Viva Ukraine 10, January 2015

№10, JANUARY 2015

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MAGAZINE

How New Year is celebrated in different countries of the world Top 5 Christmas trees in the world «Ukraine - together» An embroidered map of Ukraine has finished its journey

Christmas trees in patriotic style

www.ua-chance.com.ua Join us, share your view of the chance in Ukraine which is in the process of changing, and make your own contribution to changes for the best.

№10, January 2015

INSIDE:

Ukrainian Cossacks have taken part in the international horse show in London...............................................................

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The action «Buy Ukrainian» started in the United States.......

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Kharkiv citizens set a world record in memorizing.................

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Christmas trees in patriotic style..............................................

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Costume race of St. Nicholas..................................................

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How New Year is celebrated in different countries of the world...........................................................................................

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Santa Clauses’ race in Kharkiv................................................

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The most elegant New Year’s Eve..........................................

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New Year’s Eve in LA Dance School......................................

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Top 5 Christmas trees in the world...........................................

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«Ukraine - together». An embroidered map of Ukraine has finished its journey.....................................................................

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Photo project «Shchyri» (“Sincere”)........................................

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«The Bride of War» from Ukraine for «Miss Universe 2014».....

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Social and political magazine №10, January 2014 license No20601-10401Р of 28.03.2014

Founder and Chief Editor Butt Umair Ahmad The published materials express their authors’ point of view that may not coincide with the editorial team’s official standpoint.

The editorial team does not carry responsibility for the content of advertisements.

The magazine is published in Ukrainian and English.

Some copies are distributed through diplomatic missions of foreign states in Ukraine and embassies of Ukraine in different countries of the world.

Translated by Natasha Pradan.

Circulation: 10 000 copies The telephone numbers of the editorial office: +380 577816557 +380 949779557 www.viva-ukraine.com info@viva-ukraine.com

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Ukrainian Cossacks have taken part in the international horse show in London The team of Kyiv riders «Ukrainian Cossacks» have performed at the International Horse Show 2014 Olympia in London. This year, the traditional horse show in the British capital has been held from December 16 to December 22. Eleven Ukrainian Cossacks have been demonstrating their art to the London audience for seven days.

As the Equestrian Federation of Ukraine reminds, Christmas Olympia Horse Show CSI-W 5 * London was first held in London in 1972. Today Olympia gathers over 80 thousand visitors who come to see fantastic tricks by the best horses and athletes.

The equestrian show «Ukrainian Cossacks» is the only team in Ukraine, which works in a similar genre. The repertoire of the equestrian theater consists of performing tricks and exercises that were used by Cossack warriors who lived in Ukraine in 15-18 centuries and who was an integral part of the Ukrainian history.

The team has visited more than 20 countries in Europe. In

2006, the equestrian theater came to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), where it successfully performed at the finals of the Show Jumping World Cup. The theater immediately received many invitations to various stages of World Cups around the world.

This year the horse show «Ukrainian Cossacks» has celebrated its 26-th birthday.

The riders took part in filming of a number of famous movies as stuntmen: Y. Hoffmann’s «With Fire and Sword», «The Chorna Rada» by N. Zaseiev, «Sorochyntsy Fair» by S. Horov , «The House of Flying Daggers» by a Chinese director Zhang Yimou, «Taras Bulba» by V. Bortko.

In addition, the group participated in music videos «The Dawn» by Olena Vinnytska, «Kateryna» by the group «BB», «The Foreigner» by Valerii Meladze, «L.M.L.» by VIAGRA, clips

by Ani Lorak and other performers, not to mention numerous commercials of various companies. The organizer of the group and its undisputed leader is Oleg Yurchyshyn.

The photos of the equestrian stunts were published on the page Olympia, The London International Horse Show in Facebook.

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№10, January 2015

The action «Buy Ukrainian» started in the United States The project «Buy Ukrainian» was launched in the United States, its purpose being to encourage Ukrainians in the US and Americans in general to buy Ukrainian products.

It was reported by the Ukrainian expatriate community’s media portal VIDIA with reference to the project initiator Oleksandr Remez: «Supporting the Ukrainian economy in this way is no less important than aiding the army. The aim of the project is to let Ukrainian goods be sold in all US

project proponents are encouraged to cooperate Ukrainian producers.

The project has an additional charitable purpose: part of the earnings is supposed to be spent to help the Ukrainian army.

From December 20 to 23 Buy Ukrainian held a presentation near the Ukrainian Church of St. Nicholas in Passaic, New Jersey. During the presentation Ukrainian goods were offered at a discounted price. After Passaic Buy Ukrainian will go to New York, Philadelphia and Washington.

commercial networks».

Buy Ukrainian offers Ukrainian food, clothes, books and other items with free delivery throughout the United States. And on February 1, they plan to start shipping worldwide. Currently they are offering products made by over 70 manufacturers. This

Kharkiv citizens set a world record in memorizing According to the press service of Kharkiv City Council, on December 14 Kharkiv citizens Oleksii Bessonov and Yevhen Ivanov set a Guinness record for memorizing.

Oleksii Bessonov remembered the sequence of 180 colors (6 minutes) faster than everybody else in the world. He also set a record for memorizing the periodic table: it took him 20 minutes 15 seconds to remember the serial number of the elements, their names, symbols, weight to two decimal places, the group number and the period of the elements.

Yevhen Ivanov memorized the sequence of 100 colored figures showed to him before, which took him 20 minutes. It took the man another 20 minutes to correctly call 148 days of the week that corresponded the dates he was told.

The record-holders of the Guinness World Records are the current champions of Ukraine for memorizing large amounts of information and leaders of Kharkiv Memory Development Center.

According to Oleksii Bessonov, all the records were videotaped and documented in accordance with the standards of the Guinness Book of Records. All the materials will be sent to its headquarters; there the decision on the records’ validity will be made.

We shall remind you that the records were set in two stages — on December 13 and 14 - in National University “Yaroslav the Wise Law Academy of Ukraine”. In addition, the university held the championship for speedcubing, which was attended by 119 people from Ukraine, Russia and Armenia.

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Christmas trees in patriotic style Ukrainians living abroad are invited to join the campaign Christmas Trees for Ukraine and decorate the Christmas tree at home in patriotic style. According to media portal of Ukrainian expatriates VIDIA, a community has appeared in Facebook, and it is suggested that members of the Ukrainian expatriate community post photos of their patriotic Christmas trees there.

