UKRAINIAN WREATH
UKRAINIAN WREATH
History of the Ukrainian wreath
Sung in songs and shrouded in legends, the Ukrainian wreath has a long history. It was first mentioned during the Sumerian culture - XII – III centuries. BC e.
The descendants of the Sumerians, representatives of the Corded Ware culture, left many symbols for future generations, including the mythical sign of the goddess Inanna - Ishtar, which means “clear sky”. It consists of a wreath - a circle and a ribbon woven into it, creating two ends, as well as a star with six rays in the center.
It is interesting that the same sign is depicted on the sarcophagus of Yaroslav the Wise in St. Sophia of Kiev (XII century). Researchers believe that the Ukrainian wreath is a simplified sign of Inanna, as if the wishes of a peaceful, clear sky above the head of the one who wears it protected from evil forces and misfortunes.
In the days of Antiquity, the wreath was considered a symbol of happiness and talent. It was used to decorate the winners, during the delivery of speeches, it was dressed by the orators, it was decorated with sacred objects. Was a wreath and a symbol of sorrow.
Our ancestors knew that the main part of a person's body, with which he understands the world and influences it, is the head, therefore they created wreaths-amulets for it, which protected from damage and evil spells. Not surprisingly, in ancient depictions of a woman goddess, she is wearing a headdress made of flowers, herbs, potions and branches.
It is interesting that in different regions of Ukraine the wreath was called differently: in Podolia - korobul, lubok, in Chernihiv region - teremok, in Hutsul region - whip, in Pereyaslav region - gibalka ...
Herbs and flowers for a wreath
The wreath should consist of no more than 12 flowers. Usually the wreath was made not too lush so that it fit neatly to the head.
For a long time, the wreath was a book of the soul of a young girl: in the language of flowers, she expressed her feelings, state of mind and talked about the events that happened in her life.
Flowers are symbols that are traditionally woven into a wreath:
poppy - a flower of desires, a symbol of fertility, beauty and youth;
cherry and apple blossom - maternal love and devotion;
chamomile - a symbol of tenderness, loyalty and love;
sunflower - a symbol of devotion and loyalty;
mint - a talisman for a child and his health;
cornflowers are a symbol of humanity;
rose, mallow and peony - symbols of faith, hope, love;
oregano - a symbol of maternal love;
viburnum - beauty and girlish beauty;
lily - girlish charm, purity, chastity;
elecampane - the root of nine powers, which strengthens and restores health;
immortelle - a symbol of health, heals ulcers and wounds;
hops - flexibility and intelligence;
the field bell is a symbol of gratitude.
To make the wreath possess special magical power, wormwood is woven into it - the main of the herbs, sweet clover - a symbol of loyalty and oak leaves - a symbol of courage and strength. However, the most reliable amulet was and remains the periwinkle, symbolizing the immortality of the human soul, a potion of love and maiden beauty.
It was rumored that as soon as a young man and a girl eat a leaf of periwinkle, passionate love will suddenly flare up between them.
But the "unclean" potion - wolf berries, fern, dope - was strictly forbidden to weave into a wreath. It was considered unacceptable when weaving wreaths and the presence of children.
In autumn, when the herbs faded, wreaths were woven from golden leaves, and in winter - from artificial or wax flowers. The latter were woven mainly by nuns at monasteries and sold in Kiev markets. It was customary to buy artificial wreaths on the eve of marriage as wedding wreaths. Sometimes flowers in such a wreath were intertwined with green periwinkle and bird feathers were added.
What do the ribbons in the wreath symbolize?
The selection, the combination of colors and the arrangement of the ribbons in the wreath are very interesting. Ribbons of 12 colors were tied to the head of a young girl decorated with flowers. Each of them served as a beauty healer and amulet, protecting her hair from evil eyes.
The ribbons were chosen according to the length of the girl's hair and made them barely longer than the braid to hide it among the colorful flowers.
A light brown ribbon was tied in the center of the wreath. She symbolized the land-nurse. On both sides of the first ribbon, yellow ones were tied - a symbol of the clear sun. Further - light green and dark green - beauty and youth. And then - blue and blue - symbols of sky and water, giving strength and good health. Then came the orange one - a symbol of bread, purple - wisdom, crimson - sincerity, pink - a symbol of prosperity and prosperity.
If the wreath consisted of poppies, the girls decorated it with a red ribbon - a symbol of magic and sadness.
White ribbons were tied on a wreath only when they were embroidered: on one - the sun, on the second - a month. It was not customary to weave a clean ribbon into a wreath, because it meant longing for the dead.
The orphan's scythe and wreath were decorated with blue ribbons. Passers-by presented her with bread and money, wished her happiness and prosperity. In gratitude, the orphan gave the merciful gentlemen a ribbon from her wreath.
