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The home of Nastia Oleksiivna Haiduk. This view is of the interior of a shed, showing both wicker baskets and more modern storage containers. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nizhens'kyi raion -- Kolesnyky. Kole0239 A thatch-covered house of the older type. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nizhens'kyi raion -- Kolesnyky. Kole0240 Vera Korotovna, an informant who spoke about wedding customs. Here she is showing how the starosty (elders) sent by the potential groom wrapped a bread in a kerchief, here called "riaba khustka", in order to present it to the parents of the bride. This presentation is made when the groom, in the company of the elders (starosty) he has selected, goes to the parents of the bride to ask for their daughter's hand in marriage. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nizhens'kyi raion -- Kolesnyky. Kole0241 A group of informants who spoke about weddings and other life cycle customs. They also gave information about courtship and performed some courtship songs. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nizhens'kyi raion -- Kolesnyky. Kole0242 The funeral of Ivan Zakharovych Dolych. The funeral procession goes from the home of the deceased to the graveyard. Women carry the coffin lid, which is covered with a cloth. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0208 The funeral of Ivan Zakharovych Dolych. The funeral procession goes from the home of the deceased to the graveyard. Men carry a bier, here called the "nary": it is covered with a cloth and the coffin is placed on top. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0209 The funeral of Ivan Zakharovych Dolych. The funeral procession stops at every crossroad. The men set down the nary or bier. The priest reads a prayer. The pevcha, the women's choir, sing "Our Father". Anyone who wants to lament bends over the deceased and does so. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0210 The funeral of Ivan Zakharovych Dolych: a group from the funeral procession. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0211 The graveyard in Mryn. The coffin is being carried to the gravesite. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0212 The graveyard in Mryn: another view. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0213 Preparing for the wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Neighbors and friends are pictured in the summer kitchen, a separate building used in the summer to avoid heating up the main house or khata. they are cooking the many meals that will be needed on the Saturday and Sunday which mark the actual wedding days. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0249 Preparing for the wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. A tent was set up in the yard at the groom's house. Friends and neighbors are decorating the tent in preparations for the festivities. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0250 Preparing for the wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The bride and groom on the evening before the wedding. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0251 Preparing for the wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets: making the korovai or wedding bread in the home of Tatiana Mykhailivna Boiko. She is the neighbor of the groom's family. the dough is rising on a chair in the middle and the various korovainytsi are preparing the bake ware. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0252 Preparing for the wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets: making the korovai or wedding bread in the home of Tatiana Mykhailivna Boiko. She is showing the pich or stove where the korovai will be baked. In front are two pieces of beef baked earlier. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0253 Preparing for the wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets: making the korovai or wedding bread in the home of Tatiana Mykhailivna Boiko. The korovainytsi are dividing the dough in preparation for shaping and decorating. Although this was not the case here, korovainytsi should be relatively young married women who are living in harmony with their husbands. No divorced or widowed women should take part in the preparation of the korovai. Tatiana Mykhailivna Boiko is a widow and should not have participated, but she was also the chief helper in the wedding preparations. Perhaps because she is a widow, she only helped decorate the korovai. the shaping was left to another woman. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0254 Preparing for the wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets: making the korovai or wedding bread in the home of Tatiana Mykhailivna Boiko. The core of the korovai is being shaped. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0255 Preparing for the wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets: making the korovai or wedding bread in the home of Tatiana Mykhailivna Boiko. The other korovainytsi watch. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0256 Preparing for the wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets: making the korovai or wedding bread in the home of Tatiana Mykhailivna Boiko. Shaping the various decorations which are pine cones, various floral and leaf forms, and birds. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0257 Preparing for the wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets: making the korovai or wedding bread in the home of Tatiana Mykhailivna Boiko. The finished and decorated korovai is ready for baking. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0258 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The groom's party leaves his home and heads for the bride's house. The groom (molodyi) and the best man (boiaryn) are at the head of the procession. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0259 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The groom's party leaves his home and heads for the bride's house. The groom (molodyi) and the best man (boiaryn) are at the head of the procession. Then come the rest of the members of the wedding party in no particular order. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0260 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Bargaining for the bride. The groom (molodyi) and the best man (boiaryn) are on the left. The bride's attendant (druzhka) is on the right. She represents the bride and will not allow the groom's party to enter until they offer enough money for the bride. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0261 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The bargaining continues. This was one of the many things done in triplicate. The druzhka supposedly withdrew in disgust, saying that the groom and his party were not offering enough for the bride. They knocked again and the bargaining started again. Again the druzhka withdrew. From the folklorist's vantage point and from what was lying on the ground, the groom's party first offered kupony: these were the coupons used in the transitional period after the independence of Ukraine. Then they offered coins. Finally, they offered bills. Among the stuff on the ground was play money: fake American dollars. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0262 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Counting the money offered for the bride. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0263 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. On the third try, the groom and his party are finally admitted into the bride's house. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0264 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The bride's attendant (druzhka) sews a flower made of paper onto the lapel of the best man or boiaryn. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0265 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The bride's attendant (druzhka) sews a flower made of paper onto the lapel of the best man (boiaryn). Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0266 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The bride greets the groom's wedding party. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0267 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The bride's parents bless the couple. They had two icons, one of the Virgin and Child (Bohorodytsia) and one of Christ the Savior (Spasytel'). They took each in turn, Christ the Savior first, and pressed it three times on the head, back, the right shoulder, then the left shoulder of first the groom and then the bride. The pressing of the icon was done in a cross-shaped fashion. There was a certain joking element to the pressing and the parents were urged to "hurt" the couple because this was going to be their last chance to "teach" their daughter. They were also urged not to get too carried away with hurting the groom because they might have to rely on him. Once the blessing was done with the Savior icon, it was handed to the groom. The same procedure was repeated with the Virgin icon and it was handed to the bride. