406 Girls and Women in Hutsul Gerdans: a New Ukrainian Record Set in Prykarpattia

A new Ukrainian record has been set in the Prykarpattia village of Prokurava – 406 girls and women in Hutsul gerdans (neck ornament in the form of a narrow ribbon made of multi-coloured beads strung on a thread or hair base, forming a colourful geometric and sometimes floral ornament) gathered in one location. The record was set during the Festival, Koliorovi Patsiorky (colourful chest ornaments in the form of one long or several shorter strings of coloured blown glass). Suspilne reports from the scene, according to Firtka news agency.

“With this event, we emphasise that we are Ukrainians. This is our code. Both the embroidery and the ornamentation of gerdans, syliankas (even strips of beads that are tied at the back of the neck), have their own code, their own ornamentation and their own symbolism,” says Mariia Chulak, the hostess of the event.

Nine-year-old Snizhana Oleksandruk brought gerdans from Brustury. The girl had been working on her crafts for a month.

“I saw the bracelets on the internet and wanted to manufacture them. My grandfather made a machine for me, and I started weaving,” says Snizhana Oleksandruk.

Ilona Sorokhan and her friends came from Kosovo to show their works. According to the girl, gerdan has a special meaning in her family.

“For me, a gerdan is not only a national embellishment but also a talisman. Today, I am wearing my mother’s gerdan. I am happy to have such a national decoration,” says Ilona Sorokhan.

The Head of the Kosiv branch of the Ukrainian Women’s Union, Anna Bohdan, came to Prokurava wearing a gerdan that is over a hundred years old. She was presented with this item by Mariia Chulak Sr., who is considered one of the founders of the art of gerdan weaving.

"Mothers who sent their children to war used to make these decorations and ask God for their children or husbands to return alive. They were praying during the creation process,” says Anna Bohdan.

At the Festival, Halyna Kutashchuk from Kryvorivnia advised on how to choose the right gerdan.

“It's an individual thing because everyone has their own taste: some people choose decoration to match an embroidered shirt, others to match a regular dress. Still others prefer decorations that match the colour of the eyes. And there are those who just like it and put it around their necks,” explains Halyna Kutashchuk.

Pavlo Horishevskyi, an expert of the National Register of Records of Ukraine, calls the record set in Prokurava unique.

“The youngest participant, as I was shown, is four weeks old. But I got to know better the one who is three months old,” says Pavlo Horishevskyi.

Gerdans were added to the Ukraine’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage on July 12, 2023. According to Maria Chulak, the hostess of the Koliorovi Patsiorky Festival, the record set will be one step towards the inclusion of the Hutsul accessories in the UNESCO List of Intangible Heritage.