Charms: necklace, wreath, handkerchief
Намисто - найважливіший атрибут кожної дівчини
This decoration is one of the oldest in Ukraine, which has an extremely sacred meaning. Every girl had a necklace, regardless of whether she came from a rich or poor family. Going out without it was like going out naked. The very first times this decoration was made of berries or their seeds, grains, then they began to be made of stone, metal, glass. If we talk about symbolism, then the necklace had great protective power, protecting the owner from evil people and black spirits. Products in the form of red corals were considered magical, because if they had a bright shine, then this indicated the health of a woman. And vice versa – the gray and dull edges of the necklace indicated that the owner might have an illness.
It is a well-known Ukrainian tradition to pass down red corals through the female line. This made it possible for girls to have a talisman of their female destiny. A broken necklace was a bad sign, foretelling misfortune for the girl. At the same time, each bead had to be assembled by tying the string together.
Вінок, як ознака дівочності
As mentioned earlier, the wreath is a protective circle. In addition, it has always been a sign of girlish purity and chastity. Girls wear wreaths from an early age, right up to the wedding itself. That the girl had finished her virginity was evidenced by her transition to a headscarf. A circle in the form of a wreath protected the girl from evil people, the evil eye and an unfortunate fate. Various flowers and green herbs were used to weave the wreath, each of which also had a sacred meaning. For example, lovage, garlic and wormwood have always been a desirable attribute, along with flowers. It was believed that these plants drove away all kinds of evil. From flowers, mallows, chamomile, hops, red poppies, viburnum bunches were used.
Хустка - оригінальний предмет кожної жінки
To this day, a scarf is an original item in almost every woman’s wardrobe. However, if we turn to the origins of our history, then it can be noted that this attribute used to be a special relic that was passed down from mother to daughter. A handkerchief is and has always been a symbol of affection, love, loyalty, farewell, grief, a talisman and an important ritual object. In ancient times, every woman had many options for her – for all occasions. A handkerchief accompanied a person throughout his life:
- A newborn baby was wrapped in her,
- she was taken for baptism,
- accompanied the boys to the army with her,
- it was carried by a girl to the courtier at a matchmaking ceremony as a sign that she accepts his proposal.
The scarf protected against all troubles, prevented evil, and at the same time was a stylish element of both winter and summer clothing.
