The cloth runner that they are giving President Bush, is that a “traditional” piece? My brother in law was stationed in Kiev for 2 years several years ago and my sister brought me one back. I have it in a drawer, never really did know what to do with it.
My mother always used to have one on our sideboard. I do not mainly because of amount of stuff I have on the sideboard you would never see it but I suppose also because at present it is not really fashion to have one.
I suspect the Kiev tradition is very similar to the British one where they are embroidered by someone in the family either as wedding presents or something that a young adult does.
I know mum tried to get me interested in what was her family tradition of embroidery even buying me a silk kit and a pinafore with a pattern on it, it did not inspire me.