1. Ukraine

2. What do you know about Ukraine?

3. Location Located in eastern Europe. Borders the Black Sea. Shares borders with seven countries: Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.

4. The Ukrainian Flag

5. Fast Facts… Population: 44,854,065 people (in 2012) Capital City : Kiev 2,786,518 people Area: 600,000 square km’s. Ukraine is Europe's 2 nd largest country

6. More Fast Facts… Religion: Ukrainian Orthodox Language: Russian and Ukrainian. Currency: Hryvnia 5.5 hryvnia = 1 Canadian dollar

7. And some more… Natural Resources: coal, natural gas, oil, and salt. Environmental Issues: inadequate supplies of potable water air and water pollution radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant

8. Infrastructure St Michael's Cathedral in Cherkassy Largest Church in Ukraine Can hold up to 12,000 people at one time.

9. Ukrainian Dance 10 different dances depending on what region they live in. Ukrainian Dance is often described as energetic, fast- paced, and entertaining. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEvDJ-4lehQ&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvD21OntHgI

10. Embroidery Has long appeared in Ukrainian folk dress as well as played a part in traditional Ukrainian weddings and other celebrations. Appears all across the country. Ukrainian embroidery varies depending on the region of origin.

11. Ukrainian Christmas Celebrated on January 7th Traditional feast on Christmas Eve (January 6) consists of twelve courses, all meatless.

12. Ukrainian Kolach A special bread made on festive occasions. Elaborately twisted and braided. Traditionally presented as three breads stacked one on top of the other and topped by a candle. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92WEVn3iO14

13. PASKA - Easter Ritual Bread considered one of the most important tasks of the year. People believed that the future could be predicted, depending on how this holiday bread turned out. A successfully baked paska brought great joy to the family. Pride is taken in the ornamentation that decorates the top of the Paska, such as crosses, twists, rosettes, pine cones.

14. Borsch AKA beet soup! Includes beets, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, carrots… Served as a starter for many Ukrainian meals. http://foodwishes.blogspot.ca/2012/09/beef-borscht-you-really-cant-beat-this.html

15. Holubtsi (hoh-loob-tsih) AKA Cabbage Rolls dish consisting of cooked cabbage leaves wrapped around a variety of fillings (typically rice and ground beef). Can be topped with tomatoes or a gravy. http://foodwishes.blogspot.ca/2009/01/another-chef-john-is-traveling-rerun.html

16. Varenyky AKA perogies Varenyky are square- or crescent-shaped dumplings. They are stuffed with sauerkraut, cheese, mashed potato, cabbage, meat, or a combination of these, or with a fruit filling.