Searching for interesting/funny questions about the Ukraine and customs/traditions

[Christian2]

Dear everyone

A good friend of mine (who is German) is marrying a girl from the Ukraine. Usually some games are played here during a wedding with the bride and the groom as participants.
We were preparing a game that is working like a quiz show. We want to ask some question about a German or Ukrainian fact/tradition/custom that is interesting or funny.

It is easy for us to come up with some questions regarding Germany (since we are German) but we don't know anything about the Ukraine.

I was wondering if some of you know some things that might be interesting or funny to ask about. Be it politics, typical clothing, sports, food, tradition, customs, history, country, land, people....

I would really appreciate your help,
Christian

[Serhii]

Hi Christian,

Thank you very much for a wonderful question. Traditional Ukrainian wedding is a real performance , and people still say “to play wedding”. So any kind of games would be welcome.

I think you could steal a bride or her shoe ( hope you have the same custom).

Remember about special wedding towels – it would be unforgettable for them.

Especially funny are short rhymes which ones you say when giving wedding presents. You can take some coins and them drop them on a plate and say” We give you some copper in order you never won’t poor” ( In Ukrainian it is a traditional rhyme – Daryjemo vam trokhy midi shcob ne byuly wy bidni )

Then ( only in a friendly and merry company ! ) you could present a bride a pair of onions. If she is Ukrainian girl indeed ,she will recognize the joke immediately. In Ukrainian the rhyme is ‘Daryjemo tzybuli shcob ne davala svekrusi duli ’. But traditionally people say only first part of it – the ending is known for everyone, It means literally – we give you some onions in order you won’t give you mother-in-law combinations from 3 fingers. But again, be careful ! It is very traditional and for very traditional company.

You can write your own rhymes in German and say them aloud when giving different funny things. It will be very Ukrainian tradition .

I recommend you to visit a specialized site on Ukrainian traditions where you can find more info . It works in English and you can ask those excellent people any questions as well.

Thank you again ! You are really a good friend. Hello from Ukraine.


Ukrainian Traditional Folklore