First Hutsul Culture Festival in Kyiv

The beginning of the hutsul culture festival in Kyiv is marked with the sounds of the trembita – a traditional hutsul instrument. The trembita is over 3 meters long. It is made of the wood of the Norway spruce.

In addition to trembitas, guests of the event could also listen to the music played on whistles. They are made from clay right at the festival, and everyone wiling can try them out.

Hutsuls from different Carpathian villages and towns came to the festival. Residents of Yavoriv can be recognized by their bright hats.

In addition to blankets and tapestries, wool is also used for making coats and vests.

Making one vest takes a week. At first, the wool is steamed and dried, and then spinned. Everything is done manually, without any machines. Weaving traditions go from generation to generation. The Hutsuls presented another of their crafts – making brass jewelry.

“Grazhda Fest” festival of the hutsul culture is held in the outdoor museum of architecture and life. Grazhda is the name of a wooden Carpathian house. Employees of the museum have set a goal – to liven up their exhibits – houses which are several hundred years old. Guests of the festival say they feel like they touched history. The museum is planning to capture all ethnic regions of Ukraine. This fall, it will hold a festival of the Lemkos culture.