Belarusian Holidays

The roots of Belarusian culture come from the pre-Christian times and have a lot in common with traditions of other European cultures. Traditional rites, music and art elements are widely used in cultural life at present and they illustrate the connection between the old and young Belarusian culture.

Like other countries Belarus has its own holidays. They are of two kinds traditional national holidays and religious holidays. National holidays are both – a public celebration and a personal event in the family.

Every nation seems to have a traditional Remembrance day, which survived since the Pagan times and is now celebrated as a popular holiday. In Belarus this is Dziady. On the day souls of the dead are believed to come out of their tombs and into the wide world. It is suggested that these souls need food and drinks. To satisfy the hunger of the dead, and to show them honour, the Belarusian arrange Remembrance Tables, laden with food. These tables are called Dziady (the word itself has the meaning ‘grandfathers’, ‘ancestors’). All families gather at tables to dine together and celebrate. During the meal, no laughter or jokes are allowed at the table, and the dead relatives and ancestors, as well as their life stories, have to be talked of. Everything in nature is traditionally associated with the dead on the day. Should a bird sit on the window – this is the soul of our forefather, which wants something or tries to tell us something, people would say. After the meal is over, the dishes are to be left on the table, and not taken away. On Dziady, the air itself is believed to be filled with solemn feeling and everybody awaits mysterious things to happen.

If you want to experience real joy you should come to Belarus when “Kalyady” is being celebrated. Catholics celebrate it in December.As for Orthodox Christians the mysterious time of the year comes a bit later in January. During “Kulyady” groups of merry young boys and girls in smart clothes go from house to house in Belarusian villages and towns.Each person in the processions of “Kalyadoushchiki” (carol-singers) has a role according to his character and temperament: one of them bears the star, others sing carols, amateur musicians play the accordion or beat the tambourine, amateur actors are disguised as Goats, Bears, Storks, Horses, Gypsies and Old Men. Hosts and hostesses usually treat them to delicious things and thank them for well-wishing and carol-singing. “Kalyady” is the time when three ritual suppers are cooked in Belarusian homes. They are called “Kalyadnaya Kuttzya”. Our forefathers believed that “Kuttzya” (a sort of porridge (“kasha”) made from barley) could save and protect people’s lives. So “Kuttzya” was a symbol of immortality and eternity of life.

One of the most mysterious holidays in Belarus is Kupalle, which is celebrated on the night of July. 7. Girls gather flowers and weave coronets which they wear at the holiday and then at dawn, they throw their coronets into the river and let them float downstream. The boy who fishes the coronet out of the water will be that girl’s intended. At night, young and old light bonfires not far from their village or town and perform traditional dances, sing folk songs and jump over the fire. One of the culminating moments of the event is the search for a magic fern-flower in the forest. As an old legend says this flower blossoms only once a year, on “Kupalle” and the one who is lucky to find it will master the language of grass, trees, birds and animals and be happy for the rest of his life. No wonder that a lot of young boys and girls spend hours in the search for the fern-flower in blossom, which is also a symbol of love.

National holidays are also popular with Belarusian people. They are both a public celebration and a personal event in the family.

The New Year Day is one of them. It is a popular public holiday which is widely celebrated in every family. Long before the New Year Eve people begin to buy New Year cards, toys and presents. In the shop windows you can see Father Frost with Snow Maiden on a sleigh full of presents. Most families see the New Year in at home. There’s usually a fur tree in the house decorated with toys and lights. A lot of delicious food is cooked for the night meal which usually starts at 10 o’clock. A goose stuffed with apples is a traditional New Year dish.

The 8th of March is another national holiday when people show their love and respect for their mothers, grandmothers, sisters and girl-friends. It’s a tradition to present them with flowers and gifts.

There are two national holidays in May. The 1st of May is the holiday of labour and spring. It’s a merry holiday when people go out into the streets, there’s a lot of music and dancing everywhere, and you can watch fireworks in the evening. Then comes the Victory Day on the 9th of May. This day marks the victory of the Soviet people over the German fascism in the Great Patriotic War. People congratulate war veterans and express their gratitude to them and also remember those who gave their lives for the independence of our motherland. People put flowers to the monuments of the war heroes. It’s also a sad day for many families who lost their relatives during the war. Practically every family in Belarus lost one.

