Ukrainian culture differs from Western cultures in important ways that impact daily life and social norms: - Cultural differences go beyond surface level habits to the underlying worldviews and assumptions that inform behavior, leading to some aspects of Ukrainian culture seeming incomprehensible to outsiders. - Ukrainians place great importance on hospitality, with hosts entertaining and feeding guests for as long as they stay in the home. Body language and personal space concepts also differ, with Ukrainians comfortable with greater physical touch and intimacy than Western cultures. - Traditional gender roles remain more prominent in Ukraine, with men displaying more chivalrous behavior toward women and women emphasizing femininity and attractiveness more than in the West. Family and multigenerational households also

1. UKRAINE

2. Cultural differences go very deep. It’s
not just habits that differ, but also the
assumptions and worldview that
underlie them. Habits come and go, but
worldviews are forever. Some
Ukrainians' culture will strike you as
incomprehensible and intolerable, while
others' behavior and attitudes will seem
rational and compatible with your own.

3. Ukrainian hospitality.
In Ukraine guests are given lots of attention. If
you are someone’s house guest, your hosts will
likely take you around town and show you the
sights for several days. Traditional Ukrainian
attitudes dictate that guests be well-fed and
entertained for as long as they stay at your
home.

4. Body language.
On average Ukrainians’ personal space is
smaller than in Germanic and Anglo-
saxon cultures. Some people touch each
other quite a bit during conversations if
they are standing. Greeting women with
a kiss on the cheek is common.

5. Ukrainians have preserved superstitions
and omens about things like shaking
hands through a doorway, whistling
indoors, and other things. Everyone knows
these omens and jokes about them, but
they avoid breaking them all the same.
Superstitions and
mysticism.

6. The word «friend» in Ukrainian implies a
closer relationship than in most other
European languages. One has one or two
«friends» and many «acquaintances«—quite
the opposite of the U.S., where many people
have dozens of «friends» but often have no
really close friends.
Friendship and making
acquaintances.

7. Westerners note that gender roles in Ukraine
tend to be more traditional. Not only do men
open doors for women and gallantly hold
their hand as they step out of the bus, but
women tend to dress more femininely and
accentuate their attractiveness more than in
most western countries.
Gender roles in Ukraine.

8. Ukrainian culture has agrarian roots. Almost
everyone has grandparents or relatives that live in
the countryside. People still do not move around
as much as in the West, especially the middle-
aged and elderly. Often one or both grandparents
will live with their children and help take care of
small children.
Home and family in
Ukraine