Every year on the third Thursday of May, Ukraine celebrates Vyshyvanka Day — a tradition launched in 2006 by students of Chernivtsi University.

It is also a day that serves as a reminder of one’s roots and history, which Russia has been attempting to rewrite and erase since 2014. Following the full-scale invasion, the vyshyvanka became a symbol of resistance, and the day has gained widespread recognition among Ukrainian communities abroad.

Crimea, too, is distinguished by a wealth of traditions. Before 2014, the peninsula would come alive each year with the spirit of Vyshyvanka Day — exhibitions, flash mobs, and various events that brought people together around Ukrainian culture.

One of the most remarkable figures in Ukrainian embroidery was Vira Roik. Born in the Poltava region, she made Crimea her home from 1952 onwards, dedicating herself to promoting and developing the art of Ukrainian embroidery on the peninsula. Roik established embroidery circles, taught in schools across Simferopol, and participated in international exhibitions, championing Ukrainian tradition on the world stage. She went on to found the Crimean School of Ukrainian Embroidery. Her mastery was truly exceptional — she commanded nearly 300 embroidery techniques from cultures around the world.

Crimea also boasts its own distinct Crimean Tatar ornamental tradition — Ornek. It is far more than a decorative pattern; it is a complete symbolic system that embodies the cultural memory of a people and their ancestral connections to various ethnic groups. The interplay of its elements forms a unique composition capable of telling an entire story.

In 2021, Ornek was officially inscribed on UNESCO’s  List of Intangible Cultural Heritage — a significant step in protecting the identity of the Crimean Tatar people from Russian cultural erasure. Much like the Ukrainian vyshyvanka, Ornek is woven into the fabric of everyday life: it adorns clothing, household objects, and jewellery, with its motifs passed down with care from generation to generation.

Today, the vyshyvanka is far more than an element of traditional dress — it is a symbol of identity, memory, and resistance. It unites Ukrainians across every corner of the world, a constant reminder of shared roots and the enduring power of a culture that cannot be destroyed.