«Last year the main Christmas tree of Ukraine at Euromaidan became a global symbol of the revolution, when the protesters decorated it with flags and banners. Many of us honored the spirit of that tree in our own homes, decorating Christmas trees at home with Ukrainian and European symbols and colors. Together we wanted Yanukovych to leave, and soon after Christmas our desire came true,» the arrangers, the community Euromaidan Art & Graphics remember.

They point out that despite all the difficulties and losses of the last year courageous Ukrainian soldiers and volunteers continue to fight the aggressor in Eastern Ukraine. For their sake, and for the independence of Ukraine, Ukrainians all over the world should once again make a common wish - peace for Ukraine.

“This Christmas, when decorating your Christmas tree, think about men, women and children of Ukraine. Make a wish for Ukraine. Share a photo and your wish using the tag # ChristmasWish4Ukraine,” the arrangers ask.

The campaign will last until January 7.

We shall remind you that last year the folk Christmas tree from Maidan Nezalezhnosti became a trend of New Year’s celebrations. It was copied in offices, multiplied on T-shirts and magnets.

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Costume race of St. Nicholas The time of Christmas holidays is a time of goodness and miracles. The protector of good deeds and everything that happens in this period is St. Nicholas who takes care of children.

It is he who brings gifts to adults and kids. This year by taking part in the race of St. Nicholas anyone could create a small miracle.

On December 2 a charity costume race of St. Nicholas was held in Kyiv near the central Christmas tree of the country at Sofiiska Square. This was reported on December 22 by the press service of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

For cool weather is surely not a reason to give up leisure and entertainment outdoors, especially during the New Year holidays. in the competition of the costumes was given to Spiderwoman.

The distance of the race for adults was 5 kilometers (the route ran from St. Sophia Cathedral through Mykhailivska Square through Artiom street to Lvivska Square and contained two laps). The distance for children (6-12 years) was 500 meters.

The first to come to the start were little participants aged 6 to 12 years. About fifty children overcame a distance of 500 meters.

There were no winners among the children, each of them got a sweet gift at the finish.

In general, five hundred participants have come to the start of the adult race this year, the fastest of them was Serhii Popovz with the result of 14:21 minutes. The best result among women belongs to Tetiana Kuzina (17:44 min.). During the race of St. Nicholas a record of Ukraine was set in the category «most popular race in Christmas hats» - 550 participants.

Besides the race Sofiiska Square hosted festivities with contests and a concert of Ukrainian folk groups. Also, the program contained a New Year charity fair held on December 20-21 in the Ukrainian House (Khreschatyk Str., 2).

At the fair one could buy Christmas toys, gifts, decorations and sweets by folk artists and Ukrainian producers. The program of the fair also contained workshops for adults and children.

15 percent of product sales at the «St. Nicholas fair» will be transferred to help Kyiv children who lost their parents during military operations in the ATO area.

The celebration was held at the Festival of St. Nicholas 2014 organized by: “Folk Ukraine”, “Land of Dreams» (“Kraina mrii”) and «Run Ukraine».

«New Year holidays is a time when all of us are happy to plunge into a fairy tale. With our tale, we plan to be remembered in the history of Ukraine – the race of St. Nicholas will be the most popular race in festive hats throughout the country. Thus we will finish the race season,» Dmytro Chernytskyi, the General Manager of «Run Ukraine» said before the race.

From ten in the morning Sofiiska Square started gathering sports fans and the most interested participants of the race they needed to prepare for a contest for the best costume that was held among the participants during the race of St. Nicholas. But if you had come without a costume - it did not matter, because each participant had been able to receive a festive hat from the arrangers.

Yet the biggest excitement was called by participants in costumes. There were: Spiderman, Superman, Elf, Cow, Christmas Tree, numerous Angels and Santas. The victory 7

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How New Year is celebrated in different countries of the world New Year is a truly international festival, but in different countries it is celebrated in different ways. Italians throw from the windows old irons and chairs with all their southern passion, the people of Panama are trying to make a noise as loud as possible, which include the sirens of their machines, whistling and shouting, Ecuador gives special importance to the undergarment, which supposedly brings love and money, in Bulgaria people turn off the lights because the first minutes of New Year is a time for kisses.

Celebrating New Year in different countries is connected with the traditions preserved from ancient times. Even the ancient peoples believed that the way one meets New Year this year will be spent. So up to this day in different countries people use various tricks to «beckon» good luck, prosperity and well-being.

Italy

On New Year’s Eve irons and old chairs fly out of windows New Year’s Eve in Italy is traditionally celebrated in the street where nightly festivities are held. At the night of January 1 the movement of road transport stops in the center. In Rome, Piazza del Popolo (People’s Square) hosts New Year’s performance under the open sky with fireworks, acrobats and musical performances. A known Roman tradition also states that New Year will bring happiness to the one who in New Year’s Eve will jump from the bridge into the river Tiber. But the most popular Italian tradition is to throw away old stuff out of the windows to the streets. In Italy it is believed that New Year should be started after the person has got rid of all the old things. Italians enjoy this custom, and they follow it with all the passion of the southerners: old irons, chairs, flower pots and other stuff fly through their windows. According to the signs, the space is sure to be taken by new things. The more things are thrown away, Italians believe, the more wealth the New Year will bring.

You can also participate in the co-firing of a log - a symbol of bad news, which will be burned with it. And at the New Year’s feast, try to eat a bunch of grapes wizened right on the vine, then you will get prosperity next year. Also Italians always eat nuts, lentils and grapes in New Year’s Eve - symbols of longevity, health and prosperity.

Day). When New Year comes, people gather at the main city square under the chiming clock and everybody eats 12 grapes (they are sold on every corner), each of them representing a successful coming month.

This tradition is more than a hundred years old. In 1909 Spain had such a big grape harvest that traders, even after lowering the prices, could not completely unload their basements full of baskets with grapes. To get at least some profits, the traders launched a kind of a public relations campaign, according to which all who eat one grape with each stroke of Christmas chimes, will be happy in the coming year.

In general, Spaniards are used to celebrating New Year in a very noisy and massive way at towns’ main squares, around the Christmas tree. While at home many prefer not to put a traditional Christmas tree, but to buy a beautiful Christmas flower - poinsettia. Perhaps that is why the local Santa Claus, who is called Papa Noel or Olentzero leaves presents on the balcony.

