| Lemkos are one of four major ethnic groups who | | | | language. |
| inhabit the Eastern Carpathian Mountains, and who | | | | Boyko or Boiko is the name for a distinctive |
| speak the Lemko dialect/language. | | | | group of Ukrainian montagnards of the Carpathian |
| Location | | | | highlands. The Boykos inhabited the central and |
| The Lemkos' homeland is commonly referred to | | | | the western half of the Carpathians in Ukraine, |
| as Lemkivshchyna (Ukrainian: ?e??i?????, Polish: | | | | including the Dolynsky and a part of the |
| Lemkowszczyzna). Up until 1945, this included the | | | | Rozhniativsky Raions (districts) in the |
| area from the Poprad River in the east to the | | | | Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast (province), the Skolivsky, |
| valley of Oslawa River in the west, areas situated | | | | Turkivsky, and parts of the Drohobytsky, |
| primarily in present-day Poland, in the Lesser | | | | Sambirsky and Starosambirsky Raions in the Lviv |
| Poland and Subcarpathian Voivodeships. This part | | | | Oblast, and parts of the Mizhhirsky Raion in the |
| of the Carpathian mountains is mostly deforested, | | | | Zakarpattia Oblast), as well as the adjacent areas |
| which allowed for an agrarian economy, alongside | | | | of southeast Poland and northeast Slovakia. |
| such traditional occupations as ox grazing and | | | | Some scholars claim that this ethnic group is a |
| sheep herding. | | | | part of Rusyns. Indeed, in the 19th century and in |
| This area was part of Austro-Hungarian Empire | | | | the first part of the 20th century Boykos, as well |
| until its dissolution in 1918, at which point the | | | | as most of the population of the present day's |
| Lemko-Rusyn Republic (Ruska Lemkivska) | | | | Western Ukraine called themselves Ruthenians |
| declared its independence. The independence did | | | | (Ukrainian: ??????, Rusyny). Then the term |
| not last long, and the territory was incorporated | | | | "Ukrainian", that replaced the term "Ruthenians" in |
| into Poland in 1920. | | | | Eastern Ukraine a century earlier, has became |
| As a result of Operation Wisla, the majority of | | | | more common among Western Ruthenians |
| Lemkos from this territory were resettled | | | | Ukrainians, including Boykos, as well. According to |
| throughout Poland and in the Ukrainian Soviet | | | | the recent census practically all Boykos in Ukraine |
| Socialist Republic, leaving a significant population | | | | (not however in Poland and in Slovakia) declared |
| only in the Prešov Region of present-day | | | | their ethnicity as Ukrainian. |
| Slovakia. | | | | The name, "Boyko" is thought by some to |
| Etymology | | | | originate in their patterns of speech, specifically |
| The name "Lemko" derives from the common | | | | the use of the expression, "bah!". |
| expression Lem (?e?), which can mean "but", | | | | Most Boykos belong to the Ukrainian Greek |
| "only", or "like" in the Lemko dialect. "Lemko" | | | | Catholic Church, with a minority belonging to the |
| came into use as an endonym after having been | | | | Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The distinctive |
| used as an exonym by the neighboring Boykos | | | | wooden church architecture of the Boyko region |
| and Hutsuls, who do not use that expression in | | | | is a three-domed church, with the domes |
| their respective dialects. Prior to this moniker, the | | | | arranged in one line, and the middle dome slightly |
| Lemkos described themselves as Rusnaks | | | | larger than the others. |
| ((Ukrainian: ????a??, translit. Rusnaky) or Rusyns | | | | Boyko is also a common surname among people |
| (Ukrainian: ??????, translit. Rusyny), as did the rest | | | | with origins in Western Ukraine, including in Canada |
| of the inhabitants of present-day Western Ukraine | | | | and the United States. |
| in the 19th century and first part of the 20th | | | | Hutsuls (Ukrainian: ??????, singular ?????, Romanian: |
| century. In the early 20th century, a majority of | | | | Hutuli, singular Hutul, Hutsul dialect: Hutsule, singular |
| these peoples became active participants in the | | | | Hutsul; alternatively spelled Huculs, Huzuls, Hutzuls, |
| creation of the Ukrainian nation and came to call | | | | Gutsuls, Guculs, Guzuls, or Gutzuls) are an |
| themselves Ukrainians (Ukrainian: ????????, translit. | | | | ethno-cultural group of highlanders who for |
| Ukrayintsi). However, while they may have | | | | centuries have inhabited the Carpathian mountains, |
