Hi 🙂

we are very glad that we,

pupils from Zaporizkiy Sichoviy colegium

can introduce you our country,

Ukraine

and we are really happy

to be the members of great team of

eTwinners

We are happy to meet you thanks to our creative project

“A World Without Borders”

We are engaged and ready  to share what we know about our country because:

• it is really unique
• you will not be dissapointed
• it is worth doing

We try to develop:

• XXI century skills
• critical thinking skills
• cognitive flexibility

We are going to use:

• cooperation
• collaboration
• curiosity

Ukraine

Ukraine is a sovereign state; its independence was proclaimed in 1991. Ukraine is situated in the east of Europe. The territory of Ukraine is 603 700 square kilometres. Ukraine borders on Russia, Belarus, Poland, Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. It’s washed by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and has very important ports. Ukraine is larger than France and Great Britain but considerably smaller than Russia. 5% of Ukraine’s territory is mountainous; the rest part of the Ukrainian area is flat. Ukraine has the Carpathians and the Crimean Mountains. The Carpathians is the natural mountainous boundary of Ukraine. They are covered with mixed forests of pine, fir, beech and oak trees. There are the thickest forests in Volyn, which are part of the famous Byelovezhskaya Puscha.

The Dnieper is the main river of the country; moreover, it’s the third longest river in Europe. Such rivers as the Dniester, the Danube, the Southern Bug and the Seversky Donets are also important.

The population of our country is about 46 million people. Besides Ukrainians the representatives of many other nationalities live there: Russians, Jews, Belarusians, Moldavians, Romanians, Greeks, Tatars, Poles, Armenians, Germans, Gypsies and other ethnic minorities. They contributed to Ukraine’s culture and history.

The biggest cities of Ukraine are Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk, Odessa, Mykolaiv and others.

Ukraine is developed industrial and agricultural country. It’s rich in iron ore, coal, natural gas, oil, salt and other mineral resources. Ukraine has such branches of industry as metallurgy, machine-building, power industry, chemical industry and agriculture. Scientists of Ukraine make their contributions of important discoveries and inventions to the world science.

Ukraine has a rich historical and cultural heritage. There are many higher educational establishments, theatres, libraries, museums, art galleries in Ukraine. It’s also famous for many outstanding writers, poets and musicians.

Ukraine is a member of the United Nation Organization and takes part in the work of many international organizations.

National Ukrainian symbols: origin and meaning

Ukrainian State Flag

Ukrainian State Flag has two fesses; their colors are blue and yellow.

From the earliest times Ukraine was considered as an agricultural country with fertile ground, so the blue color symbolizes clear sky and the yellow color symbolizes fields of wheat.

https://amazing-ukraine.com/en/flags-yellow-blue-flip-ukrainian-flag/

Ukrainian National State Emblem

The official Ukrainian coat of arms is Tryzub. It is a gold trident on an azure background. This national symbol dates back to Kievan Rus’ times, when the tryzub was the Rurik dynasty coat of arms.

This symbol was stamped on silver and gold coins which were issued by Prince Volodymyr the Great in X century.

For many centuries Ukrainian trident was used as a religious symbol, it appeared not only on coins but also on the church bricks and tiles. Tryzub could also be seen on ancient Ukrainian weapons, ceramics, seals, manuscripts and medallions.

In 1918 trident was adopted as the Ukrainian coat of arms by the government of Ukrainian National Republic. In 1921 the symbol lost its significance because of the Soviet Russia authority exercising over Ukraine. Only in 1992 after the restoration of Ukraine’s independence the trident was accepted as the National State Emblem.

Ukrainian National Anthem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdH1d1UMKPE

National Anthem of Ukraine are the first stanza and the refrain of the song ‘Shche ne vmerla Ukraina’ (‘Ukraine has not yet perished’). The poem ‘Shche ne vmerla Ukraina’ was written by Ukrainian ethnographer and poet Pavlo Chubynskyi in 1862. This poem caught the attention of Mykhailo Verbytskyi, a priest, who composed music for it in 1863. The song was performed in the Ukraine Theatre in Lvov in 1864 as a choral work. It was very popular among the Ukrainian intelligentsia of the time, but it was not officially declared as a national anthem. Therefore the song was adopted as an anthem of Carpatho-Ukraine Republic during the Second World War.