New Year celebrations are often held in the streets, everybody has lots of fun, various parades, carnivals and dances are held and it is always accompanied by incessant salutes and various pyrotechnic shows.

Ecuador

Red underwear — for love, yellow - for money In Ecuador, at midnight sharp people will burn some dolls accompanied by the so-called «weeping of the widows» who mourn their «bad husbands». As a rule, the «widows» are represented by men dressed in women’s clothes, wearing makeup and wigs.

For those who want to travel during the whole year, the tradition prescribes the following recipe: as long as the clock

Spain

Twelve grapes for good luck New Year’s Eve in Spain cannot be called a family celebration, here it is a truly national one. Here the holiday is celebrated in a special way, in accordance with the hot and passionate temper of the locals.

New Year’s holidays in Spain start from December 25 (Christmas Day) and last for 12 days until January 6 (Three Kings 8

№10, January 2015 strikes 12 times, the person should run the house with a suitcase or a large bag.

Do you want to get very rich in the coming year or to meet your true love? For money come «out of the blue», you should, as soon as the clock strikes 12, put on the underwear in yellow shades. If you need no money, but happiness in your personal life, the underwear should be red.

The best way to get rid of all the sad things that happened in the past year, according to Ecuadorians, is to throw a glass of water into the street, which will take away all the bad.

A custom of «admission of the New Year» is quite widespread in the British a bright and spectacular way. Powerful fireworks constantly illuminate the sky, clubs and restaurants hold fun events. The center of New Year celebrations is Isles – it a symbolic milestone of the transition from the past life to the new one. When the clock strikes 12, the back door of the house opens to release the old year, and with the last strike of the clock the front door opens as well, letting in the New Year.

Houses are traditionally decorated with green ivy, holly and mistletoe. The English see mistletoe as a symbol of a magical tree. According to an ancient custom once a year, on Christmas Eve, men have the right to kiss any girl who stops under the mistletoe. It does not happen often, and not to waste time in vain, one man decided to decorate a mirror with branches of mistletoe, so that he could kiss all the girls who stopped to look at themselves.

England

A bell wrapped in a blanket The British celebrate New Year in Trafalgar Square. It always gathers thousands of people to celebrate New Year, a Christmas tree is set there. Each year Trafalgar Square hosts London New Year parade, which is considered the world’s largest New Year’s popular procession. More than ten thousand people take part in this parade. Among them are a lot of musicians, dancers, clowns and acrobats.

The bell announces that New Year is coming. It starts chiming a little before midnight and makes it in a «whisper» - a blanket, in which it is wrapped prevents it from demonstrating the power of its sound. But exactly at twelve the bells get rid of the blankets, and they start chiming loudly in honor of New Year.

Santa Claus here is the one who brings gifts for children.

Before going to bed kids hang socks on the Christmas tree, and Santa Claus puts gifts to them. According to a legend, Santa Claus once dropped some gold coins when coming down the chimney.

The coins would have fallen into the oven and would have been lost if they hadn’t fallen in a sock that had been hung out to dry. Since then, the children hang socks on a fireplace hoping to find them full of gifts.

Scotland

You need to burn a barrel of tar and roll it down the street In Scotland, the celebration of New Year is called «Hogmanay». In the streets the holiday is usually celebrated with a Scottish song with the words by Robert Burns. According to the custom barrels of tar are burnt down and rolled through the streets, thus burning the old year and inviting the new one.

Scots believe that success or failure in the family for the whole year depends on who enters their homes first in the new year. A dark-haired man who brings gifts to the house brings more luck in their view. This tradition is called «First footing». The guests must bring a piece of coal to throw at the Christmas fireplace.

New Year in Scotland is celebrated as much as 4 days, starting from December 29. On this day the streets of the city host a torchlight procession, everyone taking part in it.

On December 30 and 31 Scots continue the festivities.

Most Britons celebrate New Year with their families. A special place in the celebration of New Year belongs to a gala dinner. The British cook special traditional dishes. In English homes New Year’s table is served with turkey with chestnuts and roasted potatoes with sauce and braised Brussels sprouts with meat pies, followed by pudding, sweets and fruits.

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№10, January 2015 Street theater performances, folk dances and discos are arranged. On New Year’s Eve people lit fireworks in cities and towns.

The evening is traditionally spent with the family and loved ones at home - it is believed to strengthen family ties and bring wealth to the family.

Treating neighbors or simply passersby with cakes is also considered a good contribution to the happiness of the family.

Many people open doors of their houses, in order to get rid of failures and bad things. Looking into such a house, any passerby can expect a warm welcome and a place at the banquet table.

At the table of any Irishman one will always find a huge variety of both traditional Irish and traditional European dishes.

Beautifully decorated tables are full of sweets, pastries, meat and poultry dishes. In general, Irish mistresses very carefully choose dishes for the holiday table. Therefore, New Year’s Eve in Ireland can be surely called luxurious.

France

The main thing is to congratulate barrels of wine New Year is celebrated in France in accordance with the Gregorian calendar and starts on the night of December 31 to January 1. In some parts of France, Christmas celebrations start on December 6 - the day of St. Nicholas. That day, the French Santa Claus Pere Noel brings gifts and sweets to good and diligent children. He wears wooden shoes and brings gifts in baskets on his back. Pere Noel rides a donkey, and after leaving the donkey outside, penetrates into the house through the chimney. He puts gifts into the shoes that children leave in advance before the fireplace. Pere Noel is accompanied

by Pere Fouettard — an old man with rods who reminds Pere Noel how the child has behaved during the year and what he deserves more - gifts or spanking. In some provinces, Pere Noel brings small gifts on December 6 and comes back again at Christmas with more presents.

According to a tradition, New Year is celebrated in France with friends, while Christmas - with family. On December 31 almost all European countries celebrate the Day of St. Sylvester.

France is not an exception. During this festival the French have lots of fun, eat a lot, and wait for the New Year to come. The French wearing costumes come to the streets, they are called Sylvester Clauses.

New Year in France is met in a large company of friends in restaurants, cafes. The French joke, dance in cone hats and shower each other with confetti. The Christmas lottery is a favorite pastime, where one can win a chicken or a turkey.

During the most mysterious night of the year affectionate Gauls clang glasses with a wine barrel and drink for the next harvest of grapes. The other day everybody bakes a cake with

Ireland

Any passerby can enter the open door of an Irish house on New Year’s Eve Irish Christmas is more a religious holiday than just entertainment. Lit candles are put next to a window on the night before Christmas, to help Joseph and Mary, if they are looking for shelter.

