There are many places on our planet that can surprise with their beauty and uniqueness. One of these marvelous corners of nature is the Carpathian Mountains.
Description of the mountain system
Their arc passes through the territory of Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Serbia, Austria. In the mountain system, one can distinguish the Western, Eastern, Southern Carpathians, as well as the Western Romanian mountains. And between them is the Transylvanian plateau. The eastern part of the system is characterized by the highest seismological hazard in Europe. So, in 1940, a devastating earthquake occurred in Romania, in which about 1,000 people died. And 1977 brought with it an even greater catastrophe. The number of victims exceeded one and a half thousand, and tremors were felt even in Leningrad and Moscow.
The Carpathian Mountains are very diverse in their relief, structure, and landscape. The height at which the Transylvanian Plateau is located, for example, is 600-800 meters. The highest point of the system is Gerlachowski-Sztit. It is located at 2655 meters above sea level. Basically, the Carpathians stretch for 800-1200 meters. This is relatively little, and therefore this mountain system is quite passable. At an altitude of 500 to 1000 meters, railway tracks and highways were laid.
The Carpathian Mountains are of great economic importance, because there are deposits of such as gas, oil, ozocerite, marble, stone, mercury, coal and brown coal. There are also deposits of manganese and rare and non-ferrous metals.
Animal and plant world
As for the plant world, it is completely subject to the laws of explanation. The lower belt is occupied by oak forests, which are gradually replaced by beeches at an altitude of 800 to 1300 meters. Although mostly beech forests can be found in the Western Romanian mountains and the southern part of the Carpathians. With an increase in altitude, they give way to mixed forests, where, in addition to beeches, fir and spruce also grow. Forests end at an altitude of 1500-1800 meters. Coniferous species grow mainly here: spruces, pines, larches. They are also replaced by subalpine shrubs and meadows. In this belt you can find juniper, alder, pine dwarf. Even higher - alpine meadows and shrubs, which in some places alternate with rocks and talus. On the highest peaks, the rocks are bare or covered with lichens.
However, the picture of the distribution of vegetation in the Carpathians has changed very significantly. So, if earlier oak and oak-beech forests grew in the foothills, now they are completely cut down, and in their place there are vineyards and arable land. Yes, and many are also practically reduced to nothing.
To preserve natural landscapes, reserves and parks were opened on the territory of almost all countries where the Carpathian Mountains are located. Description of the animal world can be reduced to the concept of forest fauna. Martens, bears, hares, squirrels, wolves, lynxes, wild boars, deer, chamois, roe deer, capercaillie, owls, woodpeckers, cuckoos are common in the reserves and outside them.
Population
We have already said a few words about human economic activity. It should be noted that the Carpathian Mountains are unevenly populated. Of course, basically people have chosen for themselves the foothills, where there are very favorable conditions for gardening and field cultivation. As already mentioned, vineyards are common, which means that winemaking is held in high esteem in these parts. But you can find settlements in the mountains. The people there are mainly engaged in cattle breeding.
Rest corner
The Carpathian Mountains are an excellent place to relax. Tourists love to come here to go mountain climbing, skiing or snowboarding. There are several world-famous Krynica and Zakopane, the Hungarian Paradfurde and Bükksek, the Czechoslovakian Tatranska Lomnica or Piestany. And of course, the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine. The purest air, magnificent nature, hospitable hosts, unique historical heritage. And, importantly, the absence of a language barrier. The most popular among guests of the Mezhhirya region, Svalyava, Yablunitsa, Yaremche. Rest houses, sanatoriums, boarding houses, ski bases of Ukraine offer to explore the Carpathians not only on skis and snowboards, but also on bicycles, jeeps, on foot or on horseback. For lovers of hunting - excellent hunting grounds. As well as exciting excursions, cozy cafes, quiet streets and a great mood.
The population of the capital of Transcarpathia, the city of Uzhgorod, totals up to 120 thousand people. The average population density ranges from 98.3 people. per 1 sq. km. The rural population dominates - 754.400 people. (58%), and the urban population is 522.300 people. (42%). By the way, the approximate gender division of the inhabitants of the region is as follows: 665,000 women for 621,000 men. During the period from 1959 to 2000, the population of Transcarpathia increased 1.4 times. The largest population growth was recorded in Uzhgorod, Tyachevsky, Mukachevo, Khust and Vynohradiv regions. The population of each of them exceeds 100 thousand people. The smallest increase is in the mountainous Velikobereznyansky region and the flat Beregovsky region.
