To mark Vyshyvanka Day, Ukraine launched the "Embroidered Ribbon of Remembrance" campaign in honor of fallen defenders
In Ukraine, a new annual initiative is being launched to mark World Vyshyvanka Day—the “Embroidered Ribbon of Remembrance” campaign, dedicated to honoring the memory of fallen Ukrainian defenders.
This was announced by the founder of the holiday, Lesya Voronyuk.
The campaign is being carried out in partnership with the non-profit organization Memorial, which previously launched a nationwide minute of silence every day at 9:00 a.m.
The idea is that on Vyshyvanka Day, participants will visit memorial sites and attach embroidered ribbons near portraits of the fallen or on the Walk of Fame.
“Together, we are launching the ‘Embroidered Ribbon of Remembrance’ campaign. What is the idea behind it? Every year on Vyshyvanka Day, we have the ‘Born in Vyshyvankas’ campaign, where we visit maternity wards and give the first shirts to newborns. And now we need this culture of remembrance to be present, simply forever. As long as we exist, the holiday will exist. That is why we plan to visit the Walk of Fame and attach embroidered ribbons next to the portraits, or wherever it is appropriate. So that we remember the price at which we have the opportunity to celebrate Vyshyvanka Day,” Voronyuk noted.
The organizers emphasize that Vyshyvanka Day remains a youth-oriented and festive event, but in the context of war, its meaning is expanding. The focus is shifting toward combining traditional culture with honoring the fallen.
The organizers hope that schoolchildren and students will actively join the campaign, making it a long-term tradition.
Vyshyvanka Day is one of the most important modern Ukrainian holidays, dedicated to preserving national traditions, culture, and Ukrainian identity. For millions of Ukrainians, the vyshyvanka is not just clothing, but a symbol of strength, freedom, family memory, and the indomitable spirit of the people.
In 2026, World Vyshyvanka Day will celebrate its 20th anniversary. The holiday, which began as a student initiative, has today become a large-scale international movement uniting Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine around the world. This year’s theme is dedicated to supporting the cultural heritage of Ukraine’s occupied regions.
In 2026, Vyshyvanka Day falls on May 21. The date is flexible, as the holiday is celebrated annually on the third Thursday of May.