‘Shche ne vmerla Ukraina’ became the official anthem of Ukraine only after the dissolution of USSR.

In 1992 the music was adopted by government; however, the lyrics (slightly changed) were adopted only in 2003.

https://amazing-ukraine.com/en/a-short-history-of-the-ukrainian-greeting-slava-ukrayini/

Zaporizkiy Sichoviy Colegium

Our school was founded in 1992. It is a boarding school for talented children from the rural districts of Zaporizhzhian district. Initially the aim of its creation was to preserve national traditions and help talented children to find their own way of self-development. More than 470 pupils study here.

In our school we respect  customs and traditions of our nation.All pupils since the 5th form are engaged into various projectts and research activities.The very first project for us is

“Family Tree”. We discover our family roots, get to know more about relatives and aquaint with each other.

https://zski.com.ua/

Ukraine is the largest state in Europe
Ukraine, the largest state situated entirely in Europe, appeared on the map of the world in 1991. It was quickly recognized by the international community. It has an area of 603,628 km2, making it the largest contiguous country on the European continent

Ukraine is geographic center of Europe

The geographic center of Europe is on the territory of Ukraine not far from Rakhiv in Zakarpatia oblast. As far back as 1887, experts of Austria Hungary had determined this point, stele and land-surveying sign marking it. In Latin, the following words were engraves there: LОСUS РЕRЕNNІS. Dilicentissime cum lіbеllа lіbrаtіоnіs guае еst іп Аustrіа еt Нungаrіа соnfесtа сum mеnsurа grаdum mеrіdіоnаlіum еt раrаllеlоumіеrum Еurореum. МD ССС LХХХVІІ, “that translated state such a thing: “Permanent, exact, and eternal place. Very precisely, using special apparatus made in Austria and Hungary, with scale of meridians and parallels, set the Center of Europe. 1887.

World’s First Constitution

In 1710, Ukrainian Hetman Pylyp Orlyk introduced “Pacts and Constitutions of Rights and Freedoms of the Zaporizhian Host”, at that time a super-progressive document which meant to separate powers into three branches and regulate the rights and responsibilities of the government and citizens. Some researchers believe that this document is one of the world’s first constitutions. For example, U.S. Constitution was adopted in 1787 and French and Polish in 1791.

“Carol of the Bells” is a Ukrainian folk song

One of the most famous Christmas songs “Schedryk” (a folk song written by a Ukrainian composer, Mykola Leontovich) is known to the rest of the world as “Carol of the Bells” or “Ring Christmas Bells”. Based on an old Ukrainian folk song, the original lyrics describe a swallow flying into a household to proclaim the plentiful year that the family will have. The song’s title is derived from the Ukrainian word “shchedryi” which means “bountiful.” The folk melody was sung in many Ukrainian villages.
The song has been used many times in the soundtracks for films and television.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HERnFfbcIxY&feature=youtu.be

One of the world’s most famous songs “Summertime” is inspired by an old Ukrainian lullaby
George Gershwin wrote one of the world’s most famous songs, “Summertime”

https://youtu.be/MIDOEsQL7lA,

after being inspired by an old Ukrainian lullaby called “Oi Khodyt Son Kolo Vikon” (The Dream Passes by the Windows)

https://youtu.be/kMG9K9YDGFA

performed by the Ukrainian National Chorus. And it’s not surprise because parents of George Gershwin were from Odessa (Ukraine).

Lyrics “Oi Khodyt Son Kolo Vikon”
(The Dream Passes by the Windows)

The Dream passes by the window,
And Sleep by the fence.
The Dream asks Sleep:
“Where should we rest tonight?”

Where the house is warm,
Where the child is small,
There we will go,
And rock the child to sleep.

There we will sleep,
and will rock the child:
Sleep, sleep, my little falcon,
Sleep, sleep, my little dove.

Ukraine is a 4th educated nation in the world

Ukraine is a 4th educated nation in the world: 99.4% of Ukrainians aged 15 and over can read and write. 70% of adult Ukrainians have a secondary or higher education. Ukraine has about 150 colleges and universities, of which the most important are at Kiev, Lviv, and Kharkiv. There are about 70,000 scholars in 80 research institutes.

