Today, on the third Thursday of May, Ukrainians are once again celebrating Vyshyvanka Day. Across the country, people wear embroidered shirts to work, school, or simply for a walk, showing their respect for traditions and national identity.
Vyshyvanka Day is not an official public holiday, but it is gaining increasing recognition each year. The initiative to celebrate it began in 2006 among students of Chernivtsi University.
It could be said that the holiday initially existed and was celebrated within a small circle, but in 2014, it spread beyond the conscious student community — and beyond Ukraine itself.
This year’s celebration carries special significance against the backdrop of the full-scale war. The vyshyvanka has become a symbol of resilience, unity, and cultural resistance.
The Ukrainian vyshyvanka, along with the pysanka, is one of the most vivid symbols of Ukrainian culture. Moreover, by wearing an embroidered shirt, one not only displays its beauty and uniqueness but also affirms their connection to the age-old Ukrainian cultural tradition.