These facts partially explain why so many Ukraine women are looking for relationships abroad. It is not that there are no men in their native country; they simply want to start a new and better life.

Ukraine is relatively big compared to many of the other European countries. It became part of the huge Soviet Union with all positive and negative effects of this and officially became a separate republic in 1991. During the Soviet years and the bad governmental politics, the country faced big challenges and problems.

Private property was limited and any private initiative was banned. Later the new government could not deal with the modern economy tempo and the country sank to poverty. Even today the political situation is unclear and most people are not satisfied with their governors.

Typically a Ukraine woman is well educated and speaks more than two languages. The country is bilingual and people speak both Ukrainian and Russian. In the last years English, German and other western languages are taught at school too. Young women go to university as soon as they finish high school. There are many good specialists especially in the National Taras Shevchenko University Of Kyiv and National Technical University Of Ukraine Kiev Polytechnic Institute – both leaders in professional education.

Unfortunately good education does not guarantee a job in an economy pressed by inflation and limited investments. You will be surprised to learn how many girls take their bachelor or masters degrees in science, economy or philology, only to become waitresses or shop assistants working literally for pennies on the dollar. Naturally girls are disappointed and want to go abroad where they can put their knowledge into practice and be respected by their employers.

Usually these women have already been abroad. There are many companies which hire people for the so called Work & Travel Summer Programs – young people from the universities are given the chance to work as washers, cleaners or maids in big restaurants or hotel chains in the United States, UK or Spain. Though these jobs are not prestigious, every normal girl prefers them because they are better paid than a manager position in their local country. A popular slogan from ad-campaign of those Work & Travel says: We are looking for a maid with a salary of a boss.

Women who have not been abroad on the other hand have heard a lot about the life there. They may have relatives of friends who have moved to western countries and they are also looking for the right match abroad. In addition they are feeling sick of local men who they know in detail, know their cheap tricks and attitude.

Of course love is not a mirage and the typical Ukraine woman will make everything possible to prove her feelings. These ladies are not that desperate and would not try to lie you that they like you if they do not. Indeed many of them are trying to get married abroad in order to have legal right to stay and work in the foreign country, but these are rare exceptions.

There is no intelligent woman on this planet who would take a step to marriage abroad if she does not have feelings for the man or if she believes that after the marriage she can simply take her visa and start her own life. However, you are the other side in this international relationship are and you can see how everything is going before asking her to marry you.

What happens next is up to you..

Ukrainians love their numerous holidays and love to “celebrate” those holidays in grandeous fashion. It’s not uncommon for Westerners to be taken aback at just how many “days of note” they observe, and the amount of fireworks and revelry that goes along with them, not to mention the vast amount of spirits consumed. Ukraines history that included Paganism and later Christianity can be attributed to the evolution of many of her current holidays and festivities.

1 January – New Year’s Day is one the most favorite of all holidays in Ukraine. As in Western countries on Christmas Eve, Ukrainians give “New Year” presents, Children receive their presents under the New Year Tree on the morning of the 1st of January. Traditionally just prior to midnight there’s a Presidential speech broadcast nationally. When the clock strikes Midnight, people pop open thier champaign bottles and raise a toast. With the first glass they congratulate each other as the clock strikes 12 times and fireworks fill the sky. The week before the New Year is a busy one with shopping, parties at work, decorating pine and fir-trees, and cooking the years most delicious meals. The main folk heroes of this holiday are Father Frost (Did Moroz) and his grand-daughter “Sniguron’ka” (The Snow Girl). The tradition of predicting fortunes on this night is very popular among young people.

A peculiar tradition includes writing down on a piece of paper your wish for the coming year, then dropping it in to your champagne and drinking it as the clock stikes twelve times. Another “fun” folk tradition pacticed mainly in the villages on New Year night is for the unmarried girls to go outside and throw one of thier boots over the Hosts’ fence. Whichever way the toe of the boot ends up pointing indicates where the future husband will come from. Nearly all businesses remain closed from December 31st to January 8th.

7 January – Orthodox Christmas The period from the 7th until the 14th of January is Saint Christmas week. During this week people go from one house to another, singing songs and wishing good wishes to health, prosperity, etc. and just having a good time. Most usually are dressed in folksy or carnival type costumes. Such activity is called “Kolyaduvannya” and “Schedruvannya”. The songs are called “kolyadky” and “schedrivky”. When somebody is singing these songs and greeting you, as a rule you should give them sweets or food or drinks or whatever you have as a token of appreciation. . It is believed that everything that the people have sung in their Kolyadka and Schedrivka will come true.

Also during the new year holidays, up to the 14th of January it is common for kids (and sometimes adults-in the villages) to go from one house to another wishing the owner of the house new year wishes, new happiness, health, etc. All those wishes are usually said in rhymes and with the spreading of seeds, such as wheat or other grains. This shows a wish of prosperity for the house. This practice is called “Posivannya”. Some token, usualy food, drink, sweets, or money, is usualy given in return.

14 January – Old Calendar New Year celebrated as a family holiday. See more above under 7 January – Orthodox Christmas.

22 January – Ukrainian Unity Day (Den Sobornosti) is an important historical event in Ukraine. It goes back to the date when Eastern and Western Ukraine were united. On this day in 1919 the “Treaty of Unity” between Ukrainians was signed and the unity of all Ukrainian lands previously belonging to the Russian Empire (UNR) and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was solemnly proclaimed on Sofijivska Square in Kyiv. “Den Sobornosti” is the symbol of territorial and spiritual unity of Ukraine as a unified sovereign state.