Understanding Ukrainian Culture
Being all things to all men
1 Corinthians 9: 19-22: Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave
to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the
Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not
under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became
like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's
law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the
weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might
save some.
Ethnocentrism or ethnocentricity is the tendency to look at the world primarily from
the perspective of one's own culture. This term was coined by William Graham Sumner,
a social evolutionist and professor of Political and Social Science at Yale University. He
defined it as the viewpoint that “one‟s own group is the center of everything,” against
which all other groups are judged. Ethnocentrism often entails the belief that one's
own race or ethnic group is the most important and/or that some or all aspects of
its culture are superior to those of other groups. Within this ideology, individuals will
judge other groups in relation to their own particular ethnic group or culture, especially
with concern to language, behavior, customs, and religion. These ethnic distinctions and
sub-divisions serve to define each ethnicity's unique cultural identity. (Wikipedia)
Cultural Relativism, on the other hand, is an acceptance of other people‟s beliefs,
behaviors, customs and religion with an understanding that even if their way of thinking
and acting is different from your own, it is still as valid and works for that particular
group of people. People with cultural relativism do not assign any value judgment to
other culture‟s customs, they observe them in light of that culture.
1) “Rukavychka” (The Mitten) is the story of all the animals squeezing in together on a
cold winter day into one tightly-knit mitten that stretches to fit all the animals in. This
story reflects two basic Ukrainian values: hospitality and community spirit. A U.S.
version of the Mitten would be The Glove where all the animals are in separate
places and each animal has to fend for itself. The Glove and The Mitten are two
striking symbols of two different cultures.
EXPECTATION: Observe how interdependent Ukrainians are to understand the
spirit of community. People tend to ask others for help first as opposed to figure
things out on one‟s own. That was my first tendency when I came to Minnesota –
just to go ask people for help which was not always received the way it is in
Ukraine.
2) Hospitality that reaches beyond the limits of time and economy.
EXPECTATION: Ukrainians help each other out at all times and expect the same
from others. When eating your own goodies share candy, food, gum, drinks.
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Don‟t assume they have their own. Offer to share your food with them. They
might not take it, but offering is still part of sharing.
3) Food and Guests: The best is for the guest (including bed and linens)
A. Visitors might find Ukrainian hospitality overwhelming. You will love it though.
B. Can hospitality be „too much‟? Have you felt pressure at mealtime in Ukraine?
C. Why doesn‟t learning the phrase ‘Please, No More Food” bring the desired
results?
EXPECTATION: Accept what you are offered and try to eat all that‟s on the plate
(leaving the food on the plate shows disrespect toward the hostess).
4) Community Spirit is a survival mechanism: Just like in Rukavychka, community spirit
is evident at times of hardship, sadness and joy. There are two main events where
this community spirit is most evident: funerals and harvest.
A.
Funeral is organized with the help of friends, neighbors, easing the burden on
the grieving relatives. While foreigners might see this as interference,
Ukrainians feel a desire to rally around. Mirrors are covered on the day of the
funeral in the house where the coffin is. Ukrainian tradition (on the 9th and the
40th days after the funeral, the relatives and friends gather around the table to
remember the deceased, as it is believed that the soul stays on earth for forty
days.) While Protestant Christians might not believe that about the soul, some
still adhere to the tradition of gathering on the 9th and the 40th days. These
gatherings play an important role in supporting the family. Comparison of
American and Ukrainian funerals: small talk vs. wailing. It is very inappropriate
to do small talk at Ukrainian funerals. All the talk (if any) usually revolves
around the deceased. Wailing and crying take place instead of talking.
EXPECTATION: Even though Americans might perceive the communal
support as interference, it is encouraged to help out and offer support (more
than “I‟ll pray for you”)
B.
Harvest – rural Ukraine‟s tradition to help each other with the harvest. Hiring
someone to hoe your potatoes is a reflection of a capitalist mentality which is
not a Ukrainian mentality.
ADVICE: be cautious with giving advice because Ukrainians work within a
communal and not individualistic mentality. What seems like a great idea in
America might be totally rejected in Ukraine. Do NOT have the attitude that
American ideas are the best, they work only in your culture. Ukrainians have
their own way of handling problems.
Ruslana Westerlund
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Ukrainian Superstitions
Ukrainian everyday life is structured around unspoken rules and superstitions:
The reasons are:
a. paganism, practiced before the 10th century;
b. regular observations of nature;
c. the Ukrainian love of mysticism
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Don’ts of Ukrainian superstitions (will cause bad luck):
Don‟t shake hands across the threshold
Don‟t whistle in the house
Don‟t keep your empty bottles on the table.
Don‟t return to your house if you have forgotten something
Do’s of Ukrainian superstitions (will bring good luck):
 Do sit between two people with the same names
 Do sit down for a moment of silence before anyone leaves on a journey
 Do spit three times across your left shoulder if a black cat crosses the road.
Superstitions about babies:
 Attach a safety pin to their children‟s clothes to ward off the evil eye.
 Do not come to see the new baby with empty hands (always bring a gift).
 Do not tell early in your pregnancy about being pregnant (jinx). There is no
such thing as baby showers especially before the baby has arrived.
Superstitions about marriage:
 Don‟t sit on the corner of the table because you will never get married.
 Don‟t sweep the floor into the eyes of the sun (at sunset).
THE BIG QUESTION: How do Ukrainian believers reconcile with the superstitions
rooted in paganism that penetrate daily life and become inseparable part of how one
does life? Can a person detach oneself from the ingrained culture of superstitions once
saved? What have you observed?
RECOMMENDATION: Even though this seems very wrong to you, try to understand
this culture as opposed to offer your rational or scientific explanations to life. Because
American society is rational, it doesn‟t make it superior to Ukrainian, it is just different.
Try to learn from the Ukrainians and their culture, it will provide insight into your own.
Sources on Ukraine:
Shevchenko, Anna. Ukraine: a quick guide to customs and etiquette. Kurepard 2005.
Dalton, Meredith. Culture Shock! Ukraine. Graphic Arts Publishing Center 2004.
Reid, Anna. Borderland: a journey through the history of Ukraine. Westview 2000.
Wilson, Andrew. The Ukrainians: unexpected nation. Yale University Press 2000.
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