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The Danube Wreath Festival: Noahs Arc Odessa Style

Pottery and weaving, embroidery and beadwork, www.enpi-info.eu blacksmiths works and rag dolls but also dancing and cooking From this year on, the 130 nationalities living in the Odessa border area have one more place where they can showcase their crafts, display the products of their extraordinary skills, and present their culture. Created within the framework of one of the 13 EU nanced Cross Border Cooperation programmes, the Danube Wreath ethnic festival oers to local craftsmen one more opportunity to express themselves. And to show the world that people living in border areas can overcome their shared development challenges, by working together and nding common solutions.
Text and photos by Dmytro Hubenko

This publication does not represent the ocial view of the EC or the EU institutions. The EC accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to its content.

ODESSA In a world of rampant globalisation that is fast eroding national features, N Kids carry on old folk traditions. ethnic culture seldom becomes the focus of attention. There is a widespread opinion that stressing dierences can lead to aggressive separation into us and them, as well as various manifestations of intolerance. Nevertheless, there are still some enthusiasts who manage to prove the opposite: the thing that is exciting about ethnicity, is that through understanding a dierent culture you get a better understanding of your own. This is what the participants of the first international Danube Wreath ENPI Info Centre Feature no. 63 ethnic festival are thinking as they leave Odessa seaport building. The This is a series of features on festival is organised by the Agency for Regional Development within projects funded by the EUs Regional the framework of one Cross Border Cooperation (CBC) programme - Programme, prepared by journalists the Romania Ukraine Republic of Moldova one - financed by the and photographers on the ground or the ENPI Info Centre. European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). The 2011 ENPI Info Centre / EU programme aims at creating bridges among the three countries in-

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The Danube Wreath Festival: Noahs Arc Odessa Style

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For Odessa, such festivals should become a tradition, it is important to show that national cultures cannot be allowed to die

volved, in order to help the border areas to overcome their shared development challenges, by working together and finding common solutions. Hence, instead of dividing, the border unites the areas concerned. Through the CBC programme, the people in border areas are encouraged to further develop the border economy, confront environmental challenges and enhance their preparedness for emergency situations. In fact, the choice of Odessa as a venue is not accidental. It is in this multinational region that 130 nationalities, who have managed to preserve their own cultural specificity, live side by side. All of them the Russians, Bulgarians, Moldovans, Gagauz, Jews, Belarusians, Gypsies, Poles, Germans, Georgians, Azerbaijanis, Greeks, Koreans, Czechs, Ossetians, Chinese, Hindus, Vietnamese, Afghans and Italians are cherished here and given every opportunity to express themselves.

N This is how a real keeper of national traditions looks like.

Amulet makers
During the festival, unique works are shown which illustrate and develop the regional traditions, says Angela Khomanerian, one of the Danube Wreath organisers. They include items of pottery, weaving, embroidery and beadwork. On show are works by Odessa blacksmiths and rag dolls; workshops are held by ingenious craftsmen. Indeed, what the guests see is amazing in that it is such painstaking and minute work and, most of all, marked by utmost sincerity. It is not just a collection of craftwork, each item has been treated with loving care. Take amulets. They seem just like any talismans or embroidered items. But you will be told a story concerning each, which will help you understand what the nation has wrongly lost, as well as make you remember your own roots. According to our beliefs, our ancestors are always with us and trying to help, says Varvara, Festival participant, who we found hanging out kitchen towels, Ukrainian national style. We can keep in touch with them through certain embroidery patterns. Look here, you think all these fanciful shapes are just ornaments, but this is not quite true. They are potent talismans. You see, even common cross-stitch used to have sacral meaning and was supposed to protect people from various troubles. It was only much later that embroidery became just a pastime.

During the festival, unique works are shown which illustrate and develop the regional traditions: they include items of pottery, weaving, embroidery and Kids at the Festival beadwork In the opposite part of the hall, the Romanians are dancing. Men wearing tall black
N Made with creative hands: from rag dolls to embroidered landscapes to ward off the evil.

caps and ironed vests, women with hair tucked under their kerchiefs, thin skirts and embroidered chemise. Beautiful and great fun. Next to the stage are the children wearing Greek national dress, waiting nervously for their exit; they are welcomed by the applause that has been accompanying every performance. It is always exciting to watch kids, says Nikolai Petrovich, who has come to support his grand-daughter from a Ukrainian dancing group. It is important for them that the audience claps their hands. So I will be also applauding them (he nods at the Greek children). There, look at how nervous they are, cannot stand still.

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The Danube Wreath Festival: Noahs Arc Odessa Style

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Would you like to have a bite?

N Sampling national dishes during the Expert in Ethnic Cuisine competition.

You could wander endlessly among the dolls, embroidered belts and books on the nations of the region. However, it is time to go upstairs, where the competition is going to take place for the title of Expert in Ethnic Cuisine. The main thing is not just to try traditional Ukrainian, Gagauz, Georgian, Indian or Jewish food, but learn the stories of various dishes. For instance, you would be quite sure that red borsch is an original Ukrainian dish, and it would be quite a shock to learn that the Poles, Lithuanians, Romanians and Russians have also included it among their national dishes. It is only that each nation has something special to add to the soup and the process of cooking. And the most amazing thing is that borsch was invented by the French. For Odessa, such festivals should become a tradition, says Angela Khomanerian. It is important to show that national cultures cannot be allowed to die. At present, there are two countries participating in the project: Ukraine and Romania. Our Romanian partners from Galaza, the Lower Danube cultural centre, were the first to hold the festival in their territory. At that time, we were amazed at the scale and number of participants. It seemed we could never match it. But the main thing is to aspire

You see, even common crossstitch used to have sacral meaning and was supposed to protect people from various troubles. It was only much later that embroidery became just a pastime

CBC - Cross-border cooperation

CBC, a key priority of the ENPI, seeks to reinforce cooperation between EU Member States and Partner Countries along the external EU borders.

http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php?id=171&id_type=10
Timeframe 2007-2013 Budget 1.1 billion Objective CBC aims to promote economic and social development in border areas. It strives to address common challenges, ensure ecient and secure borders and promote people-to-people cooperation. Find out more ENPI project fiche www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php?id=171&id_type=10 Romania Ukraine Republic of Moldova CBC programme www.ro-ua-md.net/index. php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=99 Civil Society and Local Authorities Thematic Portal www.enpi-info.eu/themeeast.php?subject=14

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