Vesnianky

Vesnianka (Ukrainian: Becнянкa; also referred to as Hahilkа, Hailkа, Haivkа, Yahilkа, or Rohulkа) is a type of spring dance songs performed in the lands of present-day Ukraine which have been performed for thousands of years. While they pre-date Christianity, Christian missionaries altered many of the dances by incorporating Christian themes into the songs and poetry, which accompany the dancing.

Vesnianka as depicted on a 1999 stamp of Ukraine

History

For the ancient Slavs, the year began in spring, and the March chronology was preserved until 1409 (Nestor the Chronicler began his Tale of Bygone Years based on this chronology). The New Year began with the revival of the surrounding nature and with the awakening of Mother Earth from her winter sleep, with the first plowing and sowing. Spring was greeted joyfully and magnificently, with songs, dances, and games. These songs were called vesnianky.

Later, during the Christian era, as the church fought against paganism and banned any entertainment and secular singing during Lent, in some regions vesnianky were sung during Easter. In the twentieth century, in Western Polissia (Pinshchyna), the ritual of expelling Winter was performed on Easter. In Podillia, apparently because spring was already fully coming into its own at Easter time, there was no need to call it out at all, so the emphasis in spring rituals shifted to the field of dancing and games.

See also

• Khorovod
• Ukrainian dance