Irish women bake special treat — a seed cake - biscuits or cakes with cumin - for each family member. They also make three puddings - one for Christmas, one for New Year and the third - on the eve of Epiphany. On New Year’s Eve little girls put under their pillows different herbs - mistletoe, clover, ivy and even lavender. According to legends, it is New Year’s Eve when you can see your future spouse.

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№10, January 2015 a bean. The lucky one, who gets this representative of legumes, will be appointed the «Bean King» for the whole night and all the «court» will be bound to follow his humorous orders.

conquer ski slopes of any complexity, learn to skate and ski.

Traditional New Year’s dishes are potato casserole, salted salmon, ham, gingerbread parfait. The traditional New Year drink in Finland is beer.

Finland

The birthplace of Santa Claus У In Finland, the main snowy winter holiday is Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25th. On Christmas night, breaking a long way from Lapland, Santa Claus comes to houses leaving a large basket with gifts to the delight of children.

New Year is a kind of repetition of Christmas. Once again the whole family gathers at the table bursting from a variety of dishes. On New Year’s Eve Finns try to find out their future and tell fortunes, melting wax and then pouring it into cold water.

At 12 a.m. all the people come into the streets and illuminate the sky with fireworks, fire crackers and wish each other good luck, health and love. The use of fireworks is permitted by law only on this day.

Germany

Santa Claus comes to Germans riding a donkey New Year in Germany is traditionally celebrated in a noisy and funny way. On that day Germans a crowd gather in the streets, in the town squares, launch fireworks, go to bars and clubs. The older generation prefers to celebrate New Year in a luxury restaurant or go to a concert, while young people dance in clubs.

Preparation for celebrating New Year begins in advance.

People make reservations, buy tickets, invite friends months before the holiday. In the morning and evening the day before the house is streamlined, the table is set with beautiful dishes, new bed-linen is put onto beds: the new year should be met with everything new.

Germans do not wish each other coming of the New Year, but a good «entry» or a good «slip» into the new year: einen guten Rutsch in das Neue Jahr! On this night, Germans do not stay at home - in the first minutes of the new year they come to the streets to continue the celebration in pubs and restaurants. And one of the most fantastic celebrations is held in Berlin - a crowd of dancing and celebrating people stretches for two kilometers. While adults are having fun, little Germans are waiting for their hero - Santa Nikolaus.

In Germany, they believe that Santa Claus arrives on a donkey. Before going to bed children put a plate on the table for the gifts that Santa Claus will bring and put hay into the shoes — to treat his donkey.

Many Finnish families go to Lapland, the home of Santa Claus and his numerous counterparts. Millions of letters with requests for gifts and prayers for the wishes to come true arrive to this land. The myth is debunked — there is no Santa living there, but a real Joulupukki. It is he who brings gifts to obedient kids while they are sweetly sleeping on a magical New Year’s Eve. While Joulupukki delivers whole baskets of treats to little Finns riding talking deer, adults, even the most solid and serious, necessarily hold a «small Christmas», for which they dress up and arrange holiday spectacles.

In Lapland one can ride a dog and reindeer sledding,

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Japan

shuttlecock, and the boys launch a kite during the traditional festival.

The most popular Christmas accessory is a rake. Every Japanese thinks that one should have a rake to rake happiness in the New Year. Bamboo rakes - Kumada — have size from 10 cm to 1.5 m and are decorated with a variety of drawings and talismans.

The best gift is a rake to rake happiness In Japan, New Year is celebrated on January 1. Ice palaces and castles, huge snow sculptures of fantastic heroes decorate northern Japanese cities on New Year’s Eve.

Brazil

New year is a summer holiday New Year in Brazil is a summer holiday, as December 31 in the country is time of the sun, heat and beaches. Long before the holiday city streets get decorated with colorful lanterns and garlands, fluffy Christmas trees get adorned. New Year in many countries is a family holiday, but not in Brazil.

Here, on the contrary, people leave their families, gather in large noisy companies and go to cafes, nightclubs, or just relax on the beach. Everywhere one can hear cheerful sounds of drums, Brazilians celebrate New Year dancing and singing.

Japanese children celebrate New Year in new clothes. It is believed that it brings health and good luck in the New Year.

On New Year’s Eve, they hide a picture of a sailboat, on which seven fabulous magicians float - seven patrons of happiness, under the pillow.

In Brazil, there is no traditional chime of bells. Before the start of the New Year Brazilians loudly tick off the remaining seconds, and at midnight they illuminate the sky with colorful fireworks. Brazilians also have no traditional Santa Claus or any of his counterparts.

The tradition of exchanging gifts to celebrate New Year is followed quite symbolically as everything worth has already been presented for Christmas that Brazilians consider to be a more important holiday than New Year.

The singularity of the Brazilian New Year is that it is based on African traditional rituals and ceremonies. Traces of African culture are especially clear on the coast of Brazil, especially in Rio de Janeiro.

In the religion of the country elements of Christianity are remarkably combined with ancestral traditions, according to which the New Year is, first of all, an opportunity to soften the

108 chimes of the bells announce the arrival of the New Year in Japan. According to an ancient legend, each chime «kills» one of the human vices. According to the Japanese, there are only six (greed, anger, stupidity, carelessness, indecision, envy). But each of the defects has lots of different shades — they are “killed” by the Japanese bells.

During the first seconds of the New Year one should laugh it is to bring good luck. And to beckon happiness, the Japanese decorate it, especially the front door, with bamboo and pine branches - symbols of longevity and loyalty. Pine symbolizes longevity, bamboo - loyalty, and plum — love for life.

The food on the table is also symbolic: long pasta is a sign of longevity, rice - prosperity, carp - force, beans - health. Each family prepares New Year’s meal mochi - balls, cakes, bread made from rice flour.

In the morning, when the New Year comes, the Japanese go out of their houses into the streets - to meet the sunrise. With the first rays, they congratulate each other and exchange presents.

Twigs decorated with balls of mochi are put in houses – that is a New Year tree mochibana.

The Japanese Santa Claus is called Santa-san - Mr. New Year. The favorite Christmas entertainment for girls is playing 12

№10, January 2015 anger of the spirits.