The only disadvantage of holidays in my opinion is that they are short or, perhaps, it’s one of their attractions. You wouldn’t enjoy things that take place every day.

Education

Education is a subject about which many people care deeply. Most believe that the state should provide education free of charge and to a high standard. There is now public debate about how schools are run, how they are financed, what they should teach, what they should achieve and to whom they should be accountable. Education standards are often said to be falling. Others think that standards are rising and that is now much harder to achieve good marks. In spite of this conflict most people agree that a good education gives people the best chance of getting a good job and of improving their social position.

I think school is pretty good to me as it is, but I think if I really had to make a change I would like a school to have more freedom and less homework. I think that much homework is bad, because we work six - seven hours a day and then we have to come home and work too. So, more should be covered in class.

Too much stress is put on the marks achieved and not the actual intelligence of the student. I would like the school to individually talk to the students and see their capability, and not just judge students on their marks.

We should be able to choose our careers and have subjects that specialize in them. Instead of studying things that won’t be worthwhile later on, we should have down-to-earth matters.

Too much stress on the subjects, for example, the school has made it tradition that those who do science are clever and those who do craft are dumb and will achieve nothing.

I think teachers should not force their ideas on the pupils, but present them as part of discussion.

But anyway, I think school is a wonderful place. I’ll always look back at my school years as the happiest in my life.

Citizens of Belarus have always shown a great concern for education. The right to education is guaranteed by the Constitution of Belarus. It is insured by the broad development of compulsory secondary education, vocational specialized secondary and higher education. The main principles of the educational system of our country are the priority of human values, developing independent critical thinking in stead of simple perception of information, national culture as the basis of education, humanism, sense of ecological purpose, scientific basis, democracy, support of gifted children.

School in Belarus starts at the age of six; most children attend kindergartens (where they learn to read, write count a hit), which are now part of primary school. This stage of learning lasts for four years. Children have many subjects on the timetable: Russian, Belarusian, Maths, Nature Study, P.E., Drawing, and Music. Secondary stage begins from the 5^th form where the children have a lot of new subjects like Literature, History, Natural Science, Algebra, and Geometry. Primary and secondary schools together comprise 11 years of study. Every school has a “core curriculum” of academic study.

Lyceums and gymnasiums offer programmes giving a profound knowledge in some field of study. Examinations are taken at the end of the 9^th form and the 11^th year. After passing their school-leaving exams at the age of 17 or 18, young people receive a Certificate of Secondary Education.

Some children after finishing the 9^th form can go to a vocational or technical secondary schools or colleges, where they can be offered programmes of academic subjects and a programme of training in a technical field, or a profession. After finishing the 11^th form of a secondary school, a lyceum or gymnasium one can go on a higher education. Among higher educational institutions there are universities, institutions, academies, where the course of studies is normally 5 years. All applicants must take competitive tests. An institute or a university has a number of faculties, each specializing in a field of study.

The national educational policy is a combination of economic and social subjects. An educated person contributes more to the society and education on the other hand gives a person the prospect for professional advance.

My School

Most schools look strange and sometimes even uncomfortable for newcomers, but they become dear and lovely for regular goers. You come to it a youngster of six, happy, shy, and full of expectations and you live it a grown-up person of seventeen. My first day at school remains an unforgettable event. I remember I felt awkward, shy, and almost frightened. My mom encouraged me; otherwise I would never come into that building. I decided I would try that new life, and I really loved it. Lots of friends, wonderful teachers and exciting activities – I found them all in my school.

The school building itself is of a typical design with classrooms, administrative offices, a dining room, gyms, a library as you can see in most other schools. The ground floor is given to junior children. During the breaks they run along the corridors making a lot of noise to which everyone has got used. We, senior students, have upper floors to ourselves.

I should say I’m privileged to study here. School provides a high level of education. I can’t say if there are some subjects where I achieved considerable results because I’m much at the same level in practically all subjects, but I’m afraid I’m not always successful in my studies. Sometimes I’m disappointed with myself or with my marks, sometimes I’m absent-minded, sometimes I neglect my study because of my numerous hobbies. But anyway, it’s important for me to make considerable progress in my study because I want to get a good education and become a highly qualified specialist. That’s why I try to work hard to improve my results. Now I really enjoy exercising my brain learning and doing. But school provides us not only with a certain amount of knowledge, it influences our views and outlook, forms our character to some degree. It’s also a place where we make our first