ALL ABOUT UKRAINE

Just a few facts !

Where is Ukraine?

Ukraine is found in Europe. (Don't say the Ukraine)

Its neighbors are:

• Russia to the north and east

• Belarus to the north

• Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west

• Romania and Moldova to the south.

Map of UKRAINE

• Ukraine declared independence on Aug. 24, 1991

• Population of Ukraine: 44,381,300

• Territory of Ukraine: 603,700 sq. km.

• Capital of Ukraine: KYIV (population 2,894,900)

pronounced KY (like in kick), I (like in yield), V (like in water)

• Ukraine is divided into 24 Oblasts (like provinces)

• Each oblast is named after its main city

• Crimea was an autonomous region that was forcibly

taken over by Russia in 2014. Many countries in the

world do not acknowledge this takeover.

Flag of Ukraine

The flag is blue and yellow. The yellow symbolizes Ukraine’s wheat

fields. The blue symbolizes the sky above and some say Ukraine’s

rivers and mountains.

Ukrainian State Coat of Arms - TRYZUBThe Tryzub – meaning trident is an ancient sign. It was used by Prince Volodymyr

the Great on gold and silver coins used in Kyivan Rus (Ukraine’s ancient name)

• The words and music were written in the 1860’s and performed as a choral work. The song became very popular since it was a vocal protest against Ukraine’s occupation by other nations.

• It was sung as the anthem in 1918, when Ukraine declared its independence, but was forbidden during Soviet times. Outside of Ukraine, ukrainians all over the world continued singing it as the anthem.

• It was officially accepted in Ukraine in 1992.

Approximate translation:Ukraine’s glory, nor her freedom, has not yet perished,Fate shall smile once again upon us, brothers,Our enemies will vanish, like dew in the sun,And we too shall rule, brothers, in a free land of our own.

Refrain x 2We’ll give our souls and bodies for our freedom,And we’ll show that we are brothers of the Cossack nation!

Ukraine’s National Anthem

National animals of Ukraine

• The BEAR is wise, strong, and

independent.

• His awakening in spring is a symbol of

renewal and a new life cycle.

• The STORK is a symbol of parental

love, family welfare and patriotism.

• Stork’s nests, built on rooftops of the

houses, are thought to bring fortune

and happiness to the household.

National plants• SUNFLOWER is the national flower. It

symbolizes the warmth and power of the sun

and wellbeing.

• Painted and embroidered sunflowers are

very popular in folk art.

• The Guelder-rose or KALYNA is the national

tree (shrub). It is a symbol of life, blood and

fire. It is also a symbol for the timeless unity

of the Ukrainian nation.

• The leaves and red berries are used to decorate wedding breads.

Religion in Ukraine• From the acceptance of Christianity in 988,

religion flourished.

• Many churches were built.

• Under the Soviet rule, religion was banned,

many churches were burnt and priests were

persecuted.

• Even before independence, religion

resurfaced.

Nowadays, the largest denominations in Ukraine

are:

• Ukrainian Orthodox

• Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox

• Ukrainian Greek Catholic (Byzantine

Catholic Church)

• Roman Catholic

There are also a number of Protestant, Judaic

and Islamic denominations.

• St. Sofia Church in Kyiv was built in

1017. It is part of a larger complex that

includes a bell tower and residential

building for clergy, that were added

throughout the years. The church has

gone through many restorations,

however the exposed brick is part of

the original building.

• UNESCO world heritage site

Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church

Iconostasis in Ukrainian church in Lourdes,

France.

• Part of the Ukrainian Orthodox

Church converted to Catholicism

in 1596.

• Ukrainian Catholic Church

belongs to the group of Byzantine

Rite Eastern Catholic Churches.

• Other Churches belonging to this

rite are Slovak, Greek, Melkite,

Bulgarian – among others.

• Ukrainian Catholic rite is similar to

the Ukrainian Orthodox Rite. The

language of the liturgy is

Ukrainian.

• Ukrainian churches are beautifully

decorated with icons. A screen

with icons called the

ICONOSTASIS separates the

sanctuary from the congregation.

CURRENCY• HRYVNIA is the name of currency in

Ukraine. It comes from an old word -

name of a measure of silver in the X

century.

• After Ukraine proclaimed

independence in 1991, they needed

their own currency and Canadian

Bank Note Company was chosen to

create it.

• Some of the first Ukrainian Hryvni

were printed in Canada in 1992.

New bills were kept in Canada until

its circulation in 1996.

• There are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100,

200, 500 Hryvnia bills/nominations.

• Famous historical figures and poets

are depicted on one side. Buildings

and/or monuments associated with

these figures are on the reverse

side.

Ukrainian Coins1

• Coins are called

“kopijky”.

• They come in 1, 2, 5,

10, 25 and 50

denominations.

• Just as Canada has

gotten rid of the

1cent coin, the 1 and

2 “kopijky” coins are

becoming obsolete.

• Ukraine has issued

some coins in

addition to the bank

notes. They come in

1, 2, 5 and 10 Hryvni

denominations.

Ukrainian Alphabet - history

• Ukrainian language uses Cyrillic alphabet.

• Cyrillic is based on the Glagolithic (Old Slavonic) and Greek

alphabets.

• The Glagolithic and Cyrillic alphabets were developed by the

brothers St. Cyril and St. Methodius to use in translating the Bible

into Slavic languages in the IX c.

• The alphabet came into Kyivan Rus (Ukraine) around the time of the

arrival of Christianity in 988.

• Many Slavic languages (Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian, Russian,

Belorussian, Tatar, Montenegrin) use Cyrillic alphabet with some

unique letters in each.

• Ukrainian alphabet or ABETKA has 33 letters.

Ukrainian Alphabet 1 - pronunciation

Letter Cyrillic

Name Pronounce as

А а А a as in mama

Б б Be b as in bus

В в Ve v as in very

Г г He h as in hard

Ґ ґ Ge g as in gas

Д д De d as in dog

Е е E e as in pet

Є є Ye ye as in yet

Letter CYrillic

Name Pronounce as

Ж ж Zhe zh as in measure

З з Ze z as in zoo

І і I i as in Easter

Ї ї Yi yi as in yeast

Й й Yot y as in yoga

К к Ka k as in kite

Л л eL l as in like

М м eM m as in mouse

Ukrainian Alphabet 2 - pronunciation

LetterCyrillic

Name Pronounced as

Н н eN n as in nose

О о O o as in got

П п Pe p as in pet

Р р Re r as in trois (French)

С с eS s as in sun

Т т Te t as in tick

У у Oo oo as in soon

Ф ф eF f as in fish

Letter Cyrillic

Name Pronounced as

Х х Kha kh as in Bach

Ц ц Tse ts as in mitts

Ч ч Che ch as in church

Ш ш She sh as in shoe

Щ щ Shche shch as in fish chowder

Ь ь Softening sound

Makes the consonant before softer

Ю ю Yu yu as in you

Я я Ya ya as in Maya