Therefore, On New Year’s Eve every Brazilian should bring sacrificial gifts to the African goddess Yemoja — the Lady of the Seas who is identified with the Virgin Mary. To do this, everybody brings candles and white flowers.

Burning candles on wooden stands start sailing in the sea. Looking at them people make wishes, thus, the longer the candle does not go out, the more likely it is to come true.

People also make wishes while throwing flowers into the water, and if the surf rolls the gift back to the land, it is better to repeat the request next year.

In Brazil, the celebration of the New Year is called Reveillon, which can be translated as «fraternization». During this solemn night Brazilians call each other brothers and sisters, forget all grudges and misunderstandings and promise to be more tolerant to each other in future.

While on the beach of Copacabana almost a million viewers watch the New Year’s light show, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon hosts the highest in the world floating tree with the height of 82 meters. It is illuminated by the lights of fireworks on the background of a famous statue of Christ the Redeemer who stretches out his hands blessing this Brazilian city.

spirits.

The Chinese New Year or «Spring Festival» is always the most important event of the year, and the Chinese do everything possible to celebrate it greatly in the family, within the walls of their homes. In the evening of the last day of the year, each family in full strength gather in the living room for the gala dinner. During the dinner, which is held under the sign of the unity of the family, and above all the unity of its members living and dead, the participants eat meals that first are served to the spirits of ancestors. At the same time members of the family get an opportunity to forgive each other old grudges.

After the end of the meal, no one goes to bed to watch out for their future happiness. To follow such all-nighters on New Year’s Eve is called to «safeguard the year».

Bulgaria

Three minutes of New Year’s kisses

Argentina

Next year beans will bring success New Year’s holidays in Argentina start almost from the beginning of December. Christmas trees are decorated on December 8, and from this period begins active preparation for the holidays, the culmination of which in this Catholic country is, of course, Christmas. By the way, Argentinians decorate their Christmas trees quite modestly, without frills and colorful flowers.

In most cases they use two scales of colors, nothing more. The mandatory dish on the holiday table is a sweet bread Pan Dulce, besides, Argentinians tend to eat beans on New Year’s Eve, which, according to a legend, should bring success at work in the coming year. Argentinians have lots of funny Christmas customs. For example, it is believed that if one walks around the house with a suitcase, in the new year he or she should expect many trips and pleasant journeys. Furthermore, according to an ancient tradition, on in the last of the windows old calendars, unnecessary information and forms. On this day already at noon sidewalks and roadway in Buenos-Aires are thickly covered with a loose layer of paper. Sometimes different incidents happen, for example, once employees of one of the newspapers were carried away by the New Year mood and threw away the whole archive.

New Year’s Eve in Bulgaria, as in most nations of the world, is celebrated on the night of December 31 to January 1. And then, finally, there comes Nova Godina — the Bulgarian New Year, as it is called there. In Bulgaria it is traditionally celebrated at home. Before the start of the holiday the youngest in the house stands near the Christmas tree singing carols to the guests. In gratitude, relatives and guests give him presents. The fun starts with the 12th chime. In Bulgaria, guests and relatives gather on New Year’s Eve at the holiday table, and in all the houses the lights go out for three minutes. This time, when the guests are in the dark, are called the moments of New Year’s kisses, which will be kept in secret by darkness. Only then the hostess starts cutting a cake with surprises baked in it. If one gets a coin — he or she should wait for wealth, if a sprig of rose - love.

China

Thousands of lanterns light the way to the New Year The Chinese New Year is celebrated between January 17 and February19, during the new moon. Street processions are the most exciting part of the holiday. Thousands of lanterns are lit during them to light the way to the New Year. The Chinese believe that the new year is surrounded by evil spirits. Therefore, they scare them with crackers and firecrackers. Sometimes the Chinese seal windows and doors with paper to keep out evil 13

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

â„–10, January 2015

So, 2014 is now part of the history. It was an ambiguous year, difficult for every Ukrainian, a year when everyone faced the events, which he or she will remember for a lifetime.

In the New Year, year 2015, I wish all of us peace, good health, consent and faith. Faith in yourself, faith in people, faith in the fact that everything that is done with all sincerity will be successful, no matter what obstacles it meets.

Ukraine is moving steadily to the European standards of living. This way is very difficult, thorny; it involves difficult decisions. Let New Year open new horizons for us, multiply optimism and strength, bring us inspiration.

Let peace, happiness and prosperity come to every house!

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!

Founder and Chief Editor Butt Umair Ahmad 14

№10, January 2015

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№10, January 2015

Santa Clauses’ race in Kharkiv We hope that all Kharkiv citizens took the opportunity and made a wish coming to one of approximately two hundred Santa Clauses who took part in a race in Gorky Central Park of Culture and Rest on December 28. It is sure to come true, Kharkiv Santas promised it to us!

A couple of hundred people who wanted to speed up the New Year gathered in red clothes, hats and of course with fluffy white beards in the last week of 2014. Those who took part in the New Year Run had bright, useful time full of fun. At 18.00 the New Year marathon with mandatory dress code started near the Ferris wheel. The girls ran a distance of 5 kilometers (two laps of 2.5 km), and the guys ran 2.5 km more (three circles).

«I took part in this race because it is a sure way to have fun and get a Christmas mood! When you are running with a few dozen of bearded, smiling people in red hats, dressed just like you, you can’t but cheer up! « a participant of the race Vladimir smiles through a snow-white beard.

Children who saw all this spectacle were more than

surprised as there were so many Santa Clauses and so many wishes could be made! The participants of the race were open to an idea of listening to the children and promised they would necessarily retell all the wishes to the «real» Santa Claus.

So a couple of hundred brightly attired participants with long beards gave Kharkiv a New Year mood.

New Year ball in Lviv.

The most elegant New Year’s Eve On the night of December 31 to January 1 an elegant ball for beautiful ladies and gallant gentlemen was held. Dances and dance workshops, theater acts, communication in an atmosphere of a real worldly saloon of the end of XIX century — all these things awaited for the participants of the New Year’s Eve held in Lviv House of Scientists. The number of participants was limited to 120.

New Year’s Eve started at 21:00 and lasted until 4:30 surprising the visitors not only with a refined atmosphere, but also with relevant entertainment and refreshments. The ancient palace was conditionally divided into eight areas, which during the evening hosted workshops, theater performances, contests and lotteries.

