World Vyshyvanka Day is an international holiday that aims to preserve the Ukrainian traditions of creating and wearing ethnic embroidered clothes called vyshyvankas. It is celebrated on the third Thursday of May. 🇺🇦
The word “vyshyvanka” comes from “vyshyvaty” — to embroider.
Vyshyvanka served as a talisman, believed to protect from evil.
On their wedding day, the bride and groom wore embroidered shirts for luck.
Every Ukrainian region has its own “embroidered style”. Each village often had its own unique pattern.
Embroidered shirts were precious gifts, never given casually.
Vyshyvanka’s patterns told a story — they revealed age, status, and origin.
Children wore embroidered shirts with protective symbols. Even infants had embroidered shirts for blessing.
Vyshyvanka in numbers
~ 200
In Ukraine, you can find 200 embroidery techniques.
50–100
Girls were expected to know up to 50–100 embroidery patterns by heart.
20
Families often had 20 or more embroidered shirts per member.
2021
In 2021, vyshyvanka was added to Ukraine’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Did you know?
A very long time ago, even when people lived in the time of the Trypillia culture, women already decorated their clothes with colorful patterns, embroidery, and little sewn-on shapes. 🌿🧵 Even though the old fabrics didn’t survive until today, archaeologists found special things that show — people loved to decorate their clothes back then too!
At the Kosiv Market and the Kolomyia Night Bazaar, you can find real Ukrainian embroidered shirts made by talented craftswomen! Each shirt is special, handmade with love and tradition.
The holiday called Vyshyvanka Day started in 2007 thanks to a student named Lesya Voronyuk. She studied history and wanted everyone to celebrate Ukrainian culture by wearing beautiful embroidered shirts!
In many countries where Ukrainians live around the world, people celebrate Vyshyvanka Day with colorful parades! They dress in traditional shirts and walk together proudly to show their love for Ukraine.
On May 16, 2024, in the city of Ternopil, anyone wearing a vyshyvanka could ride buses and trams for free! The city gave this special gift to people to celebrate World Embroidery Day.
Many famous stars around the world have worn Ukrainian vyshyvankas! Even Princess Kate Middleton from Great Britain wore one to show her love and support for Ukraine.
On August 20, 2013, Ukraine released a special coin called “Ukrainian Vyshyvanka”. It celebrates the beauty of traditional embroidery and is part of the “Ukrainian Heritage” coin series!
Soccer in vyshyvankas
On May 7, 2011, thousands of football fans in Lviv wore vyshyvankas and marched together to the stadium before the match. After the game, even the players wore traditional embroidered shirts!
To Everest in vyshyvanka
On May 23, 2019, a Ukrainian climber named Vitaliy Kozubskyi climbed the highest mountain on Earth — Mount Everest — wearing a vyshyvanka shirt! The patterns on his shirt matched the family design his grandfather used to wear.
Record-Breaking Vyshyvanka Celebrations
The biggest gatherings of people wearing vyshyvankas at the same time have set records in many cities across Ukraine! ✨
Odessa, 2016 3,351 people wore vyshyvankas together and set a big record!
Kyiv, 2018 More than 8,000 people gathered near Saint Sophia Cathedral wearing beautiful embroidered shirts!
Lviv, 2019 Students and teachers from Ivan Franko National University wore vyshyvankas and made a huge living trident — a symbol of Ukraine! Over 4,000 people took part!
In 2017, to celebrate World Embroidery Day, Lviv made a huge 16-meter cake shaped like a rushnyk (traditional embroidered towel) 🎂
photo: Facebook / Ветрова Лана
Vyshyvanka Social Bench in the Netherlands!
In Zandam, the Netherlands, there is a special bench decorated with a beautiful mosaic of traditional Ukrainian embroidery patterns! 🇺🇦✨ The bench features a map of Ukraine, laid out in a mosaic pattern of traditional Ukrainian embroidery. More than 50 Ukrainian women who moved to the city after February 24, 2022. The official opening took place on February 24, 2023, with the participation of the Mayor of Zaandam, Jan Gamming.
“Good night, children”
When the first TVs appeared in Ukrainian homes, kids started watching a bedtime show called “Na dobranich, dity” (Goodnight, children)! The host, Did Panas, always wore a vyshyvanka and told magical Ukrainian fairy tales.
The most famous Ukrainian song 🎤 about the vyshyvanka is called “Dva kolory” (“Two Colors”) ! It was written in 1964 by composer Oleksandr Bilash with lyrics by Dmytro Pavlychko. The first person to sing it was Anatolii Mokrenko, a talented Ukrainian singer. 🇺🇦
