For descendants of Ukrainians around the world, and also for those planning to travel to the country, this article lists 20 facts and curiosities about Ukraine based on my notes during the two visits I have made so far. If you want to know a little more about this country in addition to the pretty women, corruption, and any stereotypes associated with vodka, here we go. Actually, Ukraine has an interesting history and culture, which is reemerging from the darkness of Communism.
Tryzub
The tryzub, or trident, is the emblem of Kyivan Rus and modern Ukraine, a national symbol. During the Kyivan Rus era, the trident was considered the mark of the Prince Svyatoslav. Images of this insignia have been found on bricks of churches, castles, and palaces. Researches haven’t found yet any consensus about the tryzub’s origin. While some researchers associate the trident to a falcon, a symbol of the early Slavs, others associated it to Byzantine rulers.
Languages
Ukrainian and Russian are the languages spoken daily in Ukraine. During the Soviet Union, Russian was the international language of its member countries, including Ukraine. The funny thing about Ukraine is that Ukrainians speak both languages at the same time in daily conversations, on television, on the radio; all the time they switch from Ukrainian to Russian and vice versa. Among the youngest, English is spoken more and more, in much greater proportions than in Latin America and Russia, for example. Therefore, there is no need to worry about language barriers in the most visited cities.
Cyrillic alphabet
Both the Ukrainian and Russian languages are written in the Cyrillic alphabet, with the difference of some letters of the Ukrainian language that do not exist in Russian. – the letters і,ї e ґ. To those who travel to Ukraine, I recommend that they learn and it is easier than imagined: for each letter, one sound. Just memorize them. I had the opportunity to learn Cyrillic in Serbia and it was an important tool when I traveled through Bulgaria (where this alphabet was invented), Russia, Belarus and Ukraine itself. Everything in these countries is written in Cyrillic, from bus signs to subway stations, trains, and street signs.
Bulava
A bulava is a mace with a solid and heavy ball attached to a metal or wooden handle, equipped with spikes and blades. This weapon was largely used by Ukrainian warriors since the Kyivan Rus era, and it’s a symbol of power to an elected leader. After the appearance of guns, the bulava gradually fell in disuse. Such maces were effective in duels against an enemy in armor.
Pretty women
Ukraine is worldwide known for pretty women and it was there where I saw the highest proportion of pretty women per square meter, in addition to Russia and Belarus. Blondes, brunettes, redheads; tall and short; light eyes and dark eyes; wearing a dress, high heels, showered, well-groomed. The most important thing is that they are feminine, unlike what you see in central and northern Europe.
PS: it’s not about incentive for sex tourism, right?
Marriage agencies
I don’t know why, but the fact is that in Ukraine and other former Soviet republics (including Russia), women outnumber men by millions. Even on my first visit to Kyiv, I was struck by the sight of a marriage agency sign, written in English especially for foreigners ordering a bride “Marriage Agency” on some street near the city center. While there are many women seeking husbands in Ukraine, there are many men in Western Europe, as well as some parts of the United States, fed up with annoying feminists who look like skater boys. It is these men who hire the services of the marriage agencies and the online dating sites (I would do the same on their shoes). Don’t ask me how it works, I don’t even use Tinder. Online dating is a very weird thing for me …
Vyshyvanka
Vyshyvanka is an embroidered shirt, traditionally considered peasant, worn by men and women. Many people in Ukraine wear it in national celebrations as a tribute to popular traditions and a symbol of patriotism. Each region of Ukraine has its own vyshyvanka with different colors and ornaments. Every year in May, Vyshyvanka Day is celebrated by Ukrainians going to work and school wearing this embroidered national symbol.
Taras Shevchenko
Wherever you walk in Ukraine, you will see the name of Taras Shevchenko on the streets, squares, universities, statues, and monuments. He is a national hero, named the father of modern Ukrainian language and literature. He was a poet, writer, painter, playwright, and political figure, who was imprisoned for 10 years (1847-1857) for opposing Russian rule and his ideas for an independent Ukraine. Taras Shevchenko is equally important in Ukraine as George Washington in the United States.
Sopilka
The sopilka is a Ukrainian 30-40 centimeters folk flute, usually played by folk bands and orchestra, so as by modern bands such as the electro-folk group Onuka on the songs Zavtra, Svitanok, Zenit, and Misto. This instrument can produce rapid modulations and sounds of bird trills.
