Tupychiv

Editor's note: This story is one of the winning entries from the "Teach Us about Ukraine" writing contest sponsored by VOA Learning English and GoGlobal.

I'm Olena. I teach English at the lyceum in Tupychiv, Chernihiv, Ukraine. This is my essay.

Ukraine is known for its historical landmarks like Saint Sophia Cathedral and Independence Square, big cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv, and the ports of the Black Sea. Few visitors, however, know about the small and picturesque villages of one of the largest countries in Eastern Europe.

Today, we will learn about Tupychiv, a small village nearly 200 kilometers north of the capital city of Kyiv.

Tupychiv is one of 11 small villages in the Chernihiv area. From the regional center of Chernihiv, visitors can take a bus or car to Tupychiv. The small village has no link to important historical events or possesses any major architecture. What it does have is nature.

Tupychiv is surrounded by forests. The woods are more than just an ecosystem. They are a part of life for people in the area. Workers look after the forests to keep the trees, including birch, oak, pine, and fir, in order.

In early spring, fresh green leaves blossom on the trees and bushes. The sound of birds singing fills every corner of the forest promising new life and joy after the cold winter day. In May, herds of cows wander to the forests to graze between the bushes and wood clearings.

As the summer arrives, villagers ride their bikes to the forests to pick berries. Strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries are important sources of nutrition for villagers. They are also an important source of money for those who bring them to market.

The quietest month in the forest is June when animals and birds have their babies.

But the 7th of July is a special day in the forests of Tupychiv.

According to legend, the ferns in the forests would only blossom one night a year, from nighttime on the 6th to daytime on the 7th. Those who could see its bloom would be given a gift to find treasures. But the night is also the time when evils in the woods would come out and only the bravest men would dare to go into the Tupychiv forests.

Whether the story is true or not, villagers believe that the plants have a magic force on the 7th of July. So many hurry to the woods to gather medicinal plants or berries on that special day.

When autumn comes, the forests turn into a palette of golden leaves on birches, flaming scarlet leaves of oak trees and dark green firs and pines. Villagers would go for a walk in the woods and come back with a basket of mushrooms and unforgettable memories.

As for memories, no one in Tupychiv ever forgets the year 1933. That was the year Ukrainians suffered from hunger caused by Soviet policy. Thousands died of hunger but the people of Tupychiv and neighboring villages survived with berries, mushrooms, and edible plants found in the woods.

I'm Gena Bennett.

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Olena Reva has been teaching English in secondary schools for 23 years. She currently teaches at the lyceum in Tupychiv, Chernihiv, Ukraine. She enjoys living in the countryside and keeping a garden of potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and pumpkins.