Obon. Ivan Kotliarevskyi. Part 1
13/08/26, 12:00
On August 13, the Obon period begins in Japan—a special time devoted to honouring the memory of ancestors and returning to one’s roots.
This observance combines lively public celebrations and ritual Bon odori dances in the streets with intimate family traditions at home.
Across different cultures, respect for ancestors serves as a strong foundation that preserves national identity through the centuries. In Ukrainian culture, this source of strength lies in a profound respect for one’s roots and for the figures who laid the foundations of modern national consciousness.
A vivid example of this continuity is the life of Ivan Kotliarevskyi (1769–1838), regarded as the founding father of modern Ukrainian literature. His family was deeply rooted in Poltava, an ancient city in the heart of Ukraine that served as an important cultural centre of the region.
In 1751, the future writer’s grandfather, a deacon of the Dormition Cathedral, purchased and consecrated a family estate on Ivanova Hora in Poltava. It was here that the distinguished writer was born and spent most of his life. He attained noble status through military service, while his government and public positions provided him with a stable income. These included managing the Poltava Theatre and overseeing educational and charitable institutions.
In 1798, the first parts of his celebrated poem Eneida were published. In this work, Kotliarevskyi masterfully reinterpreted the classical plot of the epic poem by the ancient Roman poet Virgil.
By transferring the adventures of the Trojans to a Ukrainian setting, the writer portrayed the Cossacks as classical heroes, filling the text with colourful depictions of folk life, customs, and vibrant spoken Ukrainian. The publication of Eneida established the high status of the Ukrainian language in printed literature for the first time.
Today, as Ukraine defends its freedom and national identity against Russia’s full-scale invasion, launched in 2022 as a continuation of the war that began in 2014, remembrance has acquired particular significance.
Defenders and ancestors who have passed into eternity continue to live in our hearts and family memories. As long as the memory of people and their great deeds remains alive, they continue to be present beside us, inspiring us to protect our native land.