Whitney Lewis

Barbara Shelton
Music 1040
26 March 2016

The Culture of Ukraine

About seven years ago, a friend who is named Marina, came to visit America from
Ukraine. She was visiting America for three weeks during fall break. Marina came with some
kids from the orphanage that she was in. She stayed with a family in Salt Lake City, and at the
end of her trip, another family had asked her if she could stay with them for a couple of days.
After staying with that family, they decided that they wanted to adopt Marina. Back at home in
Ukraine, she had an older brother. She told them that they could not adopt her unless her brother
could be adopted too. The family thought about it for a second and they felt the need to adopt her
brother also. About a year later, after all the documents and adoption papers were filled out, the
family went to Ukraine to get Marina and her brother. In the summer of 2010, they were both
adopted. Neither of them spoke English and it was very difficult for them to learn it. A week later
after they arrived to America, their new parents sent them to school. It was very hard because
they could not understand anyone and no one could understand them.
When asked about life back in Ukraine, Marina felt like she came into a completely
different world. People were so different in America compared to Ukraine, and the food wasnt
close to what she ate. Also, the school was different as well. Marina started noticing that people
in America do not walk or take buses, but they drive cars. In Ukraine, people walk and ride the
bus all the time, so that was very unusual for her to see. The reason why Marina and her brother
were adopted to America is because she did not have a family in Ukraine to take care of her.

Marinas parents passed away when she was about ten years old. She was young and was
struggling. She wanted to find a family and not be in an orphanage anymore. Knowing that
another family wanted her as part of their family made her feel loved and cared about. Marina
said that the most wonderful thing about being on this planet, is family. No matter what country
you are from, or what culture you are, family is number one. Marina misses Ukraine and the
culture there, but is very grateful to be a part of such an amazing and supporting family.
Some of the family issues that Ukrainian people continue to face are: poverty, right to
health, AIDS, abuse and violence, disabled children, discrimination, child labor, and education.
These problems started because of the approval of the International Convention of Rights, which
is the governments responsibility to resolve these issues that are currently going on.
Poverty affects around 35% of the Ukrainian Population. The country has focused on
the need to support families and children, and improve their family life situation. Poverty
continues to have an effect for the childrens well-being and enjoyment of their rights. The
impact of this economic problem is felt by many families, especially those who have children
under the age of three.
The cost of health services in Ukraine are very high and the services themselves are not
very adequate and available, so not all the children receive the care that they need. In Ukraine,
The infant mortality rate is one of the highest in that part of the world. The country has tried to
better prenatal and neonatal care in regards of increasing the birth rate. Yet, more needs to done
in the rural areas for this to be able to happen.
The popularity of AIDS remains a struggle and challenge for Ukraines health services.
AIDS is still an ongoing problem no matter how many attempts to try to raise the awareness
about the virus. Transmission of the virus from the mother to her child has not really decreased.

Since children who suffer from AIDS do not receive the care that they need, children are
discriminated against because of their sickness.
The number of victims of violence in Ukraine is very upsetting. Violence itself occurs
too often in different settings.
Minors who are detained by the police are not correctly protected from abuse. There
have been many reports of detained children being physically assaulted. More than a few of these
allegations involve abuse on part of interrogating officers. On some occasions, the authorities
have even used torture to obtain confessions.
Corporal punishment is another form of violence. In Ukraine, the practice is prohibited
by law, but it still happens. Corporal punishment normally happens at school or at home and the
children who are experiencing it do not report it.
Just like AIDS, Ukraines disabled children suffer a lot from discrimination. They are
considered sick and treated as outcasts. Sadly, they are not able to enjoy their rights. Societys
negative view of them contributes to their isolation and has effect on their well-being and
development. The disabled children are put in a special institution at a young age and do not
have easy access to education, social, or health services.
Racism and xenophobia are on the rise in Ukraine. Discrimination has especially affected
the children of minorities, child refugees, sick and poor children, and those who are disabled. It
is estimated that close to 8% of Ukrainian children work. Some of the children work in coal
mines where it is extremely dangerous and the conditions are not safe. Others become a part of
sex trade where they serve as a fodder for networks dedicated to prostitution and pornography.
The majority of children attend school in Ukraine. However, the education system needs
a lot of improvement. It is hard to get access to schools in rural areas. The number of preschool
establishments is always at a decline, and no more than 61% of children have access to them.
Since it is hard to get access to schools in rural areas and to have access to preschool, the
infrastructure that is provided is outdated and in bad conditions.