There are currently 712,000 able-bodied people in the region, 540,000 people work in the region, 80,000 potential otkhodniks, 573,000 unemployed people, 17,000 unemployed. In addition, 240 thousand pensioners, 36 thousand large families, 44 thousand people with physical disabilities, 40 thousand elderly and lonely.
Representatives of about 76 different nationalities live on the territory of the Transcarpathian region:
1. UKRAINIANS - 78.4% or 976.479: the majority of the population of Transcarpathia. Transcarpathian Ukrainians are divided into 4 specific ethnographic groups: Boiki - Volovets, Mizhhirya regions, Lemki - Velykyi Bereznyansky region, Hutsuls - Rakhiv region, Dolynyane - lowland and foothill regions.
2. HUNGARY - 12.5% or 155.711: Beregovsky, Vinogradovsky, Uzhgorod, Khust regions.
3. RUSSIAN - 4% or 49.458: Uzhgorod, Mukachevo, Svalyava, Chop.
4. ROMANIANS - 2.4% or 29.485: Solotvino region.
5. Gypsies - 1% or 12.131: Uzhgorod, Beregovo, Svalyava, Korolevo, Mukachevo, Vilok.
6. SLOVAKIANS - 0.6% or 7.329: Uzhgorod, Svalyavsky and Perechinsky regions.
7. GERMANS - 0.3% or 3.478: Pavshino, Palanok, Bruise, Ust-Chernaya, Tyachevo, German Wet.
8. JEWS - 0.2% or 2.639: Uzhgorod, Mukachevo, Khust.
9. BELARUSIAN - 0.2% or 2.521: Uzhgorod, Mukachevo.
10. CZECH, POLE, ITALIAN, ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI and other nationalities - 0.6% or about 2.000: Uzhgorod, Mukachevo, Khust, Rakhiv.
Mention should also be made of those historical tribes and nationalities that have lived on the territory of our region for many past centuries. Among them, in particular, are: Scythians - VII century. BC, Celts - V-I century. BC, Sarmatians - I c. AD, Dacians - I c. BC - I century. AD, Romans - II century. AD, Goths - II century. AD, Burgundians - III century, Vandals - III century, Goths - IV-VI century, Huns - VI century, Avars - VI-VII century, Bulgarians - IX century, Moravians - IX century.
As is known, more than 400 thousand people left (emigrated) from our region over the course of two centuries. Nowadays, representatives of the Transcarpathian region and their descendants live on almost all continents and continents of the world. Below are approximate data (taken from foreign reference books) about Rusyn Ukrainians from Transcarpathia who live abroad: EUROPE (Hungary - 3,000, Slovakia - 30,000, Czech Republic - 12,000, Poland - 60,000, Croatia - 5,000, Serbia - 25,000, Romania - 20,000), a large number of people from Transcarpathia also live in such European countries as Austria, Germany, Moldova, Belarus, Russia. ASIA: many immigrants from Transcarpathia live in Israel. AMERICA: USA - 620,000, Canada - 20,000, a large number of people from Transcarpathia live in such American countries as Argentina, Brazil. AUSTRALIA: Australia - 2.500.
The inhabitants of Carpatho-Rus sometimes refer to themselves as "Little Branch of the Great Russian Oak". These lands were among the first to become part of the Old Russian state and were the first to separate under the pressure of the Hungarian conquests.
Russian writer, emigrant of the first wave Ivan Lukash wrote: “The Blue Carpathians. They swirl high like heavy clouds in a menacing blue. Gogol never left the vision of the Carpathians. He was definitely shocked by his vision and shook us from childhood ...
A small nation lives up to the Carpathian Mountains on the mountain peaks, as in the blue of the clouds. The small tribe of Russia of Prince Vladimir and Prince Yaroslav ...
And for centuries the people in the blue Carpathians have been dreaming about golden Russia.
Rusyns
The Rusyns are one of the oldest East Slavic peoples. They call themselves with bitter irony the Kurds of Europe - they never had their own independent state. Already in the second century AD, the ancestors of the Rusyns settled in the Carpathian region. There are several versions of the origin of this people. Various historians elevate them to black, white Croats, streets and Tivertsy.
