Honey festival to Makovia

On August 1, we invite you to the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine to celebrate Makoviy (Honey Spas) — one of the warmest and most colorful summer holidays in the Ukrainian folk calendar.

This day has long marked the beginning of the Spas fast. On Makoviy, people traditionally blessed newly harvested honey, fragrant herbs, and "makoviychyk" — festive bouquets of wildflowers, herbs, and poppy seed heads, which were kept in the home throughout the year as a symbol of well-being, health, and Divine blessing.

At the Open-Air Museum, ancient traditions will come to life before your eyes. You will not only see how our ancestors celebrated Makoviy, but you will also be able to take part in ancient rituals.

Event program:

• a fair of honey and folk artisan crafts;
• creation of traditional "makoviychyk" bouquets from fragrant herbs, flowers, and poppy seed heads;
• baking shulyky in a traditional oven — an ancient ritual dish without which Makoviy is hard to imagine;
• recreation of the ritual of blessing the well, hay, and the household;
• erection and decorating of the Makoviy cross — an important symbol of the festive ritual space;
• folk songs, live interaction with keepers of tradition, and the unique atmosphere of a Ukrainian village.

We invite you to spend this day among picturesque museum homesteads filled with the scent of field herbs and fresh honey. Come to experience the beauty of Ukrainian traditions, touch living cultural heritage, and celebrate Makoviy just as our ancestors did.