The menu contained treats made by the best chefs of Lviv: Hunting pate on crisp toasts according to the recipe of the end of the XIX century; New Year Tart with overseas fish; Cream soup «Noble»; Board with noble cheeses and nuts with honeymustard sauce; Ribs with wine and honey sauce and Sicilian herbs; King prawns grilled with spinach sauce; Profiteroles with fruit, ice cream and topping, as well as many other gastronomic excesses.

Lovely ladies and noble gentlemen could choose between three price packages that cost from 1695-1795 USD per person.

The arrangers decided to hold not just a New Year party, but a real ball of the end of XIX century, inspired first of all by the romantic atmosphere of the House of Scientists, the walls of which conceal charm, secrets and surprises of a grand casino where Polish noblemen who belonged to the szlachta lost thousands of gold coins in their days. It is said that more than two centuries ago when Lviv was the capital of the Kingdom of Galicia, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, such balls were held everywhere in the region.

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№10, January 2015

New Year’s Eve in LA Dance School If you really cannot wait any longer for the holiday, then do as the choreographers and students of one of the best dance schools in Kharkiv did – arrange the holiday yourself! On December 21 the students of the school gave Christmas mood for the week ahead to all who came, because why wait so long, if you can speed up the holiday? the group Hip-Hop Kids. It was the very first performance in their life, but the kids were not afraid and performed like true professionals.

For each of the kids the school had prepared sweet gifts and certificates for diligence, perseverance and training. But it’s a «crash» New Year, so no one should have been left without a surprise. So each group received gifts from the sponsors of the school.

At their New Year reporting concert LDS showed everything learned during the year: there were dances, tumbling and performances with various props. Flight attendants, waiters, zombies, circus performers and many other images were presented to the audience by the talented pupils of LA Dance School.

The atmosphere of a real New Year dominated in Kharkiv club «Museum» on December 21. The choreographers and students of the school had prepared wonderful performances and invited everyone to enjoy the spirit of the dance, obtain New Year’s mood and get bright emotions. The reporting concert of the pupils of Los Angeles Dance School touched everybody, because all the students, adults and kids, had put heart into their Christmas performances and were happy to share their emotions with the audience.

The first spot was presented by the choreographers themselves - the basis of LDS, teachers and, above all, friends for their students - Nataliia Chernyshova, Vitalii Aliokhin, Maksym Koriakin and Mariia Kryvchykova. According to the plan, several strangers stuck in the airport in the New Year’s Eve for the flight had been delayed. But why waste time when you can dance? The choreographers demonstrated great partner dances and tried to convey to everyone that dance brings all people together.

All the pupils of LA Dance School were the next to perform.

The older and younger groups, primary and advanced groups, little children and those who already have children themselves.

So different people, but they equally love dance and are ready to share their love with the audience. La Style, Contemporary Dance, Jazz Funk, Hip-Hop choreography, Hip-Hop Fusion, Ragga - all people present were delighted with the groups representing these styles. But perhaps most of all the audience applauded to the youngest students of LA Dance School — 17

№10, January 2015

AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO UKRAINE

WISHES HAPPY HOLIDAYS Dear friends, On the New Year’s Eve I am glad to congratulate you on the pages of the magazine «Viva Ukraine».

The year of Horse that gave us not only joy and hope, but sometimes bitterness of disappointment and failures will soon be gone. Let all the problems remain in the past. I want you to bring the best and lightest things in your life into the new year, I want health, happiness and success to accompany you in all your good deeds. Let love to the native land warm your hearts and souls and, like the fire of Prometheus, let it last even in the most difficult challenges, let it inspire you to good deeds for the benefit of your homeland.

I am sure that friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China will continue to flourish and become stronger for the benefit of our peoples. I am pleased to note that in the recent years the trend of strengthening and deepening the cooperation between our countries in all areas of public and political life has been steadily increasing.

I wish all the readers of the magazine and all the Ukrainian people success, peace and well-being; consent, prosperity and joy to your families; long life to your relatives and beloved ones.

Happy New Year, dear Ukrainians! Accept sincere heartfelt wishes from me personally and all the diplomatic staff of the Embassy of China in Ukraine, as well as from all my compatriots.

With respect to the readers of «Viva Ukraine» Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Ukraine Zhang Xiyun

Happy New Year!

In turn, the staff of the journal «Viva-Ukraine» headed by editor in chief, Mr. Ahmad Butt Umair, wishes Mr. Zhang Xiyun, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China in Ukraine, all employees of the Embassy of China in Ukraine and the Chinese people a Happy New Year!

We hope that the relations between the People’s Republic of China and Ukraine will continue to strengthen further. Thank you for your sincere greetings to our readers!

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â„–10, January 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

On behalf of the team of the Ukrainian International Education Council I wish Ukrainians all over the world, those who come to Ukraine, all people across the globe who support our country, who root for peace and tranquility in our land, Happy New Year, year 2015!

We wish everyone to be honest and sincere, to understand and respect each other, to support mutual development and progress, well-being and prosperity of every country and every human being! Only dignity and respect for other opinions, efforts to find a compromise and mutual understanding constitute the key to a stable, peaceful development of the individual, society and humanity. We wish Ukraine to overcome difficulties, remember the idea and the purpose that unite the nation. We wish it strength, intelligence and faith that will ensure the recovery and subsequent rise of the state! Let our country become more comfortable, more hospitable, more successful, let the faces of its inhabitants and guests shine with smiles, and the soul be always full of love, peace and tranquility!

Happy New Year, friends of Ukraine!

Yours faithfully, Director of Ukrainian International Education Council Mykhailo Iziumskyi 19

№10, January 2015

Top 5 Christmas trees in the world Christmas tree of LEGO in Sydney A 10-foot Christmas tree, which is composed of LEGO bricks was established near one of shopping centers in Sydney. It took five people, 1,200 hours of time and half million LEGO bricks to build it.

The construction of the Christmas tree was supervised by a specialist certified in constructing large figures of LEGO, Ryan McNaught. It is decorated with toys the size of a basketball and completed with several Australian symbols: koala hanging almost in the very top of the tree and Santa Claus holding a surfboard.

