Ukrainian traditional embroidery is rich in ornaments and motifs. There are many supporters of the theory that each element in traditional embroidery has its meaning, and their combination creates a special sense encoded in the embroidery and an embroidered rushnyk. There are also critics of this theory who say that people simply embroidered the ornaments they liked and had available.

I believe that both sides are right because people are different and embroidery also has a different purpose - some things we embroider for aesthetic pleasure, decoration, or a tribute to fashion, and some things as a special amulet, investing our soul, thoughts, and energy with a certain wish for the future.

Birds

The most popular living creatures in Ukrainian embroidery are birds. Craftswomen embroidered different birds for different occasions and there is a position that each of the species has its symbolic meaning. Check out what I managed to find about the meaning of feathered fellows.

The dove is a symbol of sincere love, loyalty, harmony, and tenderness. Doves were also depicted as symbols of the Holy Spirit in the embroidery of Christian motifs. Often embroidered in pairs.

The swallow is a symbol of good news, of the beginning of a new life and spring.

The peacock is a symbol of youth and vigor, a symbol of eternity. On wedding rushnyks they bear the image of well-being and family happiness.

The rooster is a symbol of the sun and fire, the victory of good and light over darkness, and a protector against evil. In the mythology of many cultures, the rooster announces the arrival of a new day and defeats darkness with its crowing, and with its voice, it drives away evil spirits and scares away the dead.

The swan is a symbol of loyalty, love, and purity.

Sometimes they even embroidered chickens, which symbolized family and well-being.

The cuckoo - symbolizes longevity, a symbol of a prophetic bird, loneliness, and female sadness.

The stork is a talisman for babies, a symbol of a strong family. A pair of storks in a nest was often depicted.

The eagle is a symbol of power, courage, and determination.

The falcon is a symbol of male beauty, strength and intelligence.

Paired birds are often depicted on wedding rushnyks and, importantly, with their heads facing each other as a symbol of harmony. A pair of falcons, doves, roosters stands as a symbol of a wedding couple. Often they either hold a branch of viburnum in their beak or sit on the branches of a tree - a symbol of a new family.

Animals

In embroidery, animals are not as popular as birds, but we will also find several bright characters here.

The horse is a symbol of a faithful helper and friend, helping in service, business and household was very often used during the Cossack era, but known as a symbol since pagan times - the horse of the god Perun was a respected character and his helper.

The lion - strength, courage, anger, as well as generosity. The image of the lion probably passed into embroidery from heraldry, it is often found in the embroidery of the Cossack chieftain, as well as in the embroidered works of the Lviv region as a symbol of the region.

The snake is a symbol of knowledge and longevity, most often it was simplified to a geometric ornament.

Elks and deers - fertility, strength, well-being.

Mythical animals

In Ukrainian embroidery, you can also find fabulous animals that do not exist in nature but find their place in visual images on rushnyks and embroidered decorative elements.

Dragon - was used as a protective symbol against evil and was embroidered on wedding towels.

Winged horses can be found in the embroidery of Eastern and Southern Podillia, unicorns were seen on a towel from Volyn. However, I could not find their exact symbolic meaning.

Sirina - a creature with the body of a bird and the head of a woman, similar to the ancient Greek siren - has been mentioned since the time of Kyivian Rus, and symbolizes strength and wisdom.

So where are the cats?

Interestingly, such an all-time popular animal as a cat is not often pictured in traditional Ukrainian embroidery, neither on clothes nor on towels. Cats can still be found on embroidered paintings, where they most likely have no symbolic meaning.

Why are there no cats in embroidery? We are left to guess and theorize that cats for a long had a bad image and were associated with magical powers and evil spirits. This image, in particular, was reinforced by the church.

Although in Ukraine the attitude to magic and witchcraft was better than in Western Europe, and the cat has been a favorite domestic animal since the beginning of time, you can hardly find cats in embroidery.

However, this injustice can be corrected now in modern embroidery. So, rushnyk with cats, anyone?