The array of the Ukrainian traditional clothing is characterized by wide regional and ethnic diversity, even adjacent villages displaying important dissimilarity. The conception of traditional dress is related to the region of Central Ukraine, just as the present-day standard Ukrainian language, that also has formed in this region. The most widespread garment, inherited from the ancient Slavs, is a long shirt decorated with embroidered magic ornament with a waistband. Incidentally, embroidery is the major adornment of the traditional costume, and always enclosed certain information.
It allowed to "read" where the shirt came from (since each of the regions had its favorite combination of colors), gender (for instance, the sleeves of a female shirt were wide narrowing into a densely embroidered cuff at the wrist in contrast to a male chemise with sleeves often made straight), approximate age of an owner and function of the garment. In this postcard, the women wear black waistcoat over the shirt, red skirt (without apron) with the same kind of embroidery (with roses) as on the shirt's sleeves, black woven belt (krajka), and glass beads (necklaces).
The male clothes comprise white shirt, blue sharovary (baggy trousers), blue sleeveless jacket, waistband and red boots. The shirt, with embroidered collar and cuffs at the end of sleeves, is tucked into sharovary. It's cut on the middle of the chest, and has loops made of silk cord or ribbon for fastening.
About the stamps
The first six stamps, depicting European Ash / Fraxinus excelsior (0,30 UAH) Betula pendula / Betula pendula (0,70 UAH), European Rowan / Sorbus aucuparia (0,05 UAH), and Acacia (Locust) / Robinia pseudoacaсia (0,20 UAH) - are part of a large definitive stamps series about leaf and fruits, about which I wrote here.
The last stamp was issued on May 22, 2013, to commemorate 1150 Years of Slavonic Writing. In 863, Saints Cyril and Methodius, who had been sent by Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople to bring Christianity to Moravia, began the task of translating the Bible into the language now known as Old Church Slavonic. For the purpose of this mission, they devised the Glagolitic alphabet, the first alphabet to be used for Slavonic manuscripts, suited to match the specific features of the Slavic language. Its descendant script, the Cyrillic, is still used by many languages today.
This is a post for Sunday Stamps #132, run by Viridian from Viridian’s Postcard Blog. The theme of this week is anything you wish. Click on the button to visit Viridian’s blog and all the other participants.
References
Ukrainian culture - Wikipedia
Ukrainian Traditional Dress - My Ukraine
Sender: Elena Olimpieva (direct swap)
Sent from Mariupol (Donetsk / Ukraine), on 05.06.2013
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