The highest tree in Rio de Janeiro The world’s highest Christmas tree was set in Rio de Janeiro afloat - in Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. On November 29 they held a colorful show of fireworks in honor of the 85-meter beauty that weighs over 540 tons. «Rio Floating Tree» is artificial, its frame is made of metal. The green beauty is adorned with more than three million lights, the pattern of which makes up Christmas symbols. The length of the fairy lights is 105 kilometers. Tree tree will be lit up every night until January 6, 2015. During this time, the «floating tree» will sail through the lagoon so that one can admire it from any corner of the city. The highest tree in the world has been lit up from 1996, since that the tree has become one of the biggest tourist attractions of Rio. The efforts of designers were properly rated by representatives of Guinness World Records - now Rio can boast the world’s largest floating Christmas tree.

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№10, January 2015

Upside-down tree in Paris «Galeries Lafayette» in Paris presents the world’s first Christmas tree turned upside down! The upside-down tree is not the only surprise of the mall. Every hour a wonderful spectacle of sound and light will be held around the 25-meter high Christmas tree! The inauguration of the Christmas tree and showcases on the occasion of Merry Christmas were held in «Galeries Lafayette» at Boulevard Haussmann in Paris on November 5, 2014. The opening ceremony was delivered by Jerry Hall.

A bicycle Christmas tree in Copenhagen Copenhagen once again decided to support the title of one of the best cities for cyclists in the world: a Christmas tree created entirely of bicycles was set in the city center.

The construction is situated in the park Enghaveparken, and it consists of bicycle parts wheels, frames - and a wooden base.

The ceremony of lighting up such an unusual «tree» was held on December 1. However, this tree, of course, will not be the main Christmas tree of the city. The main Christmas tree is also placed in the center, and soon it will also be lit up.

The biggest Christmas tree in Italy The residents of the northern Itaian city Gubbio are lucky as the Christmas tree decorated for them can be seen from anywhere in the city.

It’s not a traditional tree, as we usually have, but a huge light installation located on Mount Ingino. It covers an area of 130 thousand sq. m. (almost three football fields), the height of the Christmas beauty is more than 650 m. 300 green lights placed along the contour and another 400 colored lights that serve as ornaments were used to create it. At the top there is a star comet made of 250 light bulbs, the area of which is 1000 square meters. It took about 19 km of cable in different capacities to connect all the light bulbs. The scope of the Italians was rated highly, and in 1991 their creation got to Guinness World Records.

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№10, January 2015

«Ukraine - together» An embroidered map of Ukraine has finished its journey Four and a half months ago at the European square people started embroidering a talisman for our country - a huge map depicting the flags of all the regions. Starting with August 1, the canvas sized 1,5 and 2 meters was embroidered in every corner of our country by everybody wishing to participate.

– In general about six thousand people have taken part in the campaign. Retired and young people and little children were among them, sometimes it was impossible to make even men and boys stop embroidering, - says the designer of the map Yuliia Plakhtii.

farmers who traveled by bus, tourists who stumbled on the map in a foreign city and came to embroider it... people who represent the diversity of our population touched this map, and everyone remarked: an incredible atmosphere and very good energy dominated near the canvas.

“The map traveled alone: it passed from city to city by buses, passing cars, with the help of volunteers, by mail, and even by KrAZ, which was delivering aid to ATO! We bothered if it would arrive in time, lost equipment, notebooks and threads,” Yuliia Plakhtii recalls. “Once we lost the map itself. It left the Volunteer Ukrainian Corps base, where the «cyborgs» trained. We had planned to embroider it there, but we had failed — hardly had we brought the map when the boys were unexpectedly summoned to the front. However, they did hold it in their hands, and it did spend a night at the base”.

According to the concept of the project, the focus was not in an impeccable technical perfection, but in the “national spirit” of the embroidery.

Everyone, even those who had never held a needle in their hands, could add some stitches to the map, thus leaving their mark on the canvas, their wishes and prayers. Lots of such prayers could be heard during embroidering the map, starting with quiet making wishes about the situation at the RussianUkrainian border and ending with a full consecration near the cathedral in Zhytomyr at the Feast of Maccabeus.

Children older than two years, festively dressed brides, disabled in wheelchairs, officials, volunteers, soldiers of ATO, Maidan volunteers, foreigners, writers, immigrants, artists,

The first to embroider it was a citizen of Vinnytsia, Iryna Golovachova. It was she who made the first cross-stitch on the map and who did the lion’s share of embroidering Vinnitsia oblast.

“While embroidering, we used over ten kilometers of threads of 25 colors. It was done in a very short period of time as we were to pass the canvas to the next regions,” the project coordinator in Vinnytsia Olha Malinovska says. ”Usually we transferred it to nearby regions, but sometimes we had long 22

№10, January 2015 “routes” as well. For example, on September 3 we suddenly decided to pass the canvas from Uzhhorod to Mariupol as shootings had started there. Then the map was returned to Khmelnytskyi. It was transferred from Odesa to Chernihiv, from Mykolaiv — to Poltava. It also visited the area of ATO, where handywomen from Sloviansk and Kramatorsk took part in creating it.

holds the record, is Poltava. It hosted 700 participants! The second place belongs to Kirovohrad, the third — to IvanoFrankivsk.

During the event, all the participants were fixed, so soon the National Register of Records will announce the results of counting the participants and the establishment of a new record for the highest number of people embroidering. The previous result — 236 people — was beaten back in the summer.

After these events the embroidered map will take a rest for a while, then it will be properly adorned and passed to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine so that there it would give away the energy, which it received from its authors. The map should remind the politicians of its idea – the co-operation of the Ukrainian people for one purpose.

This idea was declared from the very beginning of the campaign, and recently it has been supported by a number of NGOs that were the coordinators of the action in different cities.

The campaign «Ukraine - together» has finished, all the oblasts have already been embroidered. The line will be drawn in Kyiv on January 22, the Day of Unity of Ukraine. There the map will be presented, and the record will be fixed.

The only region, which the map-talisman did not visit, was Crimea, but in each city there were Crimeans who embroidered their land. In Kyiv, in Taras Shevchenko National University, the embroidering of Crimea was finished.

And on December 13 in the House of Writers people embroidered Kyiv region. The event was combined with poetry readings, performances by activists, writers and musicians. Kyiv region was embroidered by a two-year girl, Ania, «Shpyliasti bandurysty» and the writer Iren Rozdobudko. About six thousand participants were registered across Ukraine. The region, which

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№10, January 2015

Photo project «Shchyri» (“Sincere”) On December 17 the shopping center «Domosfera» in Kyiv hosted the presentation of the photo project “Shchyri”, for which the stars tried on collectors’ Ukrainian costumes.

