Bohuslav hosted a lively Dosvitky (or Daypeep) gathering. During the event, organised by the “Around Us.UA” NGO, local artisans conducted five master classes to teach residents and visitors traditional crafts that have been practiced in the region for centuries. The event was dedicated to the International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Master craftswoman Kateryna Zubko from Khokhitva demonstrated the mid-20th-century technique of making waxed flower wreaths or crowns. Using materials like cardboard, wire, crepe paper, wax, thread, glue, dyed semolina, foil, and other supplies, participants learned to craft flowers, leaves, and decorative elements to weave into bouquets and eventually shape a traditional wreath or crown.
Another artisan from Khokhitva, Kateryna Robak, shared the time-honored method of braiding ribbons for wedding crowns, a skill she learned from her grandmother.
Petro Datsenko, a craftsman from Medvyn, showcased the creation of straw hats, guiding participants through weaving straw ribbons, the foundation of the headwear. “It takes me about two weeks to create a hat, but if I focus only on that, it might take a week. I use wheat straw, which needs to be moistened to avoid breaking. To make one hat, you’ll need the volume of straw that fits into three jar diameters. I weave 35–50 meters of ribbon from it, then sew it together with thread, but the needle must not be too thick to prevent breaking the straw,” Petro explained.
Yaroslava Spasionova, along with her father Serhii Spasionov, held a pottery workshop using a traditional potter’s wheel. Their family has been reviving the most popular craft of Dybyntsi village – pottery – for decades.
Tetiana Tarasenko from Dybyntsi introduced the youngest participants to ‘Dybyntsi painting’, a decorative art unique to the region’s ceramics, characterized by its distinct motifs and palette.
In addition to celebrating cultural heritage, the event raised 2,770 UAH for Bohuslav’s volunteer headquarters. The funds were directed toward purchasing a vehicle for the anti-tank platoon of the 150th Brigade (Donetsk axis), where Yaroslava Spasionova’s husband, potter Serhii Todorchuk, is serving.
The event was supported by the NGO “Democracy Through Culture Development Centre”.