Ukrainian Holidays and Traditions

he history of Ukraine comes from far ancient times. There are lots of celebrations in Ukraine that symbolize beauty, heartfulness and joy of living. Saint Valentine’s Day, Maslenitsa, the holiday of winter seeing off, International Women’s Day, Easter with beautifully colored eggs, Victory Day, Holy Trinity, Constitution Day and many other holidays are celebrated every year. An important place is occupied by festivals and celebrations that embody the soul of the people, national characteristics and traditions of Ukrainians. They diversify and enliven everyday life, providing the opportunity to relax, to get inspiration and to show the elegance of Ukrainian traditions.

New Year

is a wonderful time to relax. New Year celebrations have long been a tradition in many countries of the world including Ukraine. Staying for the New Year in Ukraine may be one of the brightest events. The holiday of New Year in Ukraine will give you a wonderful opportunity to go on an interesting journey around the country. This holiday is closely connected with folk festivals, various national plays, and, of course, with an amusement. You can feel yourself as a part of frosty fairy story.

Christmas Holy Night

is celebrated on the 6^th of January. Both adults and children are looking forward to Christmas celebration. It brings a lot of joy, fun, sweets, calm, peace and hope for a better future. Traditional Orthodox Christmas dish is kutia. It stands in the middle of the table among 11 courses dishes. Everyone knows that it is necessary to prepare 12 dishes for Holly Supper. Only in Ukraine, this holiday can be felt as it was a long time ago, in the days of distant Slavic ancestors.

Easter

is one of the brightest spring holidays. Easter doesn’t have a certain date of celebration, but it is definitely on Sunday. This day is associated with many interesting customs and traditions: colored eggs and special bakery products – paski, greetings and religious ceremonies. It’s a family holiday, so all the members should gather around the Easter table, and that means that the family will stay together all round the year. You may learn to make traditional Ukrainian Easter Eggs on a Pysanka workshop with a professional artist.

Holy Trinity Day

is often called a Green Sunday in Ukraine. All the houses are decorated with branches, flowers and fragrant herbs, because plants are a symbol of life. By this time, everything is in blossom and nature finally wakes up. This holiday is traditionally celebrated in Pirogovo museum.

On the night from the 6^th to the 7^th of July the ancient holiday of Ivana Kupala (or Midsummer) is celebrated. This hoary folk festival of Midsummer is widely celebrated in Ukraine. It has ancient pagan roots. Midsummer Day is filled with rituals associated with water, fire and herbs: bonfires, wreaths, bathing. In many Ukrainian villages, the holiday still has its sacred value. You can feel the festive atmosphere of Ivana Kupala and even participate in the traditional celebrations in the Kievan Rus Park.

The 24^th of August, an Independence Day of Ukraine, is an important state holiday. It is not just a tribute to tradition, but the opportunity to prove the power of patriotism. Independence Day is a proud national holiday, which marks the unity, strength of will and spirit of Ukrainian people. Every corner of the country is full of festive events and concerts dedicated to Independence Day. Numerous exciting concert programs in national style, fairs, exhibitions, wonderful festive feasts, and different dishes of national Ukrainian cuisine, games, and other entertainments are held. Culmination of the celebration is a spectacular sparkling firework.

Ukrainian Traditional Costumes

https://amazing-ukraine.com/en/secret-ancestral-codes-12-main-symbols-in-ukrainian-embroidery/?fbclid=IwAR2b6R7Idb9hApHpXSL1l0efG080wp__uxtRupcIXLbGd76HC7qgIQVlnxg

Common features of traditional Ukrainian clothing

Traditional Ukrainian apparel — the roots of which trace back to the times of Kievan Rus — has many stylistic varieties. Its look depends on the ethnographic region, even though a homemade shirt, made of homespun cloth, has always constituted the basis for both male and female wardrobes. The main feature of this shirt (vyshyvanka) is the embroidery on the neck, cuffs and hem.

       

Ukrainian National Cuisine

Ukrainians love to eat. It’s a deep-rooted tradition. Of course, the Ukrainian kitchen has its hallmark dishes. A few years ago Ukrainians from around the world took to the Internet and selected ten of their favorite national dishes from a list of 3600 recipes.

