On August 24^th it’s the National Day of Ukraine! We appreciate all our amazing Ukrainian team members and we are very grateful, proud and happy to have you in our multicultural Nobel family!

Our lovely colleague Olexiy Tsymbalyuk kindly shared with us some interesting details about his home country, so please join us below in discovering fascinating aspects of the Ukrainian culture, cuisine, art, sports, nature, language and more.

Did you know that?

• One of the most common superstitions in Ukraine is to never shake hands over a threshold. In Ukrainian culture, shaking hands or passing anything over the threshold of a house is considered bad luck. This superstition is rooted in the belief that the threshold is home to the house’s spirits, and by interacting over it, you disturb them.
• A popular Ukrainian legend is The Legend of the Fern Flower: According to Ukrainian legend, the fern flower blooms for a very short time on the eve of Ivan Kupala Day (celebrated in early July). It is said to bring luck and knowledge to whoever finds it. However, it is also believed to be protected by evil spirits, making it a perilous plant.
• Besides the national Independence Day (August 24^th), Easter is a significant holiday where Ukrainians paint eggs (pysanký) and have special Easter dishes.
• The aforementioned Ivan Kupala Day, observed on July 7^th, is a pagan celebration of the summer solstice, where young people jump over fires and search for a mythical fern flower.
• Staple Ukrainian food dishes include:
  • Борщ (Borscht): The letter “t” in “Borscht” is silent, so it’s actually pronounced more like Bor-sh-ch. Although this is a beet soup, please do not call it ‘soup’ as it’s considered offensive. It’s often served with sour cream and thinly sliced lark. Horilka (aka vodka) is optional.
  • Вареники (Varenyky): Dumplings filled with various fillings like potato, cheese, or berries.
  • Голубці (Holubtsi): These are stuffed cabbage rolls usually filled with a mixture of minced meat (often pork) and rice, then baked in a tomato sauce.
• If you’re wondering about the most popular and trending music artists in Ukraine, here are just a few:
  • Океан Ельзи (Okean Elzy), translated as “Elza’s Ocean,” stands as the most renowned and acclaimed Ukrainian rock group. When they perform live, the band delivers shows that captivate their audience. In the media, Okean Elzy consistently garners praise from music experts. For over two decades, they’ve shaped the musical tastes of the younger generation with their distinct melodies and profound lyrics.
  • Бумбокс (Boombox) is a Ukrainian funky-groove band founded in 2004 in Kyiv by the vocalist Andriy Hlyvnyuk and guitarist Andriy “Fly” Samoylo. Their style is an amazing mix of hip-hop, reggae and jazz. Their songs are written mostly in Ukrainian, but a couple of tracks are sung in Russian and English.
  • Go_A is a Ukrainian electro-folk band first formed in 2012 and was set to represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with the song “Solovey”.
• Mykola Lysenko is the father of Ukrainian classical music, and his works are an embodiment of Ukrainian national identity. Contemporary artists like Jamala have also made significant contributions, with her winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016.
• In Ukraine, football is arguably the most loved sport, and the Ukrainian national football team enjoys widespread support. Football clubs like Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk have passionate fan bases.
• Among individual athletes, Andriy Shevchenko, a retired footballer who played as a striker, is widely admired. His performances at both the club and international levels have endeared him to fans, and he continues to be a prominent figure in Ukrainian football, also he is the head coach of the national team.
• In other sports, the Klitschko brothers, Vitaliy and Volodymyr, have achieved significant fame in boxing and are highly respected in Ukraine. While the Klitschko brothers are renowned for their boxing prowess and are considered national heroes in Ukraine, they have also become subjects of humorous memes and jokes.
• Taras Shevchenko is the most revered figure in Ukrainian literature, known for his poetry collection “Kobzar”. His works have become symbolic of Ukraine’s spirit and struggle for independence.
• Serhiy Korolyov, often known as the “Chief Designer”, was a key figure in the Soviet space program and played a pivotal role in launching the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space.
• Kazymyr Malevich, though of Polish origin, was born in Kyiv and is known for founding the Suprematist movement. His painting “Black Square” is one of the most famous in modern art.
• Sergei Parajanov, with Armenian heritage but born in Tbilisi and later moved to Kyiv, is known for his unique cinematic style. His film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” is a masterpiece that draws heavily on Ukrainian culture.
• Some of the most beautiful places in Ukraine can be found in:
  • Kyiv: Home to magnificent cathedrals like St. Sophia’s and stunning monasteries like Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
  • Lviv: Known for its charming old town, cobblestone streets, and vibrant coffee culture.
  • Odesa: Famous for its Potemkin Stairs and stunning opera house. The beaches along the Black Sea are also lovely.
  • Carpathian Mountains: Ideal for hiking, skiing, and experiencing traditional mountain life.
  • Chernivtsi: Known for its beautiful university building, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Tunnel of Love: A romantic and lush green tunnel formed by trees along a railway line near the town of Klevan.
• Ukrainians have a deep appreciation for singing, and the Ukrainian language, known for its melodic qualities, is often compared to the beautiful voice of the nightingale, a small bird that can be found throughout Ukraine.
• The guelder rose (viburnum) is a national symbol, but it also grows in other regions. Another significant plant is the sunflower (or “soniashnyk”), which is also considered Ukraine’s national flower, cultivated for its seeds, which are eaten as a snack, or crushed into oil, a key ingredient in cooking and an export product of vital importance.
• Some Ukrainian artists and artisans recommended by our colleague Olexiy are:
  • Anatoliy Kryvolap: A famous contemporary painter known for his vibrant landscapes.
  • Oleksandr Roytburd: An artist who blends various styles, known for his unique interpretations of classical themes.
  • Mykola Babak: A sculptor who creates incredible bronze works.
  • Pysanky Artisans: Ukraine is famous for “Pysanky,” intricate hand-painted Easter eggs. Many local artisans keep this tradition alive.
• If you want to have a taste of the Ukrainian language, we leave you below with some special words and some curiously weird expressions with their meanings explained by our team member Olexiy:
  • Запорожець (Zaporòzhets): It’s both a name for a Cossack from the Zaporizhian Sich and a name of a Soviet-era compact car.
  • Паляниця (Palyanýtsya): A traditional type of Ukrainian bread. It’s often used for ceremonial occasions and can be elaborately decorated. This bread carries symbolic meaning, representing life and well-being.
  • Гуцул (Hutsùl): Refers to the inhabitants of the Carpathian Mountains in Ukraine. They have a distinct culture, including traditional dress, music, and crafts.
  • Кобзар (Kobzàr): Historically, a kobzar was a Ukrainian bard who sang to the accompaniment of a multi-stringed instrument called the kobza. These bards often sang epic ballads known as dumas.
  • Писанка (Pýsanka): Refers to the beautifully decorated Easter eggs made using a wax-resist method. Each region in Ukraine has its own distinct styles and patterns.
  • Хоч в око стрель! (Khoch v oko strel’!): Literal translation of this phrase is “Even if you shoot me in the eye!” and it refers to absolute, pitch black darkness. It’s that dark even if someone shots in front of you, you won’t notice.
  • Бити байдики (Bytý baidyký): Translates as “To beat the drums.” and it means “to tell useless tales, or being idle”.
  • Дати дуба (Datý dùba): Literal translation: “To give an oak.” Meaning: “To faint or to die” (used humorously, not considered offensive).