Ivanko's Borscht Recipe — A Vyshyvanka Day Animation

Every third Thursday of May, Ukraine celebrates Vyshyvanka Day, a beautiful tribute to Ukrainian culture and resilience. What started in 2006 as a simple student flashmob has blossomed into a global celebration of Ukrainian identity. For me, the vyshyvanka, our traditional embroidered shirt, is more than just clothing; its distinct regional patterns tell stories of family, belonging, and cultural preservation.

This year, I wanted to mark the occasion with something personal. As an animator, my Ukrainian heritage constantly shapes the stories I want to tell, and I found myself drawn to a format that could honor both the visual traditions of our culture and the warmth of our food. So I created a short animation where Ivanko, dressed in his vyshyvanka, shares his recipe for borscht — the soup that, as he will tell you himself, can heal anything.
Happy Vyshyvanka Day. 🇺🇦