In the early years of independence ambitious children’s magazine took pool among children and their parents in order to find the symbol of the publishing house. It was like: what is the most known and the mostly wide spread animal in Ukraine? Most of them choose a pig as the best candidate.
Appreciative citizens express their love to the «breadwinner» and establish many sculptural compositions to her all around the world. Most of them are exactly in Ukraine. For example: rehotunchyk z Romen, six poltavian compositions of pigs, «with love» - in Lutsk, Funtyk in Sevastopol and manhalytsya from Zakarpattya.
Poltava is an undeniable leader for a number of monuments to piggies. The first one was established near the main building of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine in the early 70’s of XX century. From the day of its founding (1930) and even today the Institute is the only one specialized research center which studies the theory and practical training about pig breeding. The sculptural composition is mounted on meter long dodecagonal pedestal, it shows a life-like breeding sow of poltavian meet breed with twelve pigs.
The second one was established at the area of Academy of Agrarian Sciences. There you can see how a boy and a girl punch it with a twig. The tablet «To the breadwinner of Ukrainian people » hangs on the postament.
But the most exciting is a comic sculpture «The pig in dirt» in Horishni Plavni, it was settled according to the sketch of local schoolboy. He says about his work: «I love my town and I don’t want people that get drunk behave themselves and look like my pig».
April fool’s jokes also mention pigs. During the all-Ukrainian humoristic festival of fat lovers established a “gold” pig-breadwinner in Romny (Sumy provinces) in 2000, local people raised money for its building. Funny fat pig sits on the little pedestal and shows its smile to people, as if it scoffs of their problems. Archeological excavations gave birth to the idea of creating such a sculpture. The matter of fact is that pig bones were founded in the place Tatar-Mongol yoke was before. So, scientists drove a conclusion Mongols grabbed everything apart from pigs, because they didn’t eat them at all and it saved people from starving. So, appreciative descendants eternalized the animal in the sculpture. Also they established a custom to rub for a while a pig’s muzzle to get lucky and become reach. So, it’s polished to shine for a long time.
A sculpture composition to Pig and Fat was established during annual festival of fat lovers in the spring of 2006 in Lutsk. It is made from oak and it weighs 850 kg. The whole composition looks like the pig hugs a piece of fat. It was promised to be turned out of bronze.
The next year at the children’s camp « Lukomorye » (Sevastopol) a statue to piglet Kulka was opened. It lived once at the camp and freely walked in the grounds, it trusted people and was a favorite for children.
Another two are placed in Myrhorod – the motherland of M.V. Gogol. The sculpture compositions are placed near the famous puddle which is described in the story « The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich ». It doesn’t get dry even in hot summer and doesn’t freeze in cold winter, the secret is that underground sources feed it. In the honor of the 200th birthday of M.V. Gogol the promenade around the puddle-pond was built on 1 April 2009. There were established sculptures of Mykola Vasylovych’s literary characters of course a place for sleeping piggy was founded. Another one composition – elegant piggy was added to the collection in one year. She arranged herself near fence and lazes in the sun. Local people call her «Piggy in the paradise».
A playful mangalitsa was established at the Eco-farm in Berehivskyy region, where these pigs are being raised today. A sheep (curly-haired) breed of pigs exists already more than 200 years. There was time they were pastured like sheep in a field, thanks to their fur these unpretentious animals could sleep in freezing temperatures. The breed is interesting again and people propagandize and linebreed it again. Tourists visit the farm with a great interest, it’s very appealing to them to taste fresh meat and to have some photos with wooly creatures.
What about the fresh meat. There’s an opportunity to try fresh fried, baked or cooked pig delicacies at the Festival of genteshies in Gecha (Berehivskyy region). Thanks to neighbors Hungarians’ support experienced butchers come together every year to compete for a while and to cook tasty food. So many people come here that you have to grab a chance to try something before someone haven’t done it for you.
By the way it’s possible to see pork carcass spit-roasting at any festival of ecological products, especially in Kyiv. There’s always a huge que not to taste something, but to have some photos.
Some years ago it was normal to get a greeting card with a pig on it, it was believed that pig is a symbol of prosperity, success and material wealth.
