At the end of the 19th century, Ukrainian emigrants arrived in the state of Paraná in search of a better life. They brought not only hard work and resilience, but also deep spirituality, traditions, and strong family values. Today their descendants speak Ukrainian, sing Ukrainian songs, and celebrate Easter as if the distance between Brazil and Ukraine simply did not exist.
Yesterday, on 5 April 2026, the city was filled with a special atmosphere. Festive liturgies took place in Ukrainian churches of the Byzantine rite, where Ukrainian was spoken, folk songs echoed, and parishioners came in embroidered shirts. The central streets came alive with families carrying Easter baskets — filled with paskas, pysanky, homemade sausages, and traditional dishes that were blessed after the service.
This story is not only about culture. It is about resilience. About women’s leadership in diaspora communities. Ukrainian women in Prudentopolis have, for decades, passed the language on to their children, taught them to pray in Ukrainian, and preserved the recipes of paska and the art of pysankarstvo. They created choirs, cultural associations, and educational initiatives — and it is thanks to them that Ukrainian identity here has not dissolved, but become a source of local pride.
Easter in Prudentopolis is an example of how cultural heritage can become part of contemporary Brazil without losing its authenticity. The Ukrainian community actively organises festivals, cultural events, and educational programmes for youth, building a strong environment where tradition meets development.
In a global world where borders are increasingly blurred, Prudentopolis demonstrates another model — one of deep roots. And it is women who play a key role in preserving this strength.
Easter here is not only about faith. It is about responsibility for heritage, about the entrepreneurial spirit of the community, and about the power of women’s energy that shapes the future while standing firmly on tradition.
Christ is Risen — in Ukraine and in Brazil.
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By: Olena Zhukova
Photos: Deborah Sedor, Brazilian journalist