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About Ukraine and Ukrainian culture with Anna Nikolaieva

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, our state has been loudly talked about in the world. But the most important thing is that today we are much more interested in our history and culture. We ask ourselves the question: who are we? And what exactly makes us Ukrainians? I invite you to search for answers together during my online lectures.

Книга “Система символічного захисту у повсякденному житті українців Полісся”
Книги та лекції
The system of symbolic protection in the everyday life of Ukrainians

This is a study of the system of Ukrainian symbolic protection in Polissia region at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 21st centuries. However, due to the application of the comparative method, the book covers other regions of Ukraine. On the basis of her own field materials, available ethnographic sources and previous studies, the author classifies and studies the semantics and structure of norms as a passive aspect of symbolic protection, as well as apotropaea (protection of individual, individual and common space) as its active component.

Who are Ukrainians: self-identity

Is love for Ukraine and the Ukrainian language transmitted through mother's milk? And is it necessary to be born on this land to be a genuine Ukrainian? In the online lecture, we will discuss identity and try to understand what is encoded in our genes. And we will find out which of the famous and influential people considered themselves Ukrainian, even without being born here, and who, on the contrary, having Ukrainian roots, never was one.

Genealogy: How to Find Your Roots

Who among us would not like to know about his origin? Who were our ancestors? And maybe free Cossack blood flows in our veins or our roots come from a noble nobleman? A practical lecture on genealogy — the study of one's roots — will help to find answers to these questions. You will learn where to start your search, where to find old documents and whether you should be afraid of family secrets.

Ukrainian mythology

Is the Ukrainian mermaid similar to Disney's Ariel? Is Mavka really a charming young lady with long green hair? And who are the shabby and the Chugaister? Ukrainian mythology is a whole layer of incredible stories, deities, and demons that our ancestors believed in. In this online lecture, we will dive into the world of Ukrainian mythical creatures and check whether it is really as magical as we were told in fairy tales.

The system of symbolic protection of Ukrainians

Ukrainians have always known well how to protect themselves from evil spirits. Symbols, rituals, amulets - all this was used in traditional Ukrainian society to protect against all evil - impurity, diseases, or bad luck. In this online lecture, you will learn what symbols helped protect the home, why roadside crosses were erected, and fresh graves were sprinkled with poppies.

Business and not only business

You know who invented the myth about poor Ukrainians. In this online lecture, I will prove to you that Ukrainian business has been influential in Europe since the 19th century, and Ukrainian entrepreneurs in the 20th century could boast of considerable fortunes. You will learn about sugar tycoons, Ukrainian oil, and people who contributed to the development of our country, long before it became mainstream.

The geniuses of the pen and the brush

Ukrainian art was censored and banned. The artists did not lack talent, on the contrary, they were evidence of the strength of spirit. In this online lecture, you will learn about Ukrainian creators who were recognized as geniuses during their lifetime. Without sharovarschyna and Soviet myths, I will reveal to you the figures of Taras Shevchenko and Ivan Franko, the genius Bruno Shults, and the Ukrainian impressionists Oleksandr Murashko and Ivan Trush.

The Ukrainian traditional community

Oh, and once lived in Ukraine! As? Find out during this online lecture. How did Ukrainian villages and towns live at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries? Who is the midwife? And why were the village witch and priests so important in society? We will talk about the life of the Ukrainian traditional community. And let's try to understand when and how we lost our own unique self-government and whether is it possible to revive it today?

Female power

Pablo Picasso admired Kateryna Bilokur's paintings. Self-taught Maria Prymachenko had exhibitions in Paris and Prague. Sofia Yablonska became the world's first travel blogger. And Sonia Delaunay dressed Hollywood actresses and drew the cover for Vogue. In this online lecture, you will learn exactly about them - bright, talented, and brave, but undeservedly unknown Ukrainian artists today.

About me
Ethnologist

I have graduated from the Ethnology Department Historical Faculty at Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University. For 8 years, I worked at the State Scientific Center for the Protection of Cultural Heritage from Man-made Disasters. In 2023 I am an expert in the "Cultural heritage" sector of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.

Ph.D.

In my Ph.D. thesis, I researched the symbolic protection of the Ukrainians in the Polissia region at the end of the 19th - the beginning of the 21st century. In addition, some modern beliefs, methods of verbal and material protection from all evil were also considered in my research. Everything has been grouped into a single system.

A tour guide in Lviv and Ukraine

Since 2018, I have conducted 900 excursions in Lviv and one-day tours in the region for Ukrainians and foreigners. I was 2nd in the "Best Guide" nomination of the Ukraine Tourism Awards 2021.

The author of online lectures

Employees of Google, Intel, Pfizer, Pinterest, Airbnb, Facebook, KPMG Canada, etc. have listened to my online lecture "Cultural journey around Ukraine" since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

An interesting storyteller

I love history and stories. That is why my excursions, tours, and lectures are always listened to with admiration. And thanks to historical education, knowledge, and experience, I talk about essential things meaningfully and interestingly.

Private entrepreneur

I accept the payment to the official account of the entrepreneur and for reporting, I provide acts of completed works. It is essential for me to pay taxes officially because I want to support Ukraine with my own professional contribution and hryvnia. Everything is for our common victory.

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Cultural journey around Ukraine

This virtual journey through Ukraine will bring us to different regions. We are going to visit our beautiful and majestic capital Kyiv, sunny as well as bright South with Odesa, ancient West with charming Lviv and so picturesque Carpathian mountain region and wine Transcarpathian region, industrial East with Kharkiv and Dnipro - two cities both standing on the rivers. Of course, we will talk about Chornobyl, Crimea, and Donbas. We will have a quiz and after every question of which I will comment on the right answer. Also, we will have some time for all your questions.

But before our journey starts you will be prepared enough as a result of having a short Ukrainian language lesson after which we will also talk about Ukrainian food culture. Eventually, our virtual trip is gonna be ended up with one of the Ukrainian songs being sung all together.

Even if you know nothing about Ukraine you will have the chance to learn something. So just join my passion and let me guide you.

Whether you want to know even more about Ukraine, you have Ukrainian roots or you have some special questions about your roots, please book a private session.

In April 2021, at the invitation of the Grammarly company, I held the lecture "Cultural journey around Ukraine" for the participants of the International Conference European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics 2021. In November 2022, at the conference Agile-Lean International 2022.

Cultural journey around Ukraine

Short part from one of my online experiences for international company

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Most Asked Questions

Yes, you can book my experience for 1 person, for group of friends or for your team. 

Please write me a message with suitable date and time with timezone for you and I will add it to the calendar if it works for me as well or I will send you other possible date or time

Please choose the option "book for a private group"

Do you have more questions?

Please, write me a message

Photos with the guests of my online experiences and lectures
YouTube Channel "POROBLENO"

"POROBLENO" is a conversation between researchers Anna Nikolaieva and Daria Antsybor about how folk culture affects us. It's all about the symbolism and meaning of beliefs, rituals and texts, about traditions and their impact on our lives. We analyze the traditional meanings in order to understand whether we are all really "POROBLENO".

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Lviv Love Story

The story is about love and Lviv city which inspires creativity.

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