What manifestations of attention and courtship were clearly observed in the traditional culture of Ukrainians in the 19th-20th centuries? Under what conditions could a young man start a conversation with a girl? What gifts did lovers exchange? All this and much more was told in an interview for Elle by Lesya Horoshko-Pohoretska, senior research fellow of the Department of Contemporary Ethnology at the Institute of Folklore Studies of the NAS of Ukraine (Lviv), candidate of historical sciences.
The scholar spoke about the limited opportunities for youth to communicate: the chance to talk arose only on the street (near the well), at evening gatherings, near the church, and on market days or fairs, which took place once or twice a year. Lesya Horoshko-Pohoretska also described the peculiarities of a young man's communication with the parents of the girl he liked and the signs of their approval. The interview presents the specifics of traditions according to holidays and emphasizes the importance of nonverbal ways to show attention.
Read the full interview text
Source: media platform Elle