tell you about the victorious glory of our grandfathers and great grandfathers in various periods of history of our state.
Beautiful palaces and castles will meet your view in Transcarpathia, Lviv, Chernigiv regions and in the Crimea.
The whole necklace of nice towns and cities are waiting for you in Ukraine. Kyyiv, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, will leave the unforgettable impressions in your souls. Chernigiv will win your heart by many architectural monuments. In the middle of the Dnister and the Western Bug there is Lviv which will be remembered by you due to its old houses, cathedrals, fortress.s towers. Bright reminicences will be left by the streets of Uzhorod.
Peaceful and picturesgue is Chernivtsy which is often called .Small Vienna.
You can also see much in the old Lutsk which was founded by the Prince Volodymyr. Visit, please, Dnipropetrovsk where you can see the Potyomkynsky Palase and one of the oldest cities of Ukraine . Poltava. Kharkiv is also an interesting city for tourists. It was founded as the fortress against the raids of the Crimean tatars. Odessa, situated on the shore of the Black Sea, is one of the most colourful cities of Ukraine.
Besides all, you will get a special pleasure visiting the famous Odessa market.
A special charm is arisen by the natural resources of Ukraine, its beautiful rivers, lakes, parks, reserves.
The calm Carpathian Mountains which are very attractive for travellers and mountain . skiers will give you much pleasure. The Crimean Peninsula is the unique natural and cultural region of Ukraine. There are a great number of beautiful landskapes, resorts and nice cities . Sevastopol, Simferopol, Yalta, Sudak, Kerch. By the way, the best Ukrainian sweet wine and port are produced in the Crimea.

Customs And Traditions
What are the elements of the Ukrainian character? First there is kindness. There is hospitality, and friendliness. There is respect for elders, for the deceased; love for children, love of nature and animals. Ukrainians have a knack for humor, they are musical, artistic and wonderful craftsmen famous for their mastery in weaving, wood carving and ceramics. But skills and diligence in working the land is perhaps the greatest talent the Ukrainians possess.
Ukraine is situated on rich soil, and since ancient times the Ukrainian people have thrust their energy into agriculture. Folk customs, revived since the era of Trypillian culture (4th - 2nd millenia B.C.) and modified over time, have sustained the hard working peasant toiling on the land. Life depended on the rhythms of working the soil. Holidays were celebrated during periods of transition from one type of agricultural activity to another. Even in pre-Christian times a kind of ceremony was held before starting work invoking the powers of nature to cooperate and to provide generous harvests. These seasonal festivities were later incorporated into Christian holidays - and they exist to this day. Easter, for example, is a spring holiday.
Spring is a time of ploughing and sowing in the fields, a time of warmth and rebirth after a cold, hungry winter. In pagan times, Ukrainians believed that the gods died and were reborn every year. An example of a pagan ritual symbolizing renewal and rebirth which is still practiced is the dyeing of eggs. Using wax, girls drew symbolic designs on eggs, dipped them into dye, melted the wax to expose the ornament, and presented these magical objects to loved ones.
To the Christian "Ascension Day" (the 40th day after Easter), Ukrainians added a pre-Christian tradition of going into the field to inspect the progress of the wheat. The Trinity is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter (summer). Traditionally, people decorated their homes with green tree branches and fragrant herbs. This was a day for fortune-telling. Girls wove garlands and floated them in a river or stream. They watched as the wreaths drifted away, wishing that a handsome young man would find the garland, for this meant that he would some day become her husband. Another summer holiday full of magic and ritual is known as Saint Kupala (July 7th). It is a beautiful, exuberant fete at which fire and water (symbols of cleansing) are celebrated.
During the day everyone has to be at least immersed in water. At dusk bonfires are lit, and holding hands, boys and girls leap over the flames. This was the last holiday before the harvest. The year was rounded out with a series of harvest holidays: August 2, known as St. Illia Day, marked the beginning of autumn. "Until dinner it's summer, after dinner it's autumn," people said. On the19th of August, known as "Saviour Day" vegetables, fruits, mushrooms and honey were blessed.
Weddings usually took place in the middle of October. A unique feature of Ukrainian Christmas festivities is the "vertep," or puppet theater. Young people get together, dress as angels, kings, Herod, Satan, death, and even animals. They walk from house to house enacting the Nativity and singing about the birth of Christ, greeting everyone with the holiday