Getting Acquainted with Ancient Traditions

Belarusian Traditions. 1

Throughout many centuries of history, the Belarusian people created its unique and original culture. Traditional folk customs and rites harmoniously interlace with Christian traditions.

Christians make up the biggest part of the population of Belarus. According to the Christian doctrine, Christmas and Easter are the main religious holidays, annually celebrated by millions of believers all over the country. In Belarus, all the Christian holidays are celebrated twice: by the Catholic and Orthodox religious calendars.

Along with Christian holidays, such folk festivities of pagan origin as Kupalle (Midsummer Night) and Maslenitsa are widely celebrated in Belarus. Folk games and traditional ceremonies are part of them. One of the main traditions of Kupalle is search for the mythic paparats-kvetka (fern flower). Those, who find it, will enjoy good luck for the whole year; all their wishes will come true. Maslenitsa is a ceremony at the junction of two seasons; it sees off winter and meets spring. Popular festivals of folk music, dancing and national costumes are organized at the time of Maslenitsa.

New Year is widely celebrated all over the country. Preparations to this holiday start a couple of weeks before. The towns and cities of Belarus put on holiday attire; illumination, New Year trees in the squares and New Year fairs add to the holiday mood. The culmination of the festivity is the December 31— January 1 night, when various concerts and open-air merrymaking take place. January 1 is an official holiday.

The Belarusian people are proud of the country’s past and its traditional culture. The medieval festival “The White Castle” is arranged every spring in Minsk. The spectators can admire performances in costume, combats of knights and ancient music. Every summer, in Belarusian castles (in Lida, Mir, Novogrudok, Nesvizh, etc.) knights’ tournaments and international medieval festivals take place. They attract spectators and participants from many countries of the world. During several days, you will have a chance to plunge into a romantic atmosphere of the Middle Ages, to contemplate a reconstruction of historic events, to become an apprentice of a craftsman, enjoy medieval music and try on knights’ armor or ladies’ magnificent dresses.   Belarusian Traditions. 2

Belarus has deep historical roots in the past that's why the Belarusian customs, traditions, the celebratory aspects of Belarusian life often have a fascinating history.

There have been times (during the wars, the annexations of the territory, during the years of the Soviet Union) when the Christian holidays seem to have been forbidden.

However, the Belarusian people have always remembered and tried to celebrate their national holidays, customs and traditions. We can classify the most ancient Belarusian traditions and holidays according to four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

In ancient times the arrival of spring reassured mankind. It was a sign that life would return to the land, crops would grow and existence was assured. Belarus has a remarkable range of spring-time celebrations, for example Gukanne Viasny (Calling of Spring), the first work in the field and some others. These holidays date back to the pagan times.

One of the greatest Christian holidays in Belarus has always been Easter Sunday. It is a curious mixture of pagan practices and Christian ethic. Even today the day before Lent still shows its pagan origin in curious ceremonies concerned with the eating (painted eggs, special pies). The main ceremonial of Easter is, however, based on Christian observance. We can observe two Easter holidays in Belarus: the Roman Catholic and the Russian Orthodox ones.

The summer festivities start in July beginning with the greatest holiday Kupalle (Kupala's Night), the most loved one in contemporary Belarus. It would be difficult to find a more picturesque holiday. The essential part of it is the great fire and the oiled wooden wheel is set on fire to symbolize sun. According to the belief Kupalle fire has a purifying power. Young couples hand in hand must jump it over. Sometimes young people clear themselves bathing in rivers and lakes or rolling in the grass dew. Autumn in the Belarusan countryside is a pageant of gentle glowing beauty as the leaves on the trees turn to a myriad shades of yellow, brown and gold. Autumn has its own holidays. They are traditionally connected with the end of the harvesting time. In ancient times it has always been the wedding season. That's why so many traditions and customs are connected with marriage, e.g. matchmaking, bride-show, wedding itself, special songs, games, etc.

In late autumn (November, 2) Belarusans have Dziady. It is a day for commemoration of the dead relatives. The special ritual food is cooked for Dziady dinner. According to the tradition part of the food and drink is left in a special plate and glass for the dead. At this day families are going to the cemeteries to take care of the graves.

Once upon a time the winter solstice was a time for meditation on the year gone by and of hope for the year to come, the sun, giver of life, was at its lowest ebb and ancient people, lacking the scientific knowledge we have today, feared that its power to spread life over the earth might never return. That's why people asked the sun to come back, they sang songs to honor it. Thus the Kaliady holiday appeared which later became the integral part of the Christian holiday Christmas, the greatest holiday in the year. On the one hand, there are large congregations at church services. On the other hand, there is Christmas shopping, theatrical entertainments and much eating, drinking and fun. People dress themselves as animals and fantastic beasts and visit different houses trick-or-treating. They sing special Kaliady songs in which the performers greet the house owners, wish them success and plentitude.

Many places of historical interest now are opened for tourists. They reflect the past and the culture of the country. There are castles, palaces, pieces of ancient culture discovered during the excavation, unique museums among them.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-23