| accepted the new state of Ukraine, many | | | | mainly in Ukraine, but also in the northern |
| Lemkos, including those in Poland and Slovakia, | | | | extremity of Romania (in the areas of Bukovina |
| consider themselves to be a distinct ethnicity, | | | | and Maramures), as well as in Slovakia and Poland. |
| while some claim to be Ukrainians and still others | | | | Although Hutsuls have a distinct self-identity, there |
| indentify as Rusyns. | | | | is an ongoing and, often politically charged, debate |
| History | | | | on whether Hutsuls are of the Ukrainian ethnicity |
| Lemkos are generally considered to be | | | | or the Rusyn one (opinions also vary over their |
| descendants of Ruthenian settlers who arrived in | | | | status as a subgroup of the Ukrainian ethnicity |
| 14th century or probably earlier to the area | | | | itself), as well as whether they originated from |
| traditionally inhabited by Lemkos. | | | | the Romanian people. |
| After World War I, Lemkos founded two | | | | Etymology |
| short-lived republics, the Lemko-Rusyn Republic in | | | | There are different versions for the origins of the |
| the west of Galicia, which had a russophile | | | | name Hutsul. An explanation is that it comes from |
| orietation, and the Komancza Republic, with a | | | | the Romanian word for "outlaw" (cf. Rom. hot - |
| Ukainophile orientation. | | | | "thief"). Other explanations place their origins in the |
| It is estimated that about 130,000-140,000 | | | | Slavic kochul - "wanderer","migrant", in reference |
| Lemkos were living in the Polish part of | | | | to their semi-nomadic lifestyle, to the name of |
| Lemkivshchyna in 1939. Mass emigration from this | | | | the Turkic tribe of the Uzy, and even to the |
| territory to the Western hemisphere began in the | | | | name of the Moravian king Hetsyl[1]. |
| late 1800s, diminishing the cultural uniqueness of | | | | History and origins |
| the Lemko homeland. Additional depopulation of | | | | Hutsuls inhabit areas situated between the |
| these lands occurred when the Lemkos began to | | | | south-east of those inhabited by the Boykos, |
| be removed in a forced resettlement, first to the | | | | down to the northern part of the Romanian |
| Soviet Union (about 90,000 people) and later to | | | | segment of the Carpathians. |
| Poland's newly-acquired western lands (about | | | | Two prominent theories of their origin state that |
| 35,000) in the Operation Wisla campaign of the | | | | the Hutsuls may have begun as an early |
| late 1940s. This action was a state ordered | | | | non-Romanised Thracian or Dacian population, |
| solution to the struggle waged by the Ukrainian | | | | which was later linguistically assimilated with the |
| Insurgent Army (UPA) in south-eastern Poland. | | | | neighboring Slavs, or the origin may only go back |
| While a minority of Lemkos returned (some 5,000 | | | | as far as a later Romanised Dacian (Romanian) |
| Lemko families returned to their home regions in | | | | population (see Vlachs), which was also linguistically |
| Poland between 1957-1958[1], officially having been | | | | assimilated. |
| allowed the right to return in 1956), the Lemko | | | | Language |
| population in the Polish part of Lemkivschyna only | | | | Although most of them speak the Hutsul dialect |
| numbers around 10,000-15,000 today. Some | | | | (a dialect of Ukrainian/Rusyn with Polish |
| 50,000 Lemkos live in the western and northern | | | | influences), several words in their dialect have |
| parts of Poland, where they were sent to | | | | Romanian origins (e.g. kyptar - "vest", from Rom. |
| populate former German villages in areas Stalin | | | | cheptar cf. Latin pectus; zgardy - "necklace", from |
| had ceded to Poland. Among those, 5,863 people | | | | Rom. zgarda, cf. Albanian shkardhë; bryndza |
| identified themselves as Lemko in the 2002 | | | | - "cheese", cf. Rom. brânza). |
| census. However, it is estimated that no fewer | | | | Due to the current educational system, the Hutsul |
| than 80,000 ethnic Lemkos reside in Poland today. | | | | dialect is in danger of extinction, as the |
| Within Lemkivshchyna, Lemkos live in the villages | | | | compulsory education is done only in Ukrainian, |
| of Losie, Krynica, Nowica, Zdynia, Gladyszów, | | | | including in countries where Hutsuls are recognised |
| Hanczowa, Zyndranowa, Uscie Gorlickie, Bartne, | | | | as a separate minority than the Ukrainian one. |