The entire history of the Rusyns is a struggle to preserve their national identity in the most difficult conditions. From the 6th century, the Rusyn lands were dominated by the Avars, from the 7th century they were strongly influenced by the first West Slavic state of Great Moravia, from 903 Hungarian and then Austro-Hungarian rule began, which lasted more than 1000 years - until the end of the First World War, in which a real genocide took place this people. From the middle of the 19th century, there was an active forced assimilation of Rusyns, the number of Rusyn villages in the period from 1810 to 1880 was halved.
In Soviet times, the word "Rusyns" was practically excluded from circulation. No matter how they called this people - both Transcarpathian Ukrainians and Slovaks.
Nevertheless, despite all the hostile conditions for the preservation of their ethnic identity, the Rusyns managed to preserve both their language and their traditions.
Rusyns are a unique phenomenon. Due to the fact that they found themselves isolated early and retained many archaic traditions and elements of the culture of the ancient Russian state. For example, language. According to the researchers, until the 1950s it was easier for a Carpathian Rusyn to understand the ancient Russian chronicle than the text of a Russian or Ukrainian newspaper of that time.
Boyki
Boyko villages are scattered along the northern and southern Carpathian slopes in the valleys of the Limnitsa, San and Uzh rivers. People are still guessing about who were the distant ancestors of modern strikers, ironically noting that more ink has already been spent on strikers than there are left of them. Who are they: the descendants of the Serbs who went west or the ancient Slavic tribe of White Croats? Or maybe their ancestors were the Celts from the Boii tribe? The question remains open.
Boykos themselves often call themselves "Verkhovynsky". They have everything boykovski unusual.
They speak the Boiko dialect (Northern Carpathian dialect of the Ukrainian language). Often use the particle "boye" - it means "only, so."
Guests are treated with baked potatoes, pickles, cabbage, bacon, jelly, and they certainly bring a glass of Kriivka. The boys build monumental and simple huts: the walls are made of massive spruce logs, the roofs are covered mainly with “kytytsy” (straw sheaves). Windows, doors, gates are painted with outlandish ornaments. One of the important elements of the painting is, by the way, the “tree of life”. You rejoice when you see such a house: cheerful, with mood! And if you feel sad, the boikos are always ready to recall the old Beatle boiko dance, which is performed in pairs, standing on a barrel.
Hutsuls
They are called Ukrainian highlanders. Hutsuls are freedom-loving and independent. Guests are welcome, but strangers are not in a hurry to register as relatives. Fireworks people - this is probably about them.
Hutsuls pay great attention to clothing: they love to dress up, and even men's kiptar jackets are embroidered with gold and decorated with pompoms. Many Hutsuls and houses are a match for them: all around embroidered towels, carpets. The furniture is decorated with intricate carvings. In addition to outfits, the Hutsuls love weapons. It has long been believed that only a poor Hutsul has two pistoles behind a wide belt.
And they also strive to show themselves to the whole world: here we are, stately, elegant, deftly dancing and skillfully working.
The Hutsuls are a very hot people, but at the same time they know how to restrain their violent temper. In order not to break loose, the Hutsuls allegedly almost never drink alcohol: they can put up a bottle of vodka for two hundred guests who came to the wedding.
Hutsuls live in Ivano-Frankivsk, Transcarpathian and Chernivtsi regions of Ukraine. The meaning of the word "hutsul" is still debated. Some scientists believe that the etymology of the word goes back to the Moldavian "gots" or "guts", which means "robber", others - to the word "kochul", which means "shepherd". Be that as it may, the Hutsuls have always been considered skilled shepherds.
To transmit signals during their stay in the mountains, the Hutsul shepherds used a long wooden pipe - trembita (it also acted as a musical instrument).
And the traditions of shamanism are still strong here. If you're lucky, you can meet the Hutsul molfar. In ancient times they were called "earthly gods", and today they are healers, sorcerers, healers (it depends on whether the molfar is white or black). Molfars enjoy unquestioned authority: their prophecies come true, there are also known cases of healing hopelessly ill people.
Lemko
According to one version, the ancestors of the Lemkos were the ancient tribes of White Croats, who lived on the slopes of the Carpathian Mountains. The Lemkos had to endure many tragedies: destruction in the Talerhof concentration camp, forced resettlement as part of the Vistula special operation.
Today, part of the Lemkos lives in Ukraine, another part - in Poland, the third - in Slovakia. Lemkos living in Ukraine predominantly consider themselves part of the Ukrainian people, although you can also meet those who advocate “odrubnost” (national self-sufficiency).