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0268 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The bride and groom leave the bride's home and lead the wedding procession to the local "klub" where the registration of the marriage (civil) will take place. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0269 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The wedding procession along the way to the klub. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0270 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The bride and groom pause outside the entrance to the klub. They are waiting for the civil official to invite them in. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0271 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The civil official who will conduct the ceremony comes out and greets the couple. The couple stand in front and in back of them are the best man (boiaryn) and the maid of honor (druzhka). Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0272 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. On stage at the klub. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0273 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. On stage at the klub, the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom spread the rushnyk (ritual towel) upon which the couple will stand to take their vows. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0274 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. On stage at the klub, the signing of the marriage contract takes place. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0275 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. On stage at the klub, the couple stands on the rushnyk while the civil official instructs them in their obligations. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0276 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The couple is handed a korovai or wedding bread which was baked by their relatives the night before. They are supposed to break this bread. Whoever gets the larger piece will be the spouse who dominates in the marriage. The official announced that the bread broke evenly and that the couple would have a relationship in which each would carry equal rights and responsibilities. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0277 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The couple's hands are tied together with a rushnyk. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0278 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The couple bows to parents and godparents and thanks them while the boiaryn (best man) picks up the rushnyk. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0279 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Family and friends come onto the stage to congratulate the couple. Many people present bouquets of flowers to the bride. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0280 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The couple leaves the klub. The boiaryn (best man) and the druzhka (chief female attendant) follow them. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0281 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The mothers of the bride and groom shower the couple with a mixture of whole grains, candy and small coins, and children scramble to pick up the coins. A poor and homeless woman joined the crowd hoping to get some candy and coins. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0282 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. On the way to the groom's house where the party (after the ceremony) will take place. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0283 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The couple leaves the club and heads for the World War II monument where the bride will leave her wedding flowers. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0287 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The couple poses along the road to his house for pictures. His house is where the big celebration takes place. The bride is not from these parts and she and her family moved into one of the big apartment buildings set up for the workers of the big natural gas storage complex. If she had an established family here, the wedding would likely have taken place at her residence as well as his. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0288 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. At the groom's house, the couple is greeted by the groom's parents (actually the mother--the father was probably too drunk). They are greeted with a loaf of bread which is pressed upon them three times in a cross-wise fashion. There are jokes about pressing hard because this will be the last opportunity to do so and suggestions to take it easy because the parents will have to rely on the couple for support. The druzhka and the boiaryn stand to the right. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0289 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Another view of the welcome into the groom's house and the blessing with bread. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0290 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Another view of the welcome into the groom's house and the blessing with bread. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0291 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The man here is NOT the groom's father. The folklorist believes that it was the bride's father who performed the greeting function because the father of the groom was too drunk. He actually looked much more sober during the wedding (to the folklorist) than he did on the night before, when the korovai was being prepared. He did not, however, take part in any of the wedding ritual. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0292 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The couple enters the groom's house by passing under a rushnyk or ritual cloth. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0293 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Inside the tent set up in the yard at the groom's house. The couple sits at the head table. They are flanked by the druzhka and the boiaryn. Note the rug in back of the couple and the korovai on the table, tied with a rushnyk or ritual cloth. Note also the decorations, which consist of lots of vegetation: branches, green leaves--plus Christmas-type bright and shiny ornaments. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0294 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Another view of the couple at the head table inside the tent set up in the yard at the groom's house. They are flanked by the druzhka and the boiaryn. Note the rug in back of the couple and the korovai on the table, tied with a rushnyk or ritual cloth. Note also the decorations, which consist of lots of vegetation: branches, green leaves--plus Christmas-type bright and shiny ornaments. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0295 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. A view down one of the tables set up for the guests. There was A LOT of food and drink and the guests were of all ages. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0296 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. A close-up view of the korovai or wedding bread. Compare it to the unbaked version. Also note the decoration: the rushnyk tied around it and the red ribbons tied over it in criss-cross fashion. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0297 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. A close-up view of the couple at the head table (the groom is the one in the suit who is half-hidden by the bouquet), flanked by the boiaryn and the druzhka. The korovai is in front, along with assorted and plentiful food on the table. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0298 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. A view of the inside of the tent and the wedding guests. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0299 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Pictured here is one of the friends and neighbors who helped prepare the food, entering the tent where the wedding celebration was taking place. She is bringing more food. During the entire wedding, this woman had a safety pin over her heart. The safety pin was supposed to avert the evil eye. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0300 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Pictured here is one of the friends and neighbors who helped prepare the food, serving the guests inside the tent. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0301 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The church is a converted village house. Here the couple stands before the altar and holds candles. The priest begins the service. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0346 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The church is a converted village house. Here the couple stands before the altar and holds candles. The priest begins the service. Note also the priest's robes and the decoration of the church. Here it is clearer that the couple holds candles wrapped in kerchiefs. Nothing, these candles included, can be held with a bare hand. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0347 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The church is a converted village house. This view attempts to capture more of the church interior and wedding guests. Note the clothing of the guests, as well as their gender. Note also the many rushnyky decorating the church. In the background, the group of women is the pevcha, the choir which sings along with church ceremonies. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0348 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The church is a converted village house. This view shows the altar, the priest, and the wedding couple. In back of the couple are the boiaryn (best man) and the druzhka (maid of honor or chief female attendant of the bride). The crowns which are held by the boiaryn and the druzhka over the heads of the couple are on a table before the altar. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0349 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The church is a converted village house. Here the priest is getting out the crowns. First he prays over them. Then he has the appropriate member of the couple (the groom first) kiss the crown. Then he hands the groom's crown to the boiaryn and the bride's crown to the druzhka, who then hold the crowns over the head of the appropriate person (the groom for the boiaryn and the bride for the druzhka). The crowns must not be held with the naked hand, but with a kerchief. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0350 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The church is a converted village house. The crown that goes over the groom's head is already in position. Here the priest conducts the same ritual with the crown that will be held over the head of the bride. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0351 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The church is a converted village house. The crowns are held over the couple's heads as the service continues. The crowns are heavy and the druzhka and boiaryn have to switch hands, using the other hand to support the one holding the crown. In the corner at the back of the church is the pevcha or choir who sing along with all church ceremonies. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0352 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The church is a converted village house. The service continues. The priest carries the Gospel. The pevcha or choir is in the back in the corner. They sing along with all church services. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0353 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The church is a converted village house. The service continues and the groom starts to look bad. He later fainted. Various women (mothers of the couple and others) gather near the couple in nervous anticipation. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0354 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The groom did pass out and had to be supported by his mother and others for the rest of the service. Natalie Kononenko's (the folklorist) interpretation of this event was that the groom had had too much to drink at the celebration following the civil service the day before. Locals said that the groom's fainting meant that he had been evil-eyed. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0355 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The couple is being lead around the altar by the priest. Note also all of the material culture items like the rushnyky decorating the church, as well as the cross. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0356 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The couple partakes of the Eucharist. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0357 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The couple is given icons; these are the ones which had earlier been used by the bride's parents to bless the couple when the groom picked up the bride at her home. Please note also that they are standing on a rushnyk. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0358 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. The priest leads the couple, who are now carrying the icons draped in a rushnyk They are followed by the boiaryn and the druzhka. The crowns have been taken down and now rest on the table where they were originally. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0359 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. This is the church ceremony, as opposed to the civil ceremony which took place the day before. Pictured here are people attending the church part of the wedding. Note their gender and age. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0360 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The couple and their families pose outside the church for pictures. The couple holds the icons draped in a rushnyk. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0361 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Another reception follows the church ceremony and the same neighbors and friends are laying out more food to serve the guests. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0362 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Food preparation takes place in another part of the household. This is actually inside the tent. The church wedding was at 9 o'clock AM. The feasting afterwards started somewhere between noon and 1 o'clock PM. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0363 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Food is being heated up in the stove or pich. Note also the ovchahy (utensils for placing pots in the oven and taking them out). They are to the left. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0364 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Food is being heated up in the stove or pich. Note the items of material culture: the better view of the house interior, the curtain in front of the stove, the pots and the ovchahy. The box to the left is the container with the refrigerator that the couple was given as a wedding present. Refrigerators are not common in villages. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0365 A view of the area around Mryn, including the road and people. The large building in the back is the apartment building for the gazprom (natural gas storage facility) workers where the bride and her family found an apartment. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0366 The groom's house. This was taken for material culture: note the white color of the house with blue trim, the red posts, the ceramic decoration on the entrance areas. Note also the roof and the fact that the tin is cut in a scalloped edge. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0367 A view of the area around Mryn. Here note the house types and balance beam well. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0368 A view of the area around Mryn. Here note the field, houses, and the haystack. Mryn is very marshy. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0369 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. At the groom's house right before the celebration (on the day of the church ceremony) is about to begin. The groom carries a plate with glasses which will be used for passing around drinks to the guests. The bride's mother carries a blanket given to the couple. the groom's mother is to her left. The item on the right is an outdoor sink. These are very common in areas with no indoor plumbing. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0370 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. Inside the tent during the actual celebration. The men who have a ceremonial role in the wedding, what would have been the starosty, carry a pan with little shyshky. These are little breads, made from the same dough as the korovai and made on the same evening as when the korovai was made. They are given as gifts to each person who offers a gift to the couple. People get up in turn and offer a gift. They are then given a drink and one of the shyshky pictured here. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0371 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The mother of the groom (on the left) gives her gift, a gold chain, to the bride (in the middle, in a red kerchief). The bride holds the treat that she gives each gift-giver, namely one shyshka, on a plate. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0372 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The party that is going around approaching the guests during the gift-giving or daruvannia, prepares to approach the next guest. The brother of the groom is on the left, holding the basin with shyshky. The bride is on the right, holding a plate. One of the starosty (a term normally used for senior male attendants, but here used for all of the male attendants at the wedding) is pouring the shot of vodka which will be given to the next guest. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0373 The Last Bell ceremony at the village school. This is a new holiday, created during the Soviet era, which has both yearly cycle and life cycle elements. It is yearly cycle in the sense that it occurs every year. It ends the school year, just as the First Bell Ceremony begins it. It is a life cycle rite in that it focuses particularly on the first graders and the twelfth graders, marking their entering school and leaving it. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0376 The Last Bell ceremony at the village school. The entering students are to the right. They later gave flowers to the ones about to graduate. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0377 The Last Bell ceremony at the village school. Pictured here are the students who are about to graduate. They gave speeches and flowers to their teachers and parents. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0378 The Last Bell ceremony at the village school. One of the graduating students carries a first grader with a bell. She rings this, signaling the end of the school year. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0379 The Last Bell ceremony at the village school. This is the World War II monument where graduating students went to lay their flowers. Bridal couples also leave their wedding bouquets there. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0380 Tatiana Boiko, an informant who spoke about life cycle rituals, particularly the wedding ritual. Here she is showing the beads or namysto which the bride wears during the wedding. These look like small Christmas tree ornaments. The idea is to have lots and lots of strands of beads to wear. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0381 Tatiana Boiko, an informant who spoke about life cycle rituals, particularly the wedding ritual. Here she is showing the materials she has prepared for her own funeral, namely her funeral bundle. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0382 Tatiana Boiko, an informant who spoke about life cycle rituals, particularly the wedding ritual. Here she is showing the materials she has prepared for her own funeral, namely her funeral bundle. The item here is the prokhidna, or prayer which is read at the grave and folded and placed in the pocket of the deceased. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0383 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The party that is going around approaching the guests during the gift-giving or daruvannia approaches the next guest. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0409 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The guest who is approached stands up. The brother of the groom holds out a drink of vodka or horilka on a plate. Later the bride will hold out a plate with a shyshka. The guest will accept and drink the horilka. Then he or she will accept the shyshka and offer a speech, usually comical and obscene, followed by a real gift. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0410 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The guest accepting the shyshka from the bride does so with his hand covered in cloth. Almost all ritual transactions are done with the hand covered with a cloth. The crowns which are held over the heads of the bride and groom in church are held with hands covered in cloth, for example. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0411 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The next guest toasts the couple and gets ready to deliver her speech. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0445 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. After the gift giving comes the local version of the tsyhanshchyna, here called kataty khreshchennykh: to take the godparents for a ride. In this photo, one of the wedding guests tries to find the worst possible cart or other means of conveyance. She is covering it with a cloth so that the god-parents can sit on it and not fall through. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0446 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. After the gift giving comes the local version of the tsyhanshchyna, here called kataty khreshchennykh: to take the godparents for a ride. In this photo, one of the wedding guests tries to find the worst possible cart or other means of conveyance. She is covering it with a cloth so that the god-parents can sit on it and not fall through. Having succeeded, she dances in the yard. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0447 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. After the gift giving comes the local version of the tsyhanshchyna, here called kataty khreshchennykh: to take the godparents for a ride. One of the wedding guests found the worst possible cart, covered it with a cloth so that the god-parents could sit on it and not fall through. Having succeeded, she danced in the yard, and another one of the wedding guests joined in the impromptu dance. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0448 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The wedding guests find the most beat-up possible basin to put on top of the cart intended for the Godparents. In the meantime, nettles have been piled on the cart, on top of the cloth. These were collected by other wedding guests. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0449 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The wedding guests give up on the small, hand-pulled cart and start preparing a full-size hay wagon for the godparents. Note the nettles which are already on the hay wagon. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0450 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The godparents are seated on the hay wagon. Nettles are already covering the part where they are seated. The god-mother is given a twig to drive the "horses." Although this is a cart of the size that should be pulled by horses, men ended up pulling it. Especially effective was the very drunk tractor driver in the pink shirt who is on the left in this picture. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0451 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The wedding guests try to surround the Godparents with nettles as much as possible. At one point, one person tried to shove nettles under the Godmother's skirt. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0452 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The other set of godparents is also seated on the cart. The god-mother who was put on the wagon earlier is rubbing her leg, trying to take away some of the sting from the nettle attack earlier. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0453 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The god-parents are all seated and the "horses" pick up the poles of the wagon. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0454 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The wagon takes off down the street followed by numerous wedding guests. The "horses" went so fast that Natalie Kononenko, with all of her equipment, was not able to keep up. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0455 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The wagon arrives at one of the local cafe/bars. All go inside. The godparents treat the men to shots of liquor and the women and children to ice-cream, candy, and other favors. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0456 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The wagon arrives at one of the local cafe/bars. All go inside. The godparents treat the men to shots of liquor and the women and children to ice-cream, candy, and other favors. Inside the care and bar. The guests are lining up to take their turn ordering. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0457 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. After everyone gets a treat, the god-parents are seated on the cart again and the whole party heads to another cafe/bar in town, again too fast for Natalie Kononenko to keep up. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0458 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The party which had taken the Godparents for a ride heads back to the main celebration. In this case, it was held at the groom's house. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0459 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The party which had taken the Godparents for a ride heads back to the main celebration. In this case, it was held at the groom's house. Pictured here is another view of the procession slowly arriving and the cart riders slowly disembarking. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0460 The wedding of Serhii Mykolaiovych Brovarets to Zoia Ivanivna Zaiets. The group awaiting the return of the Godparents' party. They are in the yard outside the compound where the groom's family owns a house. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Mryn. Mryn0461 The city of Nizhen: the restored cathedral. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nizhens'kyi raion -- Nizhen. Nizh0243 The city of Nizhen: another cathedral, this one yet to be restored. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nizhens'kyi raion -- Nizhen. Nizh0244 The home of Zina and Petro Litovka. On display are their marriage certificates and party certificates. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0168 The home of Zina and Petro Litovka. On display are their marriage certificates and party certificates. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0169 The home of Zina and Petro Litovka. One of their four cats. Their home was a zoo of sorts. There were four cats, one dog, one cow, many rabbits, several goats, a pig and assorted fowl (chickens, ducks, geese) which wandered in and out of the house. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0170 Petro Litovka and a neighbor. Drinking problems were fairly widespread. Before, the functioning commercial establishment was the bread store. Now it is the handelyk (a bar of sorts) where Petro constantly wanted to go, except that his wife would not let him. Neither would she let him have any of the liquor which was in the house. His way to avoid this problem was to go to the neighbors'. Then the man of the house would ask the wife to give the visitor 100 grams (of home brew). His wife could not refuse this. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0171 Zina Litovka in her kitchen. Here the summer kitchen is part of the house; it is a separate and detached building in many other homes. Still, it is on the outside of the house proper and does not require heating the central unit, which is the pich' (stove). This part has a gas stove only, on the outside wall. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0193 Hanna Litovka, an informant who gave material about courtship and funeral rituals. She is very religious and her views of the supernatural are colored by this. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0194 The icon corner in the home of Hanna Litovka. This is a typical Chernihiv treatment of the icon corner. The cloths of this type are what Chernihiv is famous for. Many are home-loomed, as is the item in the photo here. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0195 The sleeping are on the stove or pich' in the home of Hanna Litovka. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0196 The cooking utensils are on the stove or pich' in the home of Zina Ivanivna Litovka. There was a bathtub in back of the stove, though no running water. Still, it was possible to heat water on the gas stove and take a bath indoors. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0197 Photographs, such as these in the home of Hanna Litovka, are typically framed in rushnyky or ritual towels, much in the way icons are. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0198 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai; pictured here is the bench next to the stove or pich'. It is used as a sleeping area (less heated than the shelf on top of the pich' itself). Here it is decorated with pillows. On the wall are photos with rushnyky. The wall is covered with a rug: rugs are typically hung on walls and the floors are covered with coarse, home-loomed runners, something akin to American rag rugs. Motria Andriiivna is known for the beauty of her home. Note that virtually all surfaces are covered with a cloth of some sort; virtually everything is decorated. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0199 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai; pictured here is the icon corner with the TV. Note the positioning of the TV relative to the icon corner. Note that the TV, as any other surface in this home, is covered with an embroidered cloth. Also note that the treatment of the icons is reminiscent of the treatment of windows. Icons are a window into the spirit world. In some areas window = vikno and icon = vikona instead of ikona. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0200 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai; pictured here is the sleeping area. Again, we see heavy decoration, rushnyky, an embroidered picture on the right, and rugs on the walls. Note the decorations resembling American Christmas ornaments in the corner: these are widely used as a general decorative item. They are found in homes and especially in churches. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0201 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. Houses have no closet space and clothes and other items are stored in chests or wall units such as this one. On top of the wardrobe is a jar with wheat berries which support a wax candle. This type of candle, set in wheat berries, is burned in the home while the deceased lies in state. It can also be burned on those days when the deceased is remembered. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0202 Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. In addition to being the person who showed and explained her home (as an example of material culture), she is also an informant on the topic of life cycle ritual. She gave information about funeral rituals, as well as several legends about the return of the dead, and stories about the domovyk (the house spirit) and other spirits. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0203 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. Pictured here are outside storage areas: this one shows home-canned goods. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0204 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. Pictured here are outside storage areas: this one shows bottled goods and cooking ware. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0205 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. Pictured here are outside storage areas: this one shows basins used for cooking, jam making, and washing. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0206 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. Pictured here are outside storage areas: this one shows the storage of cloth and clothing. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0207 One of the many stork nests. Storks are believed to bring good fortune. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0245 A shed, the photo of which was taken to reveal construction techniques. Because the outside of the shed is peeling, it is easy to see the layers that went into its construction. This construction method is used not only on shed, but also on other buildings, including houses. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0246 A group of informants who spoke about courtship and wedding information. The youngest of the three provided numerous stories about the supernatural, explaining that listening to older women was her favorite pastime as a girl. They also provided some information about sending recruits off into the army. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0247 Nina Litovka heading to work at the farm on her bicycle. She attends to the pigs. Land has been privatized and everyone got three hectares. Many sold or rented their share. Some people consolidated their holding into cooperatives. Here, land was bought up by entrepreneurs, whom the locals call "fermer" (which means farmer, but significantly, is a borrowed term and not the traditional word used to designate a farmer). Villagers said that they used to resent the fermer but now see working for him as a source of cash. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0248 At the home of Zina Ivanivna Litovka and Petro Omelianovych. A photo of a birth certificate. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0284 At the home of Zina Ivanivna Litovka and Petro Omelianovych. In the yard. Note the sheds and the wheel with the doweling attached on top, which is used for drying bottles and pots. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0285 A horse-drawn carriage, here transporting hay. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0286 An informant who spoke about courtship practices, the house spirit or domovyk, and also about witches. Also note the items of material culture: her clothes, and the stoop outside where people can sit. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0302 An informant who spoke about courtship practices, the house spirit or domovyk, and also about witches. Also note the items of material culture: her clothes, and the basin used for washing potatoes. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0303 The grandchildren of the village storyteller Ivan Trush. They are: Bohdan, Lida, and Iulia, informants who were asked to tell the stories they heard from heir grandfather as a transmission experiment, as well as in order to test the conservation of tradition and oral style (and how both develop over time). Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0304 The home of Motria Perepechai; she is showing the stove or pich. Note the rugs on the floor and the cloth covering the stove opening. Note also her clothing. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0305 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai; she is showing the shelf next to the stove or pich. Note that this one has an opening so that it, too, can be heated. Most lavky (shelves) do not have a separate heating capacity and just draw heat from the main pich by radiation. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0306 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. Her husband died recently and this is the booklet which she submits to the church when she wants a memorial service performed for him. On top of the booklet is a prosvorka or bread. This is used both as part of the Eucharist and eaten separately after the service. Under normal circumstances, only those without sin partake of the Eucharist. This means children and those who have just been to confession. Everyone, whether or not they partake of the Eucharist, can take a piece of prosvorka at the end of the service. For most commemorative services or readings, the person who requests the service or reading submits the booklet such as the one here and payment, which can be money inserted in the booklet, or food placed next to it. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0307 The home of Zina Ivanivna Litovka and Petro Omelianovych Litovka. Pictured here are the fields outside the home. The building to the left is the summer shower. Water is placed in the canister on top and heated by the sun during the day. This permits warm baths in the evening. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0308 The home of Zina Ivanivna Litovka and Petro Omelianovych Litovka. Working the potato field outside the home. Here they are trying to kill the potato beetle. They call them Colorado beetles in Ukraine and some claim that these were introduced to Ukraine intentionally as a form of biological warfare during the Cold War. Pictured is Natalie Kononenko working in her underwear, a typical "city person" approach to fieldwork. Many village women would remove their tops and work in their bras. Only city women would also remove their skirts. In the background is the summer shower. Water is drawn from the well and poured into a holding tank where it heats up during the day. In the evening, you can have a warm shower. Morning showers are rather chilly. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0309 The home of Zina Ivanivna Litovka and Petro Omelianovych Litovka. Working the potato field outside the home. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0310 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The folklorist's group first encountered the funeral procession as it was heading from the home of the deceased to the center of the village. In this shot, the funeral procession is approaching. The body is on a truck. The procession will stop at this intersection and the body will be removed from the truck, placed on a bier or nary and carried the rest of the way. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0311 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. Another view of the procession. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0312 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The cross which will stand at the head of the grave is at the front of the procession. It is tied with a rushnyk or ritual towel. Then comes the pevcha; this is a choir of sorts, a group of women who sing religious songs, both in church and at ritual functions such as funerals. If there is no priest, the pevcha alone will conduct the ritual. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0313 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. After the pevcha comes the coffin lid, carried by women. After that come the relatives of the deceased. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0314 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. When the distance to the graveyard is great, the first part of the journey is made by truck. The coffin is always removed at some point and carried at least part of the way. Here the distance which the coffin was carried was quite substantial. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0315 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. When the distance to the graveyard is great, the first part of the journey is made by truck. The coffin is always removed at some point and carried at least part of the way. Here the coffin is removed from the truck. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0316 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. When the distance to the graveyard is great, the first part of the journey is made by truck. The coffin is always removed at some point and carried at least part of the way. Here the coffin is removed from the truck and carried by eight women the rest of the way. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0317 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The procession stops at a crossroads. The priest reads a prayer and the pevcha sings Our Father. Relatives lament. We were told that there have to be a minimum of three stops along the way when the coffin is set down and the relatives lament. These are at crossroads where there are crossroads, as was the case here. Where there are not enough crossroads, the procession picks an additional stopping point to make a total of three stops. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0318 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The procession continues down the street. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0319 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The procession makes another stop at a crossroads. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0320 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The lamenting relatives are pictured here. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0321 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The procession approaches the church. The main service for the deceased can be conducted in the home or in the church. In this case, it was in the church. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0322 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The procession stops as it approaches the church and relatives lament. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0323 The graveyard in Ploske. It is adjacent to the church. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0324 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The procession enters the graveyard. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0325 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The coffin is brought in. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0326 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The coffin is set down in front of the church before being carried inside. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0327 The home of Zina Ivanivna Litovka; she is pictured here milking a cow. This photo demonstrates aspects of material culture and farming techniques. For example, the animal barns to the right are typical, as is the milking technique and the practice of using boards to make muddy areas walkable. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0328 The abandoned house of the village pan or nobleman. Ploske was one of the villages which were owned by a member of the landed gentry. Many village institutions, such as the school, owe their existence to the pan. The pan committed suicide when the Soviets came to power. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0329 The school founded by the pan or village nobleman. The buildings are still used as the village school facilities. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0330 The new school. The building of the new school, intended to replace the school built by the pan, was begun during the Soviet era. The project was never completed and the building now stands abandoned. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0331 Evdokiia Serhiiivna Kompanets, an informant who provided life cycle information, as well as tales and legends. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0332 The home of Evdokiia Serhiiivna Kompanets; pictured here is her icon corner. Note the Chernihiv type rushnyky around the icons. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0333 The home of Evdokiia Serhiiivna Kompanets; pictured here is the stove or pich. In the summertime, when the pich is not in use, the opening to it is covered with a cloth. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0334 The home of Evdokiia Serhiiivna Kompanets; pictured here is the sleeping bench next to the stove or pich. Also note the rug on the wall, the embroidered picture, and pillows. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0335 A stork's nest atop a storage tower. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0336 Ivan Oleksiiovych Kalita, an informant who provided mostly historical information. He told about the pan or nobleman and how he treated the village children; how, after he committed suicide, the Soviets shot his already dead body. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0337 The home of Hanna Demidivna Slisarenko. This is an example of typical house construction for the area where one part is whitewashed and the other part is left with the wood bare. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0338 The home of Hanna Demidivna Slisarenko. This is a storage area, a shed. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0339 Hanna Demidivna Slisarenko in her home. She has extreme osteoporosis. Note the kerchief around her waist with the point at the back. This was worn by many women. It is not a fashion item, but a method of relieving back pain. For material culture, note the icon corner with rushnyky, and the rushnyky around the photos. Also note the bench built into the wall. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0340 Maryna Serhiiivna Khymach in the home of Hanna Demidivna Slisarenko. She is an informant who spoke about life cycle information and gave a few legends about witches. She is a good example for material culture: she too has a kerchief tied about her waist. She also has double crutches, a method of support widely used by older women. Also for material culture, note the stove or pich and the bench next to it on which Khymach sits. This bench is used for sleeping in the winter. Note also the photos surrounded by rushnyky and the floor coverings. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0341 Maryna Serhiiivna Khymach in the home of Hanna Demidivna Slisarenko: another view. Here the upper shelf of the stove or pich is more visible. This is the best winter sleeping area. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0342 Anna Pavlivna Slisarenko arriving at the home of Hanna Demidivna Slisarenko (her mother-in-law). This is an example of material culture--Anna Pavlivna is wearing a typical younger woman's work outfit. Also note the cooking utensils by the door. This is the type of pot used in the large clay pich. The shape permits grasping by the hooks used to insert pots in to the pich and remove them. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0343 A field with a herd of cows. Animals are pastured either on small fields scattered throughout the village or are driven outside the village in large herds to be pastured there. The latter is the case in Ploske. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0344 The grandchildren of the village storyteller Ivan Trush. They are Bohdan, Lida, and Iulia. Also in the picture is their grandmother. This picture demonstrates material culture: note the clothing, house decoration, and buckets (tools). Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0345 The cowherd drives the cows home in the evening. Here they are going down the village street. Each cow separates on its own from the herd as it goes by its house and heads inside or to the small grassy area where it is kept until it is led inside. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0374 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. Inside the church in Ploske. The coffin stands in the middle and is not visible in this photo. Women stand on the left of the church and men stand on the right. The women attending the funeral are pictured here. Note the items of material culture: the iconostasis, the rushnyky around the icons, and the women's dress. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0384 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The pevcha; this is a choir or sorts, a group of women who sing religious songs, both in church and at ritual functions such as funerals. If there is no priest, the pevcha alone will conduct the ritual. Here they accompany the priest as he conducts the funeral service. Note the kerchiefs tied around their arms. These are a gift from the family of the deceased and are a payment for the services provided by the pevcha. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0385 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The coffin in church, surrounded by candles inserted into a special frame made to support candles that is placed over the coffin. Candles seem to be a consistent part of the funeral but the actual use of candles varies. Here they are placed about the coffin. Elsewhere, they had to be given out to those present and held by them during the service. Another version was to give a set of 5-7 candles out, have these held by the relatives, then passed on to others and so forth. As the candles burned down, new sets of 5-7 were given out, at this point further along in the auditorium. The candle stubs were placed in the coffin and were supposed to light the way of the deceased as he or she traveled to his place in the land of the dead. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0386 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The coffin in church, surrounded by candles inserted into a special frame made to support candles which is placed over the coffin. Candles seem to be a consistent part of the funeral but the actual use of candles varies. Here they are placed about the coffin. Elsewhere, they had to be given out to those present and held by them during the service. Another version was to give a set of 5-7 candles out, have these held by the relatives, then passed on to others and so forth. As the candles burned down, new sets of 5-7 were given out, at this point further along in the auditorium. The candle stubs were placed in the coffin and were supposed to light the way of the deceased as he or she traveled to his place in the land of the dead. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0387 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. A picture of the priest. Most village clergy are quite young, as is the man here. This one was a very pleasant and dedicated person, quite liberal and accepting of folkways and willing to incorporate these into his services. Other clergy, though also young, were different in personality and quite dictatorial, as well as anxious to eradicate folk beliefs and practices. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0388 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The candles are removed from around the coffin and the frame is lifted off. Note the kerchief around the arm of the woman in the foreground. It was a gift from the family of the deceased and a payment of sorts for helping out with the funeral. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0389 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The relatives say goodbye. This is routinely done at the end of the service. Thus, it is done in the home when the funeral service is in the home and in the church when the service is in the church. The final farewell is a kiss. The most prevalent pattern is to kiss the face (usually forehead) and the hands of the deceased. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0390 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. Kissing the deceased goodbye. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0391 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. After the relatives, friends and neighbors approach to say goodbye. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0392 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. There is pressure on relatives to say goodbye with a farewell kiss. As for others, it is left to their discretion. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0393 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The same eight women who carried the coffin into church carry it around the church three times. Women will carry only the coffin of a woman. If the deceased is a man, men will carry the coffin. If the deceased is a woman, the coffin bearers can be either male or female. One woman (Perepechai) said specifically that she wanted men to carry her coffin for fear that women might drop it. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0394 The graveyard in Ploske. Picnic tables such as this one are used on the many occasions when the living visit the dead. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0395 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The coffin with the deceased is set beside the grave which has been dug in advance. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0396 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The final arrangement of the things that will go into the coffin. Usually the face is covered with the gauze that covers the body up to this point. In this particular funeral, several people questioned whether the legs of the deceased had been untied. The legs and often arms are tied down to prevent the deceased from moving during the various changes after death. The strings (puty) must be removed so that the deceased can move freely in the other world and get to his or her designated place. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0397 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. Preparing the rushnyky which will be used to lower the coffin. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0398 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. Placing the coffin lid onto the coffin. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0399 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. Placing the coffin lid onto the coffin, and nailing it shut. The nails are usually positioned in advance and partially hammered in so that the closing of the coffin proceeds quickly and smoothly. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0400 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. Placing the coffin on the rushnyky. These are especially long and used for the purpose of lowering the coffin into the grave. In some areas, the rushnyky used for lowering the coffin and new and cut into pieces and distributed among the gravediggers as payment. In some areas, the rushnyky are reused from one funeral to the next. