Suceava – Chernivtsi: Days of Cultural Unity

Days of Cultural Dialogue Suceava – Chernivtsi were held on December 27-28, 2008 in the Romanian city of Suceava in the framework of ÒÀѲS project «Joint Cultural Heritage» implemented by Chernivtsi City Council.

The Romanian neighbours got acquainted with the works of craftsmen and of Bukovyna. The crafts were presented by Ivan Honchar from Kobolchyn, Liubov Vaskul from Mykhal’cha, Volodymyr Voronchak from Vyzhnytsia, Yevdokiya Vizniuk from Kamianka, Yarolslava Scherban’ from Kitsman, Mykola Shkribliak and Ivan Teren from Chernivtsi.

Embroidered blouses, shirts, skirts, napkins and towels, woven goods, painted eggs, glass beads embroidery, woodcrafts, ceramics – this is not the full list of works brought by talented Ukrainian craftsmen.

These days became a real holiday for citizens of Suceava when together with “Cheremshyna” folk group from Vashkivtsi and “Oberig” folk group from Zastavna various Romanian folk groups demonstrated their art on the main city stage.

It seemed that all inhabitants of Suceava were in the central square of the city in these days. It reminded us Petrivskiy Fair in Chernivtsi or Malanka celebrations in our villages.

The main attraction in Suceava was a real mini-train running along a specially designed mini-railway in the city downtown and evoking lots of joy among children and grown-ups.

Culture of Bukovynian people, both Ukrainians and Romanians, other nations living in this blessed land is very similar: elements of music, dances and costumes very much resembled old joint folk and crafts traditions. The purpose of the project “Joint Cultural Heritage” – promotion of traditional art in the multiethnic community of Bukovyna – was completely achieved in these days.
Back in October 2008 Chernivtsi was visited by representatives from Suceava during its 600-th anniversary. The guests got acquainted with traditions of Ukrainian Bukovynians, participated in numerous events, tasted dishes of national cuisine presented by national societies. Now representatives of Polish, Austro-German, Armenian, Romanian etc. societies visited Suceava.
A round table meeting was held in the framework of the celebrations. Its participants were greeted by Vice-Mayor of Suceava Mr. Viorel Seredenciuc (Municipalities of Suceava and Campulung Moldovenesc are the project partners). He expressed his gratitude to Chernivtsi City Council for the wonderful opportunity to unite our countries and cities, for preservation, extension and promotion of joint cultural heritage, traditions of tolerance and peaceful co-existence of neighbouring nations in the multicultural environment, renaissance of authentic folk traditions, development of cultural tourism. Suceava county council proposed to think about a joint concept of “Religious tourism in Bukovyna”.