Salo with Garlic

In first place, without a doubt, is salo with garlic. Salo is a traditional Ukrainian snack that doesn’t sound that appetizing if you think about what it really is — a cut of pure, raw fat from the back of a pig. But it’s really tasty, especially if it’s cured in salt or smoked, on a piece of dark bread, and with a thin slice of garlic. Historically, salo was an important part of the Ukrainian diet because of its high energy content.

Home-made sausage, kovbasa

At a time when every rural Ukrainian family had pigs and chickens, meat was constantly on the table. This tradition prevails today, in cities and villages alike. The aromatic home-made Ukrainian sausage, known as kovbasa, is substantially better than store-bought sausage. To prepare it, thin casings are stuffed with ground meats, fats, and spices. Afterwards, it’s customary to either bake it in the oven or, if you’re in a hurry, fry it up on a pan.

Varenyky with sauerkraut or potato

It would be impossible to imagine Ukrainian food without varenyky. Varenyky, known more commonly in the English-speaking world by the name of their Polish counterpart, Pierogi, are small dumplings stuffed with a potentially unlimited selection of ingredients. They are a food loved for every occasion. The most traditional stuffing is sauerkraut or mashed potatoes and they are usually topped with sour cream or fried onions. Ukrainians also love sweet varenyky, most popularly stuffed with sour cherries.

Kholodets

This cold snack is made of meat gelatin. To make it, meat broth has to boil for a very long time, often mixed with onions, carrots, and bay leaves. Its readiness is checked when fingers are dipped in the broth — if they come out sticky, the broth is ready. Then, the bones are taken out of the broth, which is poured into some sort of mold. When it’s refrigerated, the broth hardens into a gelatin that is tasty with mustard or horseradish

Borshch

Borshch is probably the most recognized Ukrainian dish. There are more than 300 types of borshch, and even if two cooks make it out of the same ingredients, it will end up tasting differently anyway. Ukrainian borshch is a type of soup usually prepared with cabbage, potatoes, carrots, onions, parsley, and many, many beets, the main thing that gives borshch its distinct dark red color

Potato pancakes, deruny

Potato pancakes, or deruny as they’re known in Ukraine, are a popular dish that likely were invented in neighboring Belarus. They are prepared from finely-shredded raw potatoes mixed with eggs and flour. They are then fried in a well-oiled griddle, where the potato batter is poured to form golden-brown pancakes. A favorite topping is sour cream.

Kapusniak

Kapusniak is a dish loved by the Zaporizhian Cossacks. It’s a soup made from freshly-brined sauerkraut and fatty bacon, sometimes ground together with flour.

Cheese crepes, nalysnyky

Ukrainian crepes are an elegant and delicate food. Known as nalysnyky, the Ukrainian way of preparing crepes can include any of a number of fillings, the most popular of which is soft cheese. Berries are a favorite too, for dessert, or meat and mushrooms for lunch. As you would guess, they’re also usually topped with sour cream.

Pork and buckwheat

Meat from a suckling pig was always a rare treat for Ukrainians, since it didn’t come cheap. This dish is prepared today only for the biggest feasts, like weddings. The suckling pig, no bigger than four pounds, is fully roasted then stuffed with buckwheat and onions.

Apple pie

The idiom “American as apple pie” doesn’t apply to Ukraine, though there’s plenty that make the Ukrainian variation unique. The filling is made from apples, nuts, and sugar, and more recently, cinnamon. The dough is traditionally yeasty and fluffy, but a strudel-like crispy or flaky crust is also accepted. The dough is put in a pan, stuffed, and covered with a decorative layer of dough, then baked until golden-brown

Sources of informaton

• https://www.facebook.com/pg/MeanwhileUA/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1833209266904020
• http://ukrainianchi.com/top-10-ukrainian-dishes/
• https://greentourua.com/ukrainian-holidays-and-traditions/
• https://amazing-ukraine.com/en/a-short-history-of-the-ukrainian-greeting-slava-ukrayini/
• http://ukraine-insight.com.ua/interesting_facts_Ukraine.html
• http://proudofukraine.com/national-ukrainian-symbols-origin-and-meaning/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdH1d1UMKPE

Thank you for attention!