The Lemkos are trying to preserve their national characteristics, primarily the language. Lemko speech is easy to distinguish by the constant stress on the penultimate syllable (in contrast to the mobile stress in the speech of the Eastern Slavs), the hard “y” and the frequent use of the word “lem” (“only”, “only”).
The compiler of the Lemko primer, Dmitry Vislotsky, wrote the following: “... our Lemko conversation is the root conversation of the entire Russian people. Our words are Russian, and the accent is Slovak and Polish. I came from the fact that we hear a lot of Polish and Slovak conversations, so we’ll be in touch with them.”
Traditional Lemko outfits are easily recognizable. The men wore a cloth chugan coat, unusual for Ukrainians, the women wore white headscarves and a wide patterned monisto “silyanka”. Today, in the bazaars of Western Ukraine, one can see soaring wooden eagles and plates braided with wire - examples of the traditional Lemko craft called “drotyarstvo”. Many famous personalities considered themselves Lemkos, but the most famous Lemko was, perhaps, Andy Warhol (real name Andrei Vargola) - a cult figure in the world of pop art.
The fact that Ukraine is a multinational state is an indisputable fact. However, Ukrainians as a nation are also multifaceted and rich in ethnic characteristics. It so happened historically that over the centuries, various circumstances contributed to the emergence of peculiar sub-ethnic groups among Ukrainians, which often acquired quite specific and clear features. However, today we are talking specifically about the Carpathian region, because your trip there one way or another will make you face the peculiarities of ethnic cultures that are unique, original and, of course, interesting for travelers and tourists.
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Boyki
Obviously, we will start our journey from the Lviv region (Skolevsky, Turkovsky, Drohobychsky, Samborsky and Starosamborsky districts). Here the dominant ethnic groups in the Carpathians are the Boiki. A large folk community, consisting of more than several thousand representatives, differs from others in cultural characteristics, dialect, and traditions. Scientists argue that it is not monolithic either: approximately 14 sub-ethnoi are distinguished in its composition. If you visit the Lviv region, you can see and feel the features of this ethnic group in wooden architecture, icon painting, folk crafts, as well as in folk and religious traditions. In addition, strikers can be found in a large part of the Ivano-Frankivsk region (Bogorodchansky, Rozhnyatinsky and Dolinsky districts), and in the Transcarpathian region (Volovetsky, Mezhgorsky and Velikobereznyansky districts).
Lamkey
Another ethnic group that was once mountainous is Lamki. Unfortunately, due to the repressive policy of the USSR and deportation, they lost their homeland and today are scattered in small groups throughout Ukraine. But the ethnos remained and in recent years has been actively working to preserve its ethnic heritage. Today, Lamko villages can be found in the foothills of the Carpathians, where they were resettled after the Second World War. They stand out sharply from nearby settlements in dialect and way of life.
Hutsuls
If lamks and boyks feel comfortable both in the mountains and in the lowlands, the Hutsul ethnic group can be considered a 100% mountain people who have formed their traditions, way of life and culture in the highlands. The Hutsul region is part of the Ivano-Frankivsk (Verkhovynskyi region), Transcarpathian (Rakhiv region) and Chernivtsi regions (Putilsky and Vizhnitsky regions). Well-known Hutsul centers are Verkhovyna, Sheshory, Yasinya, etc. ... Living among the mountains was reflected in the way the Hutsuls managed their economy. This is mainly sheep breeding and woodworking. Therefore, folk crafts, traditions, architecture are somehow tied to these activities. The Hutsuls differ from other ethnic groups in their bright attire, dialect, bright authentic elements in architecture and crafts. During the formation of the ethnos, the Hutsulshchyna acquired a rather big history. Among the brightest historical events is the Oprishkovo movement (Oleksa Dovbush, Lukyan Kobylitsa, etc.), which today is an interesting tourist attraction, which is reflected in the monuments and exhibits of many local museums.
Features of Transcarpathia
Already from the above information, we understand that all ethnic groups of the Carpathian region are represented in Transcarpathia. But that's not all the surprises: Transcarpathia is extremely multinational, so lamki, boyki, Hutsuls, or more simply Ukrainians make up only some part of it. There are large groups of Hungarians, Romanians, Slovaks, Gypsies, Russians, Belarusians and other nationalities here. And all this functions in a very close and complex ethno-split, which makes Transcarpathia simply the same unique center of the Carpathian region. There are situations when neighboring villages cannot communicate because they speak very contrasting dialects. This state of affairs is caused by the historical and strategic circumstances of Transcarpathia (as Transcarpathia is sometimes called). They say that there is a village in Transcarpathia, where residents changed their citizenship 7 times during the 20th century, while remaining in place. As a result: a striking difference from other areas of the Carpathian region. This manifests itself both in architecture and in a very large and rich collection of dialects.
