Every trip to the ethnographic field is challenging for its unpredictability: you never know what kind of people you will meet this time, what stories you will hear from them and what events you will take part in. In Zhmerynka I heard about a new research project on the study of small towns in Ukraine. And it was there, just on the Day of the Ethnographer – July 17, that the traditional for Vinnytsia region raspberry festival – Raspberry Fest took place in the outskirts of the city. So, despite the fierce heat, I did not even hesitate: of course, I go!
In modern leisure culture, gastro festivals are the most common and most visited. The Raspberry Festival also gathered many participants. People from everywhere crowded the location: they came by car and got there on foot. The Festival organizers (Vinnytsia Regional State Administration, Zhmerynka District State Administration, Severynivka Territorial Community) have chosen a wonderful location for its holding – a large pasture around the pond in the village of Chernyatyn. There was a stage, unfolded straw bales for sitting, and stands with folk crafts. A special place was given for master classes, sports competitions (beach volleyball, water football) and food courts.
At the Festival they cooked, fried and baked. Everything was with raspberries: dumplings, pies, cakes, mojitos, even borshch and sauerkraut. The 18-meter-long raspberry pie, made by housewives from the village of Severynivka, who used 60 kilograms of flour, 80 eggs, 17 kilograms of sugar, and 12 kilograms of fresh raspberries, was recognized as the largest pie, as evidenced by the Guinness Book of Records of Ukraine. And most importantly, it was extremely tasty!
Folklore groups and pop singers were involved in the concert program of the Festival. A charity lottery was held, its participants could win a bicycle or a trip to the sea. Proceeds from the lottery will be donated to a fund to help children with cancer.
One of the tasks of the Raspberry Fest was the promotion of domestic agribusiness, attracting public attention to the life of the modern Ukrainian village.
The official part of the Festival included awarding the winners of the competition. Thanks and diplomas were given to the persons who joined the organization of the fest, the owners of the largest raspberry plantations. The fest was really fun. There were attractions for the youngest, there was a disco for young people, at the end of the fest there was a firework.
Galyna BONDARENKO, PhD in History, M.T. Rylskyi Institute of Art History, Folklore and Ethnology