The Historical Traditions of the Ukrainian People

One’s home is that microworld organized by a person in accordance with one’s world view. This microworld was established within the traditional ways of organizing internal space, performing ritual actions and following construction methods for erection, improvement and sanctification.

Home is the place for realizing people’s everyday activity. Human, spiritual and personal characteristics of a home show us the innodividual world of the man who owns it. The traditional Ukrainian home was formed and occupied according to the interaction between desires and possibilities for the aim of well-being, health, happiness of each person as well as the family, relatives and the community. Every element in the formation of the home has both practical building aspects and symbolic sociocultural elements. This is shown by the system of rituals connected with choosing the materials, the place and the time of building.

There are many signs and superstitions for choosing a place to build a house in Ukraine .
One may not build a house at a cross-roads because demons call themselves together for meeting there.
You must avoid places where somebody was hung, killed or tormented.
One should not build a house on a threshing-floor and not keep house without God in the soul. It is also worse to build a house at a mill.
Before lowering a post into a pit, throw broad and salt in, make children throw stones and money because children bring luck.
There are many signs and superstitions for entering the new house, among them
You must enter a new house only when the Moon is full. What is the Moon, such will be the life.
The Mistress or the eldest daughter put bread and salt on the table, then two or more men bring that table into the new house and put it under the icon.
Each of the eldest must bring something from the old house to the new one.
Do not bring baked and cooked things from the old stove.
If that day passes merrily and without incidents, it means that this family’s life will be so.

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