Bandura
The bandura is a traditional Ukrainian stringed musical instrument with an oval body and a short neck. The oldest picture of it is found in an 11th-century fresco of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. It has been used by musicians performing ballads and lyrics describing dramatic chapters of Ukrainian history, and modern bands including Onuka.
Petrykiv painting
Petrykiv painting or petrykivka is decorative ornamental folk art, originally from the Petrykivka village in the Dnipro region (former Dnipropetrovsk). Traditionally, artists used paints extracted from berries, flowers, and leaves to ornament the walls, dishes, furniture, stove, and chimneys. Inside Yuriy Church at Michael’s Square in Kyiv, you have the chance to see the first petrykiv painting decorating a church in the world.
Pysanka
A pysanka is an Easter egg painted with wax and dye, referring to the personification of joy and faith in Christ’s resurrection. Every region in Ukraine has its own legend about the origin of the Easter eggs. Traditionally, the painting is made by women.
Informal taxis
At a time when there was no Uber nor Taxify, it was common in Ukraine and Russia to stop cars on the street and negotiate the price of the ride if the driver was heading to your destination. Even today, it is a common practice in Ukraine, and I always did it in a timely manner to practice a little Russian that I know when I did not see a taxi or public transport nearby. In case of a language barrier, negotiate the prices using pencil and paper.
Travel by train
How to travel in Ukraine? The train is the best option and so I traveled throughout the country from north to south, from east to west. I have rarely traveled by bus. Going by train is cheap and takes you to all parts of the country, with wider coverage than the roads. Similar to the Russian rail system, you can buy train tickets with sleeping seats using the plastkart (third class) and koupe (second class) options.
Marshrutkas
Marshrutkas are minibusses used between city centers and suburbs, as well as on short interurban routes. When entering a marshrutka, the driver says the price once told the destination you’re heading to. Or enter the mashrutka, pass the money to the driver through other passengers communicating your final destination. You are likely to be the only foreigner in the marshrutka if you enter one during your trip.
Corruption
Corruption is undoubtedly the biggest problem in Ukraine, in politics equal to what is seen in Latin America and in Russia … For travelers, beware of the policemen who are always looking for bribes, inventing all kinds of stories to get money from whoever catches their attention. They earn around $ 120-150 in wages and make a living from bribes.
I’ve never paid bribes, but on two occasions I went through a patience game when the police pretended not to know about the visa agreement between Brazil and Ukraine for tourism purposes. Take care of your belongings so that they are not stolen from you and with thieves looking for tourists. Other than that, Ukraine is safe, much more secure than Latin America. It’s just a matter of being aware of the people next to you, I’ve always walked the streets day and night, for example, as many Ukrainians do.
Dnipro River
The Dnipro River originates in Russia, crosses Belarus, and reaches Ukraine until it empties into the Black Sea. It is the third-largest river in Europe with an extension of 981 km in Ukraine, out of a total of 2,201 km. Its waters are used by 70% of the Ukrainian population, in addition to transportation. And in summer, it also functions as a beach, even in Kyiv and in the city of Dnipro.
Puzata Khata
Puzata Khata (in Cyrillic Пузата Хата) is one of my favorite restaurants in Ukraine. Why? Because that’s where you can find almost all Ukrainian dishes like borsch, okroshka, kompot, varenyky, etc. at affordable prices. Puzata Khata franchises are distributed in the main cities of the country, whether in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, or Kharkiv. Open all day, until 10 pm if I’m not mistaken.
The catacombs of Odessa
The city of Odessa is estimated to have 3,000 km of catacombs that extend under the city and neighboring municipalities, but they are not interconnected. The one I visited is located at 33 Razumovskaya Street (33 Разумовская), 30 meters underground. It is one of Odessa’s top attractions and showcases the city’s most intimate history, from lime mining to major events including up to WWII. It is not an ossuary like the Catacomb of Paris, but it has its many legends, prehistoric animal bones, crimes, and political events.
The deepest metro station in the world
In Kyiv, you have the opportunity to go through the deepest metro station in the world, Arsenalna station (Арсенальна) on the red line, located 105 meters underground. This station is close to the stations Kreschatyk (Хрещатик) on the red line and Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Майдан Незалежності) – the latter near Independence Square.
If some interesting fact from Ukraine caught your attention, which was? In addition to all the curiosities presented in this article, I add the Space Museum in the city of Dnipro, the only one besides the Kosmonauta Museum (in Moscow) where you can see satellites and Soviet space technology.
Originally posted 2021-04-11 22:02:25.
