The third Thursday, May Ukrainians celebrate the day of embroidery. Embroidered with a mother's love a shirt, he has long been considered a reliable guard from troubles, diseases and evil spirits.
For each member of the family the woman select the appropriate pattern. What magical symbols encoded in an embroidered Ukrainian shirt?
Chronicles confirm that shirts worn by even the Scythians. A silver plaque on the 6 th century, found in archaeological excavations in the Cherkassy region, preserved the image of men in shirts with patterns typical of vyshivanok ages 18-19. Some Ukrainian ornaments met on the dishes and other household items, belonging to the Tripoli culture.
Patterns on old embroidered shirts are divided into three groups: geometric, plant and animal. Today, May 17, Day shirts, we decided to find out which characters are encoded in the Ukrainian embroidery.
maternity ward
A symbol that the mother embroidered on the shirts of their children to protect them from violence, disease and the evil eye - the eight-pointed star or a flower surrounded by vegetable pattern.
Viburnum
This plant is a symbol of Ukraine and reliable a talisman for the whole family. Therefore, it is often ornaments with red berries decorate Ukrainian towels and shirts. Its name comes from the Old Slavic word "kolo" - the sun, which was our ancestors symbol of the continuation of life, fertility. So it bunches of Viburnum wedding embroidered towels and shirts.
Oak
In ancient Slavic pagan religion oak tree was the supreme god Perun. He is a symbol of male strength, courage and power. Ornament with leaves and fruits of this tree were present exclusively in men's shirts. Sometimes they were intertwined bunches of Viburnum, as a symbol of unity of the feminine and masculine energy.
Maki
Our ancestors believed poppy reliable talisman against evil forces. His head hung over the child's cradle and the front door, put in a bunch of icons at as guardian house and its inhabitants from the evil eye and spoilage. Patterns with this flower was also used as the talisman. Poppy also considered a symbol of remembrance of those killed in the war - the girls from the family of the deceased soldier weave the seven poppy flowers in a wreath.
Hop
A symbol of youth, joy, enthusiasm, love and renewal. His embroidered on the shirts of young girls and boys. Also, patterns with hops were as a talisman and wishes happiness for the wedding the newlyweds towels and shirts. Most often, this pattern embroidered masters of Central Ukraine and Podolia.
Also, be sure to find out 15 most interesting facts about embroidery
Photos from public sources