What does the ethnic diversity of the Carpathians promise tourists?
At first glance, the ethnic component seems to have a very small impact on the tourist attractiveness of the Carpathian region, but in practice we see that this is not the case. She plays almost the main violin in this process. As confirmation - the existing associations and images with which the Carpathians or its specific territories are associated. As an example, let's take the Trembita musical instrument, which can only be heard in the Carpathians and still there are many discussions and legends around it. And here is a complete set of images: trembita - Oleksa Dovbush - a wooden Carpathian church - a citizen - a Carpathian woolen blanket, etc. Or, let's say the Transcarpathian associative series: shvabliks - a breed - putyata, etc. All these objects and phenomena that for many have become the hallmark of the Carpathian region , one way or another created precisely by the ethnic groups of this region. Therefore, while on vacation in the Carpathians and the region, we recommend that you spend at least a small part of your time getting to know the peoples of the region. This can be done quite simply by visiting a museum or an ethno-festival. For example, folk architecture can be found in Skansens - open-air museums. There are such in almost every regional center. Let's say in Lvov it's "Shevchenko Guy". We can assure you that knowledge of the Carpathians through its ethnic component promises you a lot of interesting discoveries and an unforgettable holiday in the Carpathians.
Unique, unlike any other, Ukrainian culture is woven from many bright phenomena. Some of them were brought by original peoples, and today living in the country.
Boyko villages are scattered along the northern and southern Carpathian slopes in the valleys of the Limnitsa, San and Uzh rivers. People are still guessing about who were the distant ancestors of modern strikers, ironically noting that more ink has already been spent on strikers than there are left of them. Who are they: the descendants of the Serbs who went west or the ancient Slavic tribe of White Croats? Or maybe their ancestors were the Celts from the Boii tribe? The question remains open. Boykos themselves often call themselves "Verkhovynsky".
They have everything boykovski unusual. They speak the Boiko dialect (Northern Carpathian dialect of the Ukrainian language). Often use the particle "boye" - it means "only, so." Guests are treated with baked potatoes, pickles, cabbage, bacon, jelly, and they certainly bring a glass of Kriivka.
The boys build monumental and simple huts: the walls are made of massive spruce logs, the roofs are covered mainly with “kytytsy” (straw sheaves). Windows, doors, gates are painted with outlandish ornaments. One of the important elements of the painting is, by the way, the “tree of life”. You rejoice when you see such a house: cheerful, with mood! And if you feel sad, the boikos are always ready to recall the old Beatle boiko dance, which is performed in pairs, standing on a barrel.
They are called Ukrainian highlanders. Hutsuls are freedom-loving and independent. Guests are welcome, but strangers are not in a hurry to register as relatives. Fireworks people - this is probably about them. Hutsuls pay great attention to clothing: they love to dress up, and even men's kiptar jackets are embroidered with gold and decorated with pompoms.
Many Hutsuls and houses are a match for them: all around embroidered towels, carpets. The furniture is decorated with intricate carvings. In addition to outfits, the Hutsuls love weapons. It has long been believed that only a poor Hutsul has two pistoles behind a wide belt. And they also strive to show themselves to the whole world: here we are, stately, elegant, deftly dancing and skillfully working.
The Hutsuls are a very hot people, but at the same time they know how to restrain their violent temper. In order not to break loose, the Hutsuls allegedly almost never drink alcohol: they can put up a bottle of vodka for two hundred guests who came to the wedding.
Hutsuls live in Ivano-Frankivsk, Transcarpathian and Chernivtsi regions of Ukraine. The meaning of the word "hutsul" is still debated. Some scientists believe that the etymology of the word goes back to the Moldavian "gots" or "guts", which means "robber", others - to the word "kochul", which means "shepherd".
Be that as it may, the Hutsuls have always been considered skilled shepherds. To transmit signals during their stay in the mountains, the Hutsul shepherds used a long wooden pipe - trembita (it also acted as a musical instrument).
And the traditions of shamanism are still strong here. If you're lucky, you can meet the Hutsul molfar. In ancient times they were called "earthly gods", and today they are healers, sorcerers, healers (it depends on whether the molfar is white or black). Molfars enjoy unquestioned authority: their prophecies come true, there are also known cases of healing hopelessly ill people.
