You just couldn’t miss them on the street. Some 250 individuals each wearing a vyshyvanka marched in the North End in celebration of Ukrainian Independence Day. Their route took them from Sts. Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral (McGregor & Stella) to the Shevchenko Park (McGregor and Burrows), then to St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral (Burrows & Sinclair), finally ending at the Institute Prosvita Hall (Pritchard & Arlington).
A vyshyvanka, the familiar dress code for many Ukrainian celebrations, is a Ukrainian top (e. g. shirt, blouse, T-shirt, hoody) with Ukrainian embroidery ornamentation. Based on the traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt of rural folk apparel, it has been successfully adapted to contemporary urban fashion. Wearing a vyshyvanka is about celebrating or affirming one’s identity, creating a sense of cultural pride and national solidarity, and promoting artistic cultural expression.
The Vyshyvanka March concluded with a vyshyvanka contest with recognition for the best family, best children’s and best woman’s or man’s vyshyvanka. Jurors were Vera Matwichyna and Luba Krashulyak.
The festivities wrapped up with a Ukrainian sing-along with Darren Gagaluk and Dobryan Tracz (guitar), and Nestor Budyk (accordian). The event was organized by the two community organizations, ”Myloserdia” Humanitarian Association of Ukrainian Volunteers and the Canadian Ukrainian Institute Prosvita.