| Binczarowa and Bielanka. Additional populations can | | | | Way of life and culture |
| be found in Mokre, Szczawne, Kulaszne, Rzepedz, | | | | Traditional Hutsul culture is often represented by |
| Turzansk, Komancza, Sanok, Nowy Sacz, and | | | | the colorful and intricate craftsmanship of their |
| Gorlice. | | | | clothing, sculpture, architecture, woodworking, |
| Religion | | | | metalworking (especially in brass), rug weaving, |
| Christianity in the region is thought to date to the | | | | pottery, and egg decorating (see pysanka). Along |
| efforts of Saints Cyril and Methodius in the 800s. | | | | with other Hutsul traditions, as well as their songs |
| The religion of many Lemkos is Greek-Catholicism. | | | | and dances, this culture is often celebrated and |
| In Poland, they belong to the Ukrainian Greek | | | | highlighted by the different countries that Hutsuls |
| Catholic Church, and to the Ruthenian Catholic | | | | inhabit. Hutsul culture bears a noted resemblance |
| Church (see also Slovak Greek Catholic Church) in | | | | to the traditional culture of Romania [7], with that |
| Slovakia. A substantial number belong to the | | | | of western Ukraine [8] [9], and with that of other |
| Eastern Orthodox Church. Through the efforts of | | | | mountainous people which may have similar |
| the martyred priest Fr. Maxim Sandovich in the | | | | origins, such as the Gorals in Poland and |
| early 1900's (canonized by the Polish Orthodox | | | | Slovakia[10] and the Moravian Wallachians in the |
| Church in the 1990s) Eastern Orthodoxy was | | | | Czech Republic. Most Hutsuls belong to the |
| reintroduced to many Lemko areas which had | | | | Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Ruthenian |
| accepted the Union of Brest centuries before. The | | | | Catholic Church. |
| distinctive wooden architectural style of the | | | | Hutsul society was traditionally based on forestry |
| Lemko churches is to place the highest cupola of | | | | and logging, as well as cattle and sheep breeding; |
| the church building at the entrance to the church, | | | | the Hutsuls are credited with having created the |
| with the roof sloping downward toward the | | | | breed of horse known as the Hucul pony. They |
| sanctuary. | | | | use unique musical instruments, including the |
| Dialect | | | | "trembita" (trâmbita), a type of alpenhorn of |
| The Lemko dialect is the western-most dialect of | | | | Dacian origin, as well multiple varieties of the fife, |
| the Ukrainian language. Lemko speech, however, | | | | or sopilka, that are used to create unique folk |
| includes patterns matching those of the | | | | melodies and rhythms. Also frequently used are |
| surrounding Polish and Slovak languages, leading | | | | the bagpipe (duda), the jew's harp (drymba), and |
| some to refer to it as a transitional dialect | | | | the hammered dulcimer - cymbalom. |
| between Polish and Slovak (some even consider | | | | The Hutsuls served as an inspiration for many |
| the dialect in Eastern Slovakia to be a dialect of | | | | writers, such as Ivan Franko, Lesya Ukrainka, |
| the Slovak language). | | | | Mykhailo Kotsiubyns'kyi, Vasyl Stefanik and Mihail |
| Language | | | | Sadoveanu. Sergei Parajanov's film Shadows of |
| Metodyj Trochanovskyij published a Lemko | | | | Forgotten Ancestors (???? ??????? ???????), which |
| Primer ('Lemkivskj bukvar') and a First Reader | | | | is based on the book by Mykhailo Kotsiubyns'ky, |
| ('Persa knyzecka') for use in schools in the | | | | portrays scenes of traditional Hutsul life. |
| Lemko-speaking area of Poland in the 1930's. | | | | Every summer, the village of Sheshory in Ukraine |
| These were banned by the Polish government in | | | | hosts a three-day international festival of folk |
| 1938. In the late 20th century, some Lemkos | | | | music and art. Two Hutsul-related museums are |
| Rusyns, mainly emigres from the region of the | | | | located in Kolomyia, Ukraine: the Pysanky |
| southern slopes of the Carpathians in modern-day | | | | museum and the Museum of Hutsul and Pokuttya |
| Slovakia, began an effort to codify and | | | | Folk Art. Traditional Hutsul sounds and moves |
| standardize a grammar for the Lemko dialect. | | | | were effectively used by the Ukrainian winner of |
| This happened on the 27-th Jan. 1995 in Presov, | | | | the 2004 Eurovision song contest, Ruslana |
| Slovakia. The Lemko/Rusyn languague became a | | | | Lyzhychko. |