Hutsul Culture

For centuries, the Carpathian Mountains in Ukraine were inhabited by a unique ethno-cultural group called Hutsuls. Till now these people managed to preserve their traditional culture and lifestyle. The traditional culture of Hutsuls is often represented by the colorful and intricate design of their clothing, sculpture, woodworking, metalworking (especially in brass), rug weaving, pottery, and egg decorating (pysanka).

Hutsuls are skilful architects. The wooden churches, built by Hutsul craftsmen, are perfect examples for that. Every village, even the smallest ones, had its own church. There are dozens of wooden churches and temples still staying in Western Ukraine. The age of many of them is several hundred years.

Hutsuls are also know for the unique musical instruments they use (such as "trembita", a type of alpenhorn of Dacian origin, as well multiple varieties of the fife, or sopilka, the bagpipe (duda), the jew's harp (drymba), and the hammered dulcimer - tsymbaly) to create unique folk melodies and rhythms. Every summer, the village of Sheshory in Ukraine hosts a three-day International Festival of Ethnic Music and Art.

In the small village of Kolomyia in Ukraine there were created two museums of Hutsul culture: the Pysanky museum and the Museum of Hutsul and Pokuttya Folk Art.

Back to Ivano-Frankivsk page

Back to Cities and Regions page