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- Ukrainian Youth Association in Estonia
- Ukrainian art studio "MRIJA"
- Ensemble of folk instruments "Dibrova"
- Ukrainian community "Vodohray"
- Reading Club "Kolo"
- Ukrainian community "Spohad"
- Cultural club "Kryla" of the "ORFEY" society
- Shared library Spilno_ee
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- Ukrainian Society and "Kalyna" Saturday School in Valga
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"Vyshyvanka Unites" festival
The festival "Vyshyvanka Unites - Rahvustikand ühendab" is dedicated to the World Vyshyvanka Day and aims to unite people through a shared love of culture, art, folk creativity, and traditions!
In 2023, the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia organized this festival for the first time. The event was attended by around 2,000 guests, and during the festival, an official representative of the National Register of Records of Ukraine recorded a new record – the largest number of people in vyshyvankas in the Baltic countries (358 people in vyshyvankas in one location)! That same year, the festival was recognized as the best integration event of the year by the experts of the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of Estonia.
The year 2024 has been declared the Year of Cultural Diversity in Estonia, and in honor of this, we invited all national minorities and communities residing in Estonia to participate in the festival "Vyshyvanka Unites - Rahvustikand ühendab 2024"! Ukraine, Estonia, Poland, Armenia, Turkey, and Japan – these countries were represented at this year's festival, and we were also visited by guests from the USA, UK, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Spain, Finland, Peru, and more.
The slogan of the festival, "Similarities unite – differences enrich," perfectly reflects the meaning and concept of this celebration!
In 2024, the festival was attended by 2,500 people. Visitors enjoyed a wide range of activities and locations for all ages and tastes:
- market offering authentic goods from 50 Ukrainian craftswomen living in Estonia, where guests could purchase vyshyvankas, wreaths, jewelry, and other handmade items
- 10 different workshops where participants could learn various embroidery techniques, braid ribbons into hair, decorate gingerbread cookies, paint shoppers and t-shirts, create traditional Ukrainian dolls (motanky), and much more
- children's zone with different activities, supported by the Ukrainian volunteer library Spilno_ee and the Ukrainian football club "Molfar"
- Food courts with national cuisines of the peoples residing in Estonia
- concert program featuring national dances and songs
- fashion show of vyshyvankas by Ukrainian brands "Dva Kolory" and "Momot fashion"
- demonstration of the embroidery process of a carpet by the Estonian collective Raudrohi and Silvia Aarma
- festive lottery with prizes from Ukrainian craftwomen
A unique part of the festival program was a performance of a "Ukrainian wedding," where guests could immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a wedding with many Ukrainian wedding traditions and rituals, including the blessing of the bride and groom, the wedding procession, the bride's headscarf ceremony, and the lighting of the family hearth!
During the festival, everyone had the opportunity to participate in weaving camouflage nets for the Armed Forces of Ukraine organized by MTÜ AITAN KAITSTA, creating "angels of victory" and yellow-blue ribbon bracelets for soldiers, and raising funds for the needs of the Kraken combat unit.
In organizing the 2024 festival, 20 coordinators and about 50 volunteers were involved, with the support of Ukrainian organizations that are part of the Association, such as the Union of Ukrainian Youth of Estonia, the Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Society "PROSVITA", the dance ensemble "Kolor", the Ukrainian Art Studio "MRIJA", the Ukrainian Association Spogad in Paide city, Ukraina meedia Druzi MTÜ, Art Studio "Anima", MTÜ Spilno Library, KOLO, Tartu, OÜ Gumor UA, the Ukrainian Day Center in Pärnu, and others.
Given the tremendous support for the "Vyshyvanka Unites - Rahvustikand ühendab" festival from both the Estonian and Ukrainian communities, we have decided to make the festival an annual event!
Next year, we look forward to welcoming everyone again to this vibrant and incredible celebration of cultural beauty!
Feel free to contact us regarding cooperation or participation in the "Vyshyvanka Unites 2025" festival:
"Vyshyvanka Unites" festival Latest News