Ukrainian Religious Gifts
-
-
Elaborate Pysanky eggs are traditional Easter gifts.
ukrainian eggs 2 image by Andrew Buckin from Fotolia.com
Ukrainian religious gifts are given at times of celebration or to ease sorrow. They are shared on church festival days and when a child is brought into the world. In the Ukraine, there is a mixture of Orthodox and Roman Catholic beliefs sprinkled with a good measure of ingrained paganism. Religious gifts are a treasured symbol of Ukrainian culture.
Painted Icons
-
Religious icons have been a part of the Ukrainian church for centuries. Some hang on the walls of churches, while others have an honored spot in the family living room. Usually painted on blocks of wood or carved, in some cases, the icons reflect pictures of angels, saints or of the crucifixion of Christ. Icons are presented to the parents of newborn children, to newlyweds and are set inside the coffins of loved ones. These religious paintings provide a focal point for prayer and comfort in difficult times.
Chotki Prayer Beads
-
Similar to the Roman Catholic rosary, the Chotki is a string of prayer beads used to keep track of the types and number of prayers. The word comes from the Slavonic language and means "knotted cord." The first Chotkis were pieces of cord with a series of knots tied along their lengths. Every so often, a larger or different style knot would be made to help the user keep track. Monks used sacks of pebbles or beads to count their prayers. Somehow, the two ideas melded and the beaded Chotki was born. They can have anywhere from 33 to 300 beads and usually end in a tassel or a cross. These prayer beads are given at christenings, confirmations, weddings and other religious celebrations.
Easter Gifts
-
Ukrainian Easter is celebrated by the exchanging of elaborately painted eggs called Pysanky. Before Christianity, these eggs were believed to have magical powers when painted with certain symbols. After the Christian religion was adopted, the decorations on the eggs changed to reflect doves and crosses and other symbols of the faith. Today Pysanky are a welcome sight in the Easter basket. Another Easter tradition is the baking and giving of round breads called paskas. These are decorated with shaped pieces of dough that, when baked, form crosses, flowers or birds. Paskas are put in the Easter basket to be presented as gifts or shared after church services.
-
Related Searches
References
Resources
- Photo Credit ukrainian eggs 2 image by Andrew Buckin from Fotolia.com
