Gayevska T. The Ukrainian ceremonial rites in independent Ukraine

In dissertation the evolutionary process of ceremonial rites in independent Ukraine has been characterized on the basis of historical and comparative analysis; the conceptual terms of the research have got more precise definition ("rite", "ritual", "custom", "tradition", "feast", "ceremony", "magic" and so on); the complex analysis of the Ukrainians' principal pagan rites has been provided; the peculiarities of Christianity conversion influence onto the evolution of Ukraine's ceremonial rites field have been substantiated; the historical evolution of the Ukrainians' rites from Christian up to Soviet ones has been traced; the Ukrainians ceremonial experience in Ukraine in Soviet period has been synthesized; the evolution of ceremonial rites content and forms in Ukraine within the years of Independence has been examined.