The customs and traditions in Ukraine are similar to the United States and are based off
of etiquette. Ukrainians and Americans all celebrate the same holidays, but at different times and
in a more religious way. For Easter and Christmas, they celebrate the holiday in a Ukrainian
church in a respective manner. Ukrainians do not typically celebrate birthdays. They like to
celebrate name days which days are named for different saints. For example, St. Stephen's
Day, which is on January 9th. Some customs of Ukraine, men will always shake hands when
they first meet someone, but it is not custom to shake hands with a woman. Instead, you should
kiss her hand. If you are invited into a family home, it is expected that you bring a gift like wine,
cake, or flowers. They believe that if you whistle that it is a sign that your money might blow
away, so do not whistle. It is impolite to point your finger at someone, so it is more respectful to
bow your head in the direction in which you are talking about. Always be prepared to remove
your shoes when entering someones home to keep it clean. If you are ever on public
transportation, be sure to give your seat up if you see a woman and her child, or an elderly
person come on. If you have snacks with you, or cigarettes, be sure to share them with those
around you. It is traditional to have a toast when you are drinking. Refusing to drink alcohol for
important occasions can be considered rude. For example, refusing to drink alcohol at a funeral
is unacceptable. However, you should never toast when someone dies, or on Easter for the same
reasons.
Holiday traditions are just like the United States, but they are celebrated. These traditions
and customs are somewhat the same as the United States. We normally shake hands or give hugs
when we first meet someone. We dont necessarily give gifts to people when we enter their
home, but some people in the U.S. might believe that is considerate. We dont believe that
whistling will blow our money away because people whistle frequently. We try not to point our
fingers at people or certain things because it is impolite to do so. Most, but not all people believe
in taking off your shoes when you enter someone's home that is not your own. It is respectful to
give your seat up to a mother and her child and an elderly person, but sometimes people are not
aware or considerate enough. Sharing is up to the person with the food or cigarettes. Some
people feel the need to share and others may not. Having a toast depends on the family in the

U.S. because not every family drinks alcoholic beverages. A lot of Ukraines customs and
traditions have transferred to the U.S. Surprisingly they havent really changed.
Traditional Ukrainian music is recognized by its melancholy tone. It first became known
in the 18th century outside of Ukraine. Musicians from Ukraine would perform before the royal
courts in Russia and Poland. Ukraines music goes way back in years and still remains popular
today. The bandura is a plucked string, folk instrument often heard in Ukrainian music mostly in
folk and semi-classical genres. Early in the 1900s, Ukrainian musicians in the USA were able to
keep traditional music alive when it almost disappeared in its homeland. Ukraine is well known
for its many classical performers. Pavlo Humeniuk was a popular fiddler who gained fame in the
USA. In previous decades, Polyphony was a common sound in music from Ukraine and certain
groups have kept it going. Today, Pop and Rock seem to be more popular. There are many
talented musicians and bands from Ukraine. Some of them are more about keeping the original
traditional sounds of Ukrainian music, while others are producing more Pop music. Ukraines
music has had a long successful history throughout the years and it continues to make progress
throughout the world.
The piece of music that I chose is called Mama by Alina Grosu. Alina Grosu is a 20
year-old Ukrainian Pop vocalist who has released seven albums in the first fifteen years of her
life. In this song she talks about her mother and how there is no greater mom than hers. Alina
describes the special things that her mom does for her; like quietly singing to her, and warming
her in the dark night.
People who immigrate to the United States remember and take their culture and their
songs with them. For instance, Marina told me about this song and she related it to the
importance of having a mother since her birth mother died. She will always remember her mom,
but appreciates the one she has now. She likes to listen to this song since she loves and cares
about both of them. When people move away from their culture, they still listen to that type of

music as memories. Of course it changes a little bit, but they will always have a part of their
culture with them.

Bibliography
1. "Customs and Traditions of Ukraine. Etiquette." Ukrainian Customs, Traditions, Etiquette.
Ukraine-Insight, 2008-2009. Web. 26 Mar. 2016. http://www.ukraineinsight.com.ua/customs.html
2. Fau, Valentine. "Children of Ukraine." Humanium Together for Childrens Rights. 6 Nov.
2011. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.
http://www.humanium.org/en/europe-caucasus/ukraine/
3. "Local Music - The Rhythm and Melodies of Ukraine." Music of Ukraine. Ukraine Channel.
Web. 26 Mar. 2016.
http://www.ukraine.com/music/
4. "Ukrainian Americans." Ukrainian Americans. 2016. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.
http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Sr-Z/Ukrainian-Americans.html
5. Alina Grosu - Bio, Family, Birthday: June 09, 1995, Fun Facts. Alina Grosu. 2016. Web. 26
Mar. 2016.
http://www.todaybirthdays.com/famous/alina-grosu.html
6. "Ukraine - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette." Ukraine. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/ukraine.html