Modern Manifestations and Transformations of Traditional Forms of Ukrainians’ Trade Activities in the XXth to Early XXIst Centuries (Exemplified by Slobozhanshchyna)

Author

YURCHENKO VITALINA

a Ph.D. in History, an associate professor, a senior research fellow at the NASU M. Rylskyi IASFE Ukrainian Ethnological Centre Department

MODERN MANIFESTATIONS AND TRANSFORMATIONS OF TRADITIONAL FORMS OF UKRAINIANS’ TRADE ACTIVITIES IN THE XXth TO EARLY XXIst CENTURIES (EXEMPLIFIED BY SLOBOZHANSHCHYNA)

Abctract

Geographical bounds of the manifestations of modern forms of trade and the revelation of the survivals of ancient forms of trade activities in Ukraine are described in the article on the basis of expeditionary materials collected on the territory of Slobidska Ukraine (mainly within the boundaries of Kharkiv and Sumy regions). In home trade the fairs, markets, public sales remain the traditional types of recurrent sales of food and other goods to meet the material requirements of the population. Modern manifestations and transformations of traditional forms of Ukrainians trade in the XXth – early XXIst centuries in Slobozhanshchyna are considered in the article.

In the 1920s and 1930s fair trade functions in a full value. Earlier (in XVIII–XIX centuries) the fairs have been conducted to the temple feasts, distracting the population from the festive church divine services in a certain way. The priests have repeatedly complained that the Ukrainian people prefer fairs rather than the church on the day of worship. In the 1920s it has become necessary to give another direction to this once popular event. First of all, it concerns to the introduction of such new elements into the fairs organization, as exhibitions arranging, knowledge of the innovations of agricultural machinery, the dissemination of cultural and economic literature, lectures. In the Soviet period the fairs realization on large holidays has become a tradition and a necessity. Large-scale city food and industrial fairs, where collective and state farms have taken part, are popular events. These are always crowded and convivial holidays with diverse food assortment. The fairs have cultural and economic significance. 

Nowadays the fair trade in Ukraine acquires new features. Prolonged fairs are not considered to be a typical phenomenon for Ukraine in general and for Slobozhanshchyna in particular. At present, there are no large wholesale fairs, but medium and small fairs are organized. Besides the modern fair is a place to popularize Ukrainians cultural traditions. Historical traditions of Kharkiv as an important trade center are continued owing to the Great Slobozhanshchyna Fair. An opportunity to present the acquirements of the districts and cities of the region, their colour and cultural (spiritual), food (material) potential is first of all considered to be the value of such a large-scale trade event.

Keywords

fair, market, collective farm market, trade at the road, spontaneous market, Slobozhanshchyna, seller, buyer, goods.

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