Ukraine Traditional Courtship: Which Stage are You In?

Dating Ukrainian women is a lot different than dating other Western women. For one thing, they aren’t as liberal or loose than most. That’s because the dating scene in the country is still traditional in a sense that couples go through the different courtship stages. Courtship doesn’t necessarily mean taking the time to woo her. While that does happen, courtship also entails thoroughly getting to know and acclimating yourselves with one another.

But one of the challenges of international dating is that foreigners dive into relationships with such women without knowing their dating culture. They run the risk of offending and outright insulting these women.

If you are lucky enough to date a Ukrainian lady, you have to know where you stand. This way, you would not make any presumptions and even put your foot in your mouth accidentally. Being aware of which stage of the courtship lets you be aware of what to do and not to do to progress the relationship. Without further ado, here are the different courtship stages:

1. Flirting

This stage is pretty self-explanatory. This is basically the part where one or both parties express interest in the other. Whether you met across a crowded room or simply chatted online, you are basically letting her know that you’ve set your sights on her.

2. Invitation

Before you actually start dating her, you have to invite her out first. And your approach would determine whether she would go out with you or not. Remember, casual dating isn’t really popular in the country. So invite her for lunch or dinner. And in order to make a great first impression, taking her somewhere nice, like a fancy restaurant may not be that bad of an idea either. This gesture will tell her that you are genuinely interested in her.

It is also customary for the man to make the invitation. This is because Ukrainian culture still adheres to conventional gender norms.

3. Dating

Now this is the part you actually spend time together. During this phase of the courtship, both of you are basically getting to know each other more and gauging your chemistry and compatibility but without physical intimacy involved. While there are some forms of physical contact that are accepted, such as handshakes and kisses on the cheeks, you have to restrain from kissing, holding hands, and even hugging. If you are adamant in showing public displays of affection, you need her consent first because Ukrainian ladies have a squeaky clean reputation to uphold.

However, just because you can’t be physical with her doesn’t mean you can’t show any affection. You just have to be a little more creative, such as giving her flowers, paying for the tab, opening the door, carrying her bag, and many more. In Ukraine, chivalry is very much alive.

4. Introduction

One way to tell that the relationship is going well is when she introduces you to people within her inner circle, such as close friends and family. This signifies that she wants you to be a more permanent part of her life. If you feel the same way, then you have to put your best foot forward when meeting these people. Remember that these people care for her just as much, so you have to assure them that she is in good hands.

These are more or less the more crucial stages of courtship in Ukraine. And if you are lucky to be with her long enough, there’s a chance this would lead to marriage. While the duration and trajectory of these stages are different with each girl, the fact is, you still have to go through them in order to get to know your date. If you rush through the relationship, you might not be with her anymore. You might think courtship is old fashioned, but there’s nothing wrong with giving it a try. If you do, you might get lucky and end up with someone really special.