About the Festival

Ethnical-cultural festival “Pechenyz’ke Pole”

Founded in 2001

Reference. Pechenyz’ke Pole is the land of many legends that historically formed round the present village Pechenigy, District Centre of Kharkivshchyna, within a radius of 70 km.. For many centuries from the times of Kyiv Russia it was the witness of outstanding historical events. It is the very place where Slavic tribes protected their land from hostile raiders. The first record of Pechenyz’ke Pole appears in 968 and is connected with a successful campaign of Prince Svyatoslav. Courage of Syversky warriors still lives in legends of hoary antiquity that are retelled by Pechenizhtsy, descendants of Steppe Slavs. Here wonderful historical finds of Skythian and Saltivs’ka cultures are preserved by now. Historical originality of this place, its unique landscape, ecological purity, beauty of nature, favourable climate – all this urged the organizers to the foundation of the festival, which main idea is awakening of love for our petty native land, its history, culture and traditions. The very national rebirth starts from realization of oneself in a society. The way which we have chosen is the festival of land with its perpetual and modern values. It is also the festival of Slobozhans’ka family with its strong potential for vitality and hospitality.

Every year in the beginning of July folk amateurs and professional groups flow to the festival from different places of Slobozhanshchyna. They are bearers of folklore art and masters of folk art. The program of the festival includes grand contest of folk talents “Slobozhans’ka Rodina”, presentation of authors and their works, laureates of Petro Vasylenko Prize.

In the summer of 2002 the first festival took place in Pechenigy village on the bank of the storage pond. It gathered about 6000 participants and viewers. The following year this number doubled. We found out that the festival remained in the memory of our fellow countryman. Organizational Committee of the festival “Pechenyz’ke Pole” gave it the status of ever acting festival with multipronged projects.

In the gala concert of the festival the following performers along with the best amateur groups took part – famous folk-group “Drabyna” (Kharkiv), EL Kravchuk with “Freedom” ballet , “Skryabin”, saxophonist Igor Rudyi (Kyiv), singer and composer Ostap Gavrish together with his daughter Mar’yana (Ivano-Frankivs’k), also “Ivan Kupala” (Moscow) and silver voice Fillip Zhmakher (Serbia).

The pleasures of sailing regatta, contests of shashlik and fish soup admirers, Kupal’s’ky fires, warm water of Pechenigy storage pond and bright July sun were used by the guests of the festival to the full.

The media called the festival “Charmed insight of a contemporary in the depth of authentical culture of Slobozhanshchyna”.

Stepan Gavrish, initiator and inspirer of the festival:

The circle of friends and guests of the festival “Pechenyz’ke Pole” is getting bigger every year. It means that natural curiosity of Ukrainians for their historical, cultural, family roots is reborn. We can feel closeness: we all are Slobozhany, we are Ukrainians and we are together. We have future.

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Media about “Pechenyz’ke Pole”:

1. Forum/News.

2. The festival "Pechenezhskoe Pole" gathers 50 thousand visitors.

2. "Pechenezhskoe Pole" breaks the record.

3. The festival of national cultures of Slobozhanshchyna

4. Pechenigy miracle or the symbol of Ukrainian steppes

5. Pechenezhskoe Pole - a legend and a festival.

6. The history of Pechenezhskoe Pole.

7. A charmed look from Pechenez'ke Pole, "Slobids'kyi Kray", №129, 13.07.2004 р.

8. "Charmes of Pechenez'ke Pole", "Ukraine", magazine №9, 2004

9. "Festival of talents", "Gubernia", magazine №7/8, 2004 (.pdf 1,7 Mb).

10. "Enchanting spectacle of "Pechenez'ke Pole", Red Star, №57, 14th July 2004.

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