From the Wellspring: Faith Soil, Tradition
Folk Arts from Ukrainian Culture in North Dakota
By Troyd A. Geist

"Nourished by a wellspring of faith, the Ukrainian cultural heritage flows forth as rich as the soil from which it came, a heritage embodied by highly symbolic and integrated traditions. These traditions include the folk arts of embroidery, decorative ritual bread making and wheat-weaving, pysanky (decorated Easter eggs), and cymbaly (hammered dulcimer) making and playing. All of these folk arts are integrated into the lives of the tradition-bearers. They take place within a familial, social, and often religious context, providing an identity that follows the individual from cradle to grave, marking significant moments in a person's life. In addition, they are connected to each other through association and shared symbols. For example, a traditional Ukrainian wedding celebration is not complete unless it involves a ritual wedding bread, a wedding rushnyk (embroidered ceremonial cloth), and the playing of the cymbaly. An Easter basket is not complete without ritual Easter breads, an embroidered Easter basket liner and cover, and pysanky. Similarly designed eight-pointed stars, crosses, wheat, birds, and geometric patterns can be found in all of these arts.

"The integrated nature of these folk arts have their roots in pre-Christian traditions. With the advent of Christianity and its acceptance by Ukraine in 988 AD, Ukrainians found that Christian beliefs meshed well with their pre-Christian worldview. Both views stressed the themes of eternal life, fertility, renewal, rebirth, a belief in a supernatural trinity, and life after death. As a result, many pre-Christian traditions were incorporated into Christianity, and they continue today. In essence, the themes and their manifestation in symbols and celebration remain the same.

"By the 1800s Ukrainian farmers had access to only small tracts of land, acreage too small to support their large families. This created a "land hunger" that enticed many Ukrainians to emigrate in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some of those immigrants landed on North Dakota's prairies...While starting over in a new land, these immigrants clung to what was familiar; their identity, traditions, and folk arts...The folk artists featured are considered, within their own communities, to be among the best at what they do."

Troyd A. Geist, author

Easter basket cover embroidered with pussy willows, Easter eggs, and the words "Christ Has Risen" in the Cyrillic alphabet.

Martha Namyniuk decorates a paska for Easter.

The final stage in making a pysanka is removing the wax.

Bill Namyniuk in his shop constructing a cymbaly.