The 80-90s of the last century are often called the beginning of the revival of the Lemko people. According to one version, the ancestors of the Lemkos were the ancient tribes of White Croats, who lived on the slopes of the Carpathian Mountains. The Lemkos had to endure many tragedies: destruction in the Talerhof concentration camp, forced resettlement as part of the Vistula special operation. Today, part of the Lemkos lives in Ukraine, another part - in Poland, the third - in Slovakia.
Lemkos living in Ukraine predominantly consider themselves part of the Ukrainian people, although you can also meet those who advocate “odrubnost” (national self-sufficiency).
The Lemkos are trying to preserve their national characteristics, primarily the language. Lemko speech is easy to distinguish by the constant stress on the penultimate syllable (in contrast to the mobile stress in the speech of the Eastern Slavs), the hard “y” and the frequent use of the word “lem” (“only”, “only”).
The compiler of the Lemko primer, Dmitry Vislotsky, wrote the following: “... our Lemko conversation is the root conversation of the entire Russian people. Our words are Russian, and the accent is Slovak and Polish. I came from the fact that we hear a lot of Polish and Slovak conversations, so we’ll be in touch with them.”
Traditional Lemko outfits are easily recognizable. The men wore a cloth chugan coat, unusual for Ukrainians, the women wore white headscarves and a wide patterned monisto “silyanka”. Today, in the bazaars of Western Ukraine, one can see soaring wooden eagles and plates braided with wire - examples of the traditional Lemko craft called “drotyarstvo”.
Many famous personalities considered themselves Lemkos, but the most famous Lemko was, perhaps, Andy Warhol (real name Andrei Vargola) - a cult figure in the world of pop art.
Bukovinians
Bukovinian villages in the Chernivtsi region are immediately recognizable: the houses are located close to each other, and each hut seems to compete with the neighboring outfit and neatness. Bukovinians certainly whitewash their houses and decorate them with two colored stripes.
The upper one, painted with ornaments, goes under the roof and visually connects the roof with the wall; the lower one - bright red or blue - performs a practical function: it protects the bottom of the house from dirt. Some owners decorate their houses with pilasters with fancy capitals and paint the walls between the windows in bright colors. Next to each hut there is a neat courtyard with the same bright and neat buildings.
Temples are also special among the Bukovinians: they consist of square log cabins and from a distance are very similar to a hut. Such, for example, is the church of St. Nicholas in Berehomet, built in 1786. On the inner walls of the temple, the rarest examples of Bukovinian painting, including fragments of the Last Judgment, have been preserved. A huge role in the formation of the culture and traditions of the Bukovinians was played by the Russian Old Believers Lilovans, who began to move to the territory of the modern Chernivtsi region in the 20s of the 18th century.
Podolian
Podolia is a historical area in the south of Ukraine in the interfluve of the Dniester and the Southern Brut. The ancestors of modern Podolians began to populate these territories presumably in the 4th-3rd century BC. Much later, the fortress of Klipedava was erected here, around which the city of Kamyanets-Podilsky eventually grew up.
The original culture of the Podillians has undergone many influences: Russian Old Believers, Poles, Jews, and Armenians bit by bit enriched their way of life and traditions. That is why you can find Catholic churches, Orthodox churches, Muslim minarets in these places.
All the eclecticism of the cultural traditions of Podilians, as in a mirror, is reflected in their arts and crafts - pottery, weaving, embroidery and basket weaving. Traditional clothes are richly decorated, embroidered and hemstitched. Podolsk women's shirts, the sleeves of which are embroidered with intricate patterns, are known far beyond the borders of Ukraine. Self-woven carpets with “speaking” floral or geometric ornaments are no less popular.
The smeared walls of the Podolsk huts are slightly blued, some fragments are lined with red clay, the interior is generously decorated with embroidered towels. Even stoves - a sacred hearth - are painted by the Podolians with “pines” and “horsetails”.
It is interesting that the cult of the earth was widespread among the ancient Podolians: digging, “beating” it without need was considered unacceptable. Information about the so-called “Earth Oath” has come down to our times, when a person knelt down and took earth into his mouth. It was believed that the miraculous power of the earth healed from wounds and burns. The Podolians also believed that the "native land" as an amulet was able to protect the soldier from the enemy's bullet.
