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Forgotten Galicia

Forgotten Galicia

Remnants of the past found in Lviv, Galicia & the former Austrian Empire

Tag: women's history

Country of Roxolania: Ukrainian Women in the First World War

January 22, 2022

By Mariana Baidak for Lokalna Istoriya (original in Ukrainian) “Out of my love for Ukraine, I took a rifle and went to the field to beat the enemy with physical force,” said Olena Stepaniv, the most famous Ukrainian military woman, more than 100 years ago. Since then, the issue of […]

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Forgotten Galicia

forgottengalicia

The old cemetery in Demnya, established in 1834, i The old cemetery in Demnya, established in 1834, is a remarkable open-air museum of stone crosses and tombstones. Its artistic and historical value stems not only from its age, but from the craftsmanship of local stonemasons who transformed it into a place of quiet beauty and cultural significance.

Thanks to nearby deposits of high-quality limestone, stone carving became a long-standing tradition in the village. Over time, entire families of artisans honed their skills and passed them down through generations. Demnya’s stonemasons came to be regarded as among the finest in the region.

Their work is rich in symbolism and noted for its artistic value — many of the tombstones and stone crosses are true works of folk art. The cemetery is especially known for its detailed sculptures of the Virgin Mary in an open mantle, St. Nicholas — the village’s patron saint — and small angels. The monuments also feature finely carved imagery: flowers, garlands, oak leaves, grapevines, and sometimes even birds or human hands are worked into the designs.

The skill of Demnya’s artisans was recognized far beyond the village. They were invited to work in major cities, including Lviv, where they contributed to the Lychakiv Cemetery and adorned the Church of St. Elizabeth (now the Church of Saints Olha and Elizabeth).

#burialground #necropolis #oldcemetery #galicia #galiciancountryside #ukraine #sculpture #gravestone
These cute cats inhabit one of the cutest hidden c These cute cats inhabit one of the cutest hidden corners of Lviv 🐱

#catsofinstagram #catsoflviv #catscatscats #catsandarchitecture #archihunter #archilovers #lviv
Autumn in the Carpathians 🍁 #karpaty #carpathi Autumn in the Carpathians 🍁

#karpaty #carpathians #mountains #galiciancountryside #oldhouselove #ukraine #autumnvibes @thevillageua
#lviv #architecturalheritage #archidetails #oldbui #lviv #architecturalheritage #archidetails #oldbuildings #ukraine #vines
Twins #archidetails #architecturalheritage #archi Twins

#archidetails #architecturalheritage #architecturehunter #archilovers #neogothic #lviv
Autumn in Lviv 🍁 @thevillageua #autumnvibes #l Autumn in Lviv 🍁

@thevillageua #autumnvibes #lviv #architecture
Villa Lala: “Lala” (a variant of “lalka”) Villa Lala: “Lala” (a variant of “lalka”) in Polish means “doll.” In informal or slang usage, it can refer to an attractive woman—similar to “babe” in English—and is sometimes used as a term of endearment. It can also be used as a nickname or even a standalone female name in Poland, as it does in this case.

In Ukrainian, at least within the diaspora, “Lyalya” or “Lyalka” (also meaning “doll”) were—and sometimes still are—used as affectionate nicknames for girls. In some cases, the name stuck and continued to be used even after the girls had grown into women. As far as I know, “lala” in Ukrainian does not have the meaning of “babe” as it can have in Polish. 

In Galician Ukrainian (as I heard growing up in the diaspora), there’s also the phrase “kralya-lyalya” (краля-ляля). The word “kralya,” an old-fashioned term for “queen” or “beauty,” was once commonly used to describe an attractive woman. Combined as “kralya-lyalya,” however, it refers to a high-maintenance beauty—a “diva” or “prima donna,” so to speak.
Historical utility covers made by the Vienna compa Historical utility covers made by the Vienna company Gebrüder Andreae, located outside of the former National Casino (today the House of Scientists), built 1898 by the famous Austrian architectural studio Fellner & Helmer. 

#manholecovers #utilitycover #fellnerandhelmer #neobaroque #oldcasino #guardstones #lviv #lwów #ukraine
Cats + historical architecture #archidetails #ar Cats + historical architecture 

#archidetails #architecturehunter #catsofinstagram #catsoflviv #catscatscats #catlovers #catsandarchitecture #lviv #ukraine
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