The rushnyk is a ceremonial embroidered ritual towel that is used celebrate a transition in ones' life (births, weddings, & funerals), to adorn icons, and to welcome guests. The original meaning comes from "ruka", which means hand, and a regular rushnyk would be a towel you might use to dry your hands. This version, however, is generally not embroidered.

The embroidered designs could mean many things, depending on the images depicted. Notice that the one above has a tree of life, an open wreath, cherries, roses, larks, and a dispel design on the bottom. Also, you'll notice that the items (ie. roses) come in threes. From these designs, it's easy to determine what the meaning behind this particular rushnyk is:

1. Tree of life: continuity, eternity
2. Wreath-open: This is primarily used for weddings. Indicates that the future of the couple is open and their life is ahead of them.
3. Cherries: fertility, fecundity
4. Rose: robust beauty, vigor
5. Lark: youth, joy, vigor; often used in pairs to represent the young couple
6. Dispel: this is the term we are using from the many motifs that are at the bottom edges of towels. This design points down to the ground and is symbolic of takng all of the evil out of the area and transfer it into the soil. The earth, it is believed, has the power to absorb evil and disperse it.
7. Three: totality, unity. The number three is generally associated with the Christian Trinity. Almost any motif can appear in groups of three: flowers, bands, birds, etc.

If you receive a rushnyk with an embroidered carnation, butterfly, and/or closed wreath, you're probably dead. If you're not dead, it might be wise to keep an eye on the gift-giver and not turn back on him/her.

For more information, check out The Ukrainian Village Project.