Ukrainian folklore
Distinctiveness
Ukrainian folk customs have numerous layers defined by the period in which that aspect developed and the area in which it was exploited. The lowest and oldest level is the pan-Slavic layer of folk culture which has many elements that are common to the Slavic people in general. Above that are elements common to the Eastern Slavs, and above that are elements found only in Ukraine itself. The layer above this contains cultural and folkloric elements that define the various micro-groups of the Ukrainian ethos such as the Boykos, Cossacks, Hutsuls, Lemkos, Lyshaks, Podolians and Rusyns.
Folk beliefs
Folk customs
Ukrainian folk customs and rites were rituals connected with the calendar and with the course of human life. They were often accompanied by religious ceremonies,
- familial customs and rites - which consist of birth, wedding, and burial rites
- seasonal-productive customs and rites - which are tied to tasks
- communal customs and rites - which mark certain events in the life of the community
Folk customs have undergone many changes in Ukraine as modern culture was introduced. Under the
Folk dances
Dance has existed in Ukraine as a ritual since ancient times, but it was mostly absorbed by Christianity and blended with Christian rituals.
Folk songs
Ukrainian folk songs can be divided into four basic groups:[8]
- ritual songs - such as Kupala festivalsongs
- harvest songs and wedding songs
- historical songs and political songs - such as ballads
- lyrical songs - such as family songs, social class songs, and love songs
Ukrainian folk songs contain an abundance of
Folk songs have provided inspiration for many
Folk tales
"Kazka" (Ukrainian: казка) is the Ukrainian word for fairy tale. There are common motifs in Ukrainian folk tales, with many involving animals.[9] While many Ukrainian folk tales bear influence from cultural exchange with the greater pan-Slavic culture, they retain their unique Ukrainian character and identity.[10][11][12][13] Many Ukrainian fairy tales developed during a time when people were farmers and hunters, with children growing up around "fierce animals roaming the forests" that could be dangerous.[14] Additionally, children had to learn early the importance of caring for animals and crops because failure meant going hungry until the next year.[14]
Ukrainian folk tales have provided inspiration for numerous works of art. Many Ukrainian kazkas have been retold in Ukrainian animation, with folklore identified as a key trait of Ukrainian animation.[15] The first Ukrainian animation in 1927 was the retelling of one such kazka, "The Fairy Tale of the Straw Bull.".[16] They remain an inspiration for many artists today. Children's author Jan Brett's English language retelling of the Ukrainian fairy tale, "The Mitten", has become a bestselling classic.[17] The development of Ukrainian folk tales has also been subject to academic analysis.[18]
See also
References
- ^ Ukraine Cultural life Encyclopædia Britannica.
- Encarta Encyclopedia.
- ^ Agrarian and Calendar Rituals. Ukrainian Traditional Folklore. University of Alberta.
- ^ Folk customs connected with birth at the Encyclopedia of Ukraine.
- ^ a b Folk customs and rites at the Encyclopedia of Ukraine.
- ^ Folk dance at the Encyclopedia of Ukraine.
- ^ Dress at the Encyclopedia of Ukraine.
- ^ a b c Folk songs at the Encyclopedia of Ukraine.
- ^ "КАЗКА. Михайло Грушевський. Історія української літератури. Том 1". litopys.org.ua. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ "Ukrainian Folk Tales | Fairytalez.com". FairyTalez. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ "Ukrainian Fairy Tales, Folk Tales and Fables". Milena Rampoldi. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ Warman, Sara Cleto and Brittany (2022-03-08). "The Fairy Tales of Ukraine". The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ "Ukrainian Fairy Tales". Ukraine.com. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
- ^ OCLC 34596952.
- OCLC 1152554743.
- OCLC 1153412354.
- ^ "TeachingBooks | The Mitten: A Ukrainian Folktale". www.teachingbooks.net. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ISBN 979-8-88862-819-5, retrieved 2023-05-01
Further reading
- Oprelianska, Alina (2022). "Marriage is Not Required: A Ukrainian Tale about 'The Mare's Head' and Customary Law in Tale Type ATU 480 D*". Folklore. 133 (3): 289–310. .