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0401 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. After the coffin is placed on the rushnyky , it is lowered it down into the ground. The ribbon cross on top of the coffin lid is characteristic of post-Soviet burials. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0402 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The priest makes four cuts on the sides of the grave in the form of a cross: top, bottom, right, and left. This is called "zapechatuvannia" or sealing. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0403 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The priest sprinkles ashes from his incensor onto the coffin. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0404 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. Relatives take dirt and throw it on the coffin. You are supposed to throw three handfuls. Anyone else close to the deceased should also throw dirt. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0405 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The gravediggers close up the grave. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0406 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. Further along in the process of burial: the gravediggers close up the grave. The grave marker to the right memorializes Ivan Trush, a storyteller well known in the village. Material from him was recorded by Academy of Sciences folklore expeditions. Material from his grandchildren was recorded in 2000 as part of a transmission experiment. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0407 The graveyard in Ploske. The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. At the fresh grave once it is finished. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0408 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. Completing the grave. Also note the bier or nary on which the coffin had been carried. The rushnyky on which the coffin had been lowered are draped on the nary. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0412 The graveyard in Ploske. Note the graves of various ages: some were made a long time ago, and others are recent. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0413 The graveyard in Ploske. More picnic tables used for visiting with the deceased. Also note the metal crosses which are typical of this area and the fact that each gravesite is enclosed with a fence. Most of these fenced enclosures have gates. There is some debate as to whether these gates should be closed or open. The argument for leaving them open is that, when you rise on Judgment Day, you want as few impediments as possible to your getting out of the grave and the graveyard and following the Lord. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0414 The graveyard in Ploske. A particularly large version of the obelisk used on Soviet graves. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0415 The graveyard in Ploske. The grave of a woman who died young. Note the portrait monument. Also note the fence, as above. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0416 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. The burial is complete. The grave will be covered with the flowers carried in the procession. Later, the cross will be erected. Here, crosses are placed at the head. Natalie Kononenko, the folklorist, has not seen a cross placed anywhere except at the head but was told in Iahotyn that it is proper to place the cross at the feet so that, when the dead arise on Judgment Day, they can more easily grasp the cross (they do not have to reach in back of their heads), pick it up, and go. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0417 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. Setting up food for the wake. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0418 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko. Inside the home at the table which was the place of honor. Also note the items of material culture such as the rushnyky and the icon corner. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0419 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko at the wake. The priest at the table which is the place of honor. He has removed his pale blue ceremonial robes which he wore for the service in church and is sitting in an ordinary black cassock. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0420 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko: the wake. The pevcha sitting opposite the priest at the table of honor. They sang psalmy (religious songs) about death and dying as part of the wake. We asked if these were canonical and the priest said they were. Natalie Kononenko's interpretation, confirmed in Iahotyn, is that psalmy are a semi-literate version of folk religious song. The texts are fairly stable and most pevcha members have written versions of the various psalmy. They are notebooks, handwritten and copied by one woman form the other. The woman in Iahotyn said that psalmy are a way to bridge the gap between the people and religious doctrine: they are religious material put in a form that appeals to people and helps them understand. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0421 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko: the wake. Serving the many guests. The first dish has to be the kanun--here cookies in sweetened water. You have to take three mouthfuls. After that, you get a spoon and eat from the many dishes and many courses that are set on the table. No one gets a separate plate. The kisyl' (a fruit compote thickened with starch) signals that the meal is done. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0422 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko: the wake. Another view of the women, usually neighbors, who help the relatives take care of the many guests who attend the wake. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0423 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko: the wake. The tables set up outside for the overflow crowd. The basin and the towel in the background are for washing the hands when entering the house where the wake will take place. Upon returning from the graveyard, each person should pour water on his/her hands three times. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0424 The funeral of Hanna Petrivna Mateiko: the wake. When they are about to leave, the pevcha get up and sing Our Father one more time. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0425 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai: the storage shed. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0426 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai: inside the chicken coop. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0427 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai: inside the storage shed. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0428 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai: a new litter of kittens inside the storage shed. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0429 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai: the pig she just bought. With most animals that are kept on farms, the tendency is to buy a small animal and to raise it to slaughter size. Some people even buy chickens, geese and other fowl this way though most people buy only pigs and goats and hatch their own fowl. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0430 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai: inside the barn. Note the lark's nest. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0431 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. Inside the barn. This is where the cow would have been when Motria Andriiivna was younger and had the strength to keep a cow. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0438 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. The feeding trough. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0439 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. The storage bins for keeping fodder. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0440 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. The storage bins for keeping fodder. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0441 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. Coops with rabbits. Rabbits were kept as a source of meat on virtually all of the farms to which Natalie Kononenko traveled. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0442 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. The ladder up to the loft. Dried corn and other dried food stuffs are kept there. Also dried herbs. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0443 The home of Motria Andriiivna Perepechai. The work bench inside the shed. Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Plos0444 The home of Afanasiia Zahorodnia. Various other people showed up: Iryna Myrshchuk and her daughter, Valentyna Zahorodnia, and Ol'ha Prysiazhna. All of these are good informants, and seem to constitute a preservation group (of local customs and traditions). Ukraine -- Chernihivs'ka oblast' -- Nosivs'kyi raion -- Ploske. Vely0192 |