“Present vyshyvanka to defender!”

The organizing committee has formally addressed President Petro Poroshenko in order to ask him to sign a decree on the annual celebration of Vyshyvanka Day in Ukraine on the third Thursday of May.

“Vyshyvanka Day is a flashmob-holiday, which aims to preserve the ancient traditions of making and wearing of ethnic embroidered clothing,” said Lesia Voroniuk-Voloshyna, head of the committee, writer and journalist. “Vyshyvanka is a way to express cultural identity and self-identification. We deliberately avoid fixing the exact date, as we don’t want in to come on a weekend. The essence of such celebration is to have all citizens don their vyshyvankas on a weekday and go to work, university, school or kindergarten – to express our solidarity with all our people. This holiday will unite Ukrainians regardless of their gender, social status, religious or political beliefs. It is original and self-sufficient, not being tied to any public or religious holiday.”

The highlight of this year’s Vyshyvanka Day will be the pan-Ukrainian “Present Vyshyvanka to Defender” action. According to Oleksandr Tkachuk, organizing committee member and soldier of Ukrainian Army, the military on the frontline will receive, with the help of the volunteers, vyshyvankas to serve as talismans. “I can imagine my companions in ATO wearing vyshyvankas. It will be very symbolic and important in order to provide our defenders with the inspiration, strength, and faith in our future victory,” Tkachuk said.