"Vyshyvanka Unites" festival

Organised by UKRAINA MEEDIA DRUZI MTÜ under the auspices of the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia.

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:

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"Vyshyvanka Unites" festival Latest News

«Recruitment of participants for master classes for the festival "Embroidery unites"– Rahvustikandühendab»

If you love crafting, embroidering, decorating — in other words, creating with your hands — and want to share your skills with others, we’d be happy to welcome you among the crafters of the warmest part of our festival!

9 April 2025

Recruitment of participants for the concert program for the festival "Embroidery unites - Rahvustikand ühendab"

Performing solo or with a group? Singing, dancing, or creating unique performances? Then we’re looking for you!

7 April 2025

Recruitment of participants for the concert program for the festival "Embroidery unites - Rahvustikand ühendab"

The festival "Vyshyvanka Unites – Rahvustikand ühendab" in Tallinn is now accepting applications for its artisan fair!

4 April 2025

The "Vyshyvanka Unites" festival invites everyone to a vibrant celebration of rich traditions, folk art and creativity, amazing in its…

For the third year in a row, the Association of Ukrainian Organisations together with the Open Air Museum invites all Ukrainian and Estonian friends, families and communities to unite around preserving the age-old traditions and cultural heritage of our two peoples.

2 April 2025

Thank you to the participants of the festival “Vyshyvanka Unites”

Our Facebook feed is blooming with the colours of Ukrainian embroidery, your smiles and words of thanks after the festival “Vyshyvanka Unites”. We too want to thank you for the chance to be together like family. You are amazing, our dear friends!

28 May 2024

Фестиваль "Вишиванка об'єднує" | Rahvustikandi Ühendab 2024 | Таллінн

Зустрічайте! Фестиваль "Вишиванка об'єднує" запрошує всіх бажаючих на унікальне свято єднання народів через любов до мистецтва, народної творчості та традицій!

19 May 2024

Festive lottery at the festival

Our partners and creative craftspeople have prepared 16 wonderful prizes for festival guests!

18 May 2024

Celebrating World Vyshyvanka Day and Estonia’s Year of Cultural Diversity

“Similarity unites – difference enriches”! We celebrate World Vyshyvanka Day and Estonia’s Year of Cultural Diversity together with the best dance and vocal groups and performers representing different cultures: Ukraine, Estonia, Poland and Japan!

16 May 2024