Ukrainian Shawls

Shawls are not only for grandmothers. This accessory is now increasingly gaining popularity among fashionistas. It is not only worn on the head but also tied on bags and belts, woven into the hair, and slung over the shoulders.

Shawl is a women's accessory, that symbolizes affection, loyalty, love, sorrow, farewell, centuries-old traditions of the Ukrainian people. It's a talisman, a ritual object and has its own history. This is an integral part of Ukrainian cultural heritage.Our Ukrainian shawls attract all women in the world. Each region has its own traditions, customs and techniques of knitting methods, patterns and colors of the national headdress. At the times of Kyivan Rus, women used shawls as a headdress decorated with embroidery, which was tied or pinned under the chin.Since 2019 on December 7 Ukrainians celebrate the Day of shawls There was even an online flashmob "Put on Ukrainian shawls" on social networks, which was joined by students and teachers of our school.The shawl is an important ritual attribute, the meaning of which is still preserved. And because it is woven, rectangular, and covers the head. In a fairy tale, a shawl becomes a magical object, in a song it symbolizes true love, in a dream it means news, a courtship.According to the Ukrainian tradition, a woman had to have her head covered every day. Especially in cases where the man had to take off his hat or cap; in the house, in the church, at the funeral. Uncovered, unbraided women's hair is an ancient sign of belonging to the afterlife. Witches flew to their sabbaths with their hair down. Mermaids were represented as girls with flowing braids.The white color of the shawls is the most characteristic for Ukrainian women. Our ancestors once embroidered such accessories with silk, silver and gold. The ornament was mostly geometric until the 18th century, and since that time - with planted patterns. The white color itself was festive. Colorful shawls were borrowed from the southern Slavs, and they adopted the custom of wearing them from the Turks and Persians.However, a shawl is an attribute of a married woman. Once upon a time, girls had to walk with their heads uncovered - but with a ribbon or in a wreath, dropping colored ribbons on a braid. The girls wore shawls to protect themselves from the heat or cold.The girl "got" a shawl as a daily headdress during the wedding, when the rite of "covering the head" took place, it meant the transition to marital status.Girls who wanted to get married at Pokrova (October 14), when the real wedding season began, asked: "Pokrivonko, Pokrivonko, cover my head, Even a fabric, even a rag - let me not be a girl!"The shawl was used many times during the different ceremonies. For example, a girl tied a shawl to the young man's hand or plugged her belt - as a sign of consent to be his wife. Ukrainians in Cossack times had a custom: each girl gave an embroidered scarf to her fiancé, which symbolized true love. Before the construction of the house, the hands of craftsmen were tied with handkerchiefs. At the funeral, everyone was given handkerchiefs and candles. The deceased's eyes were covered with a shawl.The shawls still continue to be a used element in modern clothing. Our Ukrainian accessory was demonstrated by: • designer Olena Lourdes in her collection "Love Ukraine", as the main element, used "grandmother's shawl"; • and designer Olena Serebrova, in the Fall 2011 collection, coats and sundresses are made of scarf fabric. She called this material "cut".Even more, TV presenter Katya Osadcha presented a shawl to American pop star Madonna. The singer accepted this gift.