The following famous Ukrainian beauties participated in the project: TV presenters Masha Yefrosynina, Olha Freimut, Liliia Rebryk, Vasylisa Frolova, Yanina Sokolova, singers Nata Zhyzhchenko (project ONUKA), Aliona Vinnitska, Kasha Saltsova («Kryhitka»), Yuliia Sanina (The Hardkiss), Santa Dimopulos, Nataliia Dzenkiv (Lama), designer and director Olha Navrotska, the chairman of the organizing committee of Ukrainian Fashion Week Iryna Danylevska, choreographer Olena Shoptenko and actress of «Studio Kvartal-95» Olena Kravets. Most photographs of the project reproduce images of vintage photographs dated back to XIX - early XX century.

«Shchyri» is dedicated to traditional Ukrainian costumes collected all over Ukraine. The main goal is to show how beautiful, rich and colorful Ukrainian costumes are. For shooting stylist Antonina Belinska gathered more than 30 collection costumes from 10 regions of Ukraine. Preparations lasted for more than two months, because the arrangers wanted not only to reproduce vintage photos, but also to reconstruct once lost headwear. Representatives of Patoka Studio were engaged in remaking hats, the originals of which had been lost. By the way, beside the necessity to handle the Ukrainian costumes

as carefully as possible, the stylists and models faced another problem – the attires were very heavy. After all, the total weight of jewelry the girls tried on reached more than 5 kg.

«After the shooting I thought that the stars were not the main characters of the project «Shchyri». The main role belonged to the owners of those old costumes,” Olena Kravets, the actress of «Kvartal-95» says. “When it takes you an hour to put on a magnificent outfit, when you realize that it was made for a special occasion, for a wedding, that this homespun cloth veiled the innocent young body of a beautiful girl, that it absorbed her energy, it is an incomparable feeling. And everything you want is just to touch that era, to convey the mood, the spirit of the time that is long gone».

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№10, January 2015 “Shchyri” is quite a large-scale project. We did not know until later if unusual Borshchiv costumes would come to the shooting, if the studio masters from Lesia Patoka’s studio would succeed in making replicas of the lost beautiful wreaths under the collectors’ supervision, if dukachi older than 150 years would be brought. And just now I am looking at 12 wonderful pictures and I understand that we succeeded in everything,” the project arranger Natalia Kravets says. “These slides are a real treasure, because they prove once again: Ukrainians have always been very stylish. That is why the costumes kind of revived during the shooting, became quite contemporary”.

The exhibition in «Domosfera» will last until January 19, the admission is free, so the arrangers expect for everyone to come: young and adult fashionistas, designers and simply those who love their country and its traditions.

Interesting facts about “Shchyri”: • •

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The shooting lasted for more than 24 hours.

Beside Ukrainian stars there were three kittens and one lamb who also took part on shooting. The team named the lamb Karl in honor of Lagerfeld.

The decorations worn by Olena Kravets are older than150 years.

The garland tried on by Masha Yefrosynina consists of flowers made of papyrus paper. Each petal was first painted and then covered with wax.

Iryna Danylevska tried on a costume from Eastern Ukraine. It was an outfit of a married woman from a wealthy sloboda family.

The headgear put on by Yuliia Sanina was called «koba», it was made of artificial flowers and was kept after the wedding. Koba was decorated with feather grass that grew along Transnistrian rivers. Yuliia’s neck was decorated with salby - ornaments richly edged with silver coins. If the girl was rich, she wore 15 coins, if she was poorer - 9 coins.

The headgear tried on by Liliia Rebryk is original, dated back to early 20th century. Sometimes it was called a «wreath with candies». «Candies» were made of wool wrapped in corrugated paper.

Santa Dimopulos’ head is adorned by the so-called herdan made of beads. It used to decorate hair before the wedding; each tape with beads had its own place.

Sometimes people had to wake up at 3 a.m. so that the hair-do was ready by the morning.

Olena Shoptenko came to the shooting fresh from plane.

The choreographer who now lives and works in Georgia arrived to Ukraine only for one day.

Yanina Sokolova finished shooting 30 minutes before the start of Channel 5 news.

№10, January 2015

«The Bride of War» from Ukraine for «Miss Universe 2014» 21-year-old Diana Harkusha from Kharkiv who will represent Ukraine at the most prestigious international beauty contest «Miss Universe 2014» will get a very beautiful and unique national costume. Diana is at risk of becoming either the most original, or the gloomiest among the contestants. For the national costume for Diana was made, taking into account the tragic events of the past year in the country.

ornaments and embroidered with a geometric pattern on the edge. The dress includes handmade elements.

The headgear by Juliia Virts completes the image — it is a crown of thorns with red poppies and a black veil.

«I want to draw the attention of the general public and the world with the help of such a wonderful contest as “Miss Universe” as it promotes beauty and peace! And I am convinced that it is beauty, love and the ability to appreciate life as a gift of God, that save our planet from total destruction.

It’s not even a call, but a cry from hearts of all the girls - do not take away our boys, do not send them to death! Let there be peace and love! Let the military focus their talents on peace projects. Once again I want to emphasize — there is a war in Ukraine! And that’s a fact! And so this is how a bride is looking nowadays. She had love, plans for the future and a desire to enjoy life, and now it all crumbled just like these poppies. A white dress turned into a black one,» the designer Liudmyla Bushynska said.

We shall remind you that the 63-th annual contest «Miss Universe 2014» will be held on January 25, 2015 in Miami (Florida, the USA). Ukraine will be represented there by 21-year-old Diana Harkusha from Kharkiv. On January 3 Diana will leave for the US, where she will be preparing for the finals of «Miss Universe».

According to the organizers of «Miss Ukraine Universe», they wanted to make the dress very symbolic and reflecting the reality. At last the designer of the Ukrainian brand RUTA Liudmyla Bushynska created for Diana a costume called «The Bride of War». The costume embodies Ukraine as a young beautiful girl who grieves and sheds tears over her lover who died defending their homeland.

The dress is made in two colors of mourning - black and red - and is decorated with red poppies (from ancient times to the present the poppies were used in Ukrainian costumes and wreaths; they are also officially recognized in Europe and the world as a symbol of mourning for the dead).

The poppies are decorated with hundreds of Swarovski crystals. The dress is also decorated with plakhta - a traditional element of national costumes made of fabric with ethnic

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