Features
International media flock to the Dnipro River in the frozen month of January to witness the hardy and the faithful jump into the frosty waters. Known as winter walruses in some parts of the world, these swimmers are not simply executing a dare made over a shot of vodka. The nineteenth of January marks the end of the Christmas season for Ukrainians following the Julian calendar and commemorates the baptism of Christ by John in the River Jordan. In Ukraine, the date also marks the arrival of Christianity in the ancient Kyivan Russia.
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Pysanky eggs may garner the share of the artistic spotlight around the world when a traveler considers Ukrainian art, but the art of woodcarving can be traced to the heydays of the Cossack state in the 17th and 18th centuries. Indeed, wood sculpture reached a heady climax when talented Cossacks created their own unique artistic style – the Cossack Baroque. Practical, yet ornamental, the work of Cossack and later, Hutsul artisans, incorporated natural imagery of grapevine stems, sunflowers, and roses with figures of saints and angels into furniture, chests, plates and dishes.
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Ukraine’s tourist offerings once consisted of mail-order brides and visits to the remains of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Missing the tourism boat that cities like Prague, Krakow, and Budapest hopped on years ago, Ukraine was a country without potential. Oh, what a difference a few years of independence and a rich history makes, however.
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So, you have plotted your travel map, booked your flight, and researched the sights you want to see on your trip to Ukraine. Your bag may be packed, but a crash course in Ukrainian customs and attitudes is essential. Being culturally astute and prepared will ensure a joyful trip.
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On nights when the moon shines like a golden orb in the night sky, when the breeze coming off the lake grazes your face like a ghost, when a lake’s whispers sound almost human, be careful. You may not be alone. Rusalkas, the Ukrainian mermaid, formed from the bodies of girls or young women who have drowned or children died without the sacrament of baptism, may be nearby.
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Ghosts and graveyards, tales of ancient paranormal visitors and things that go bump in the night are the bread and butter of tourist destinations like England and Wales, but in Ukraine, the long-departed are more selective with their nocturnal visits. Olesko Castle, in particular, harbors a number of spiritual visitors.
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Motivated by preparations for the Euro 2012 football championships and charged with the possibility of cross-border trade with European Union countries, Lviv’s chamber of commerce, founded by decree by Franz Joseph, the emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the oldest in Ukraine, and is in the forefront of economic prosperity. Construction, tourism, and recreation are the driving economic forces behind Lviv’s bid to be a major area of international economic activity in Eastern Europe.
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Ukraine, historically home to Christian belief, has another religious story to tell. Dating back to the 15th century, the Crimean Tatars of Turkic descent spread the Muslim faith through the southern region of Ukraine. Affiliated with the Sunni branch of Islam, by the 18th century, over 18 mosques and educational institutions thrived until invasions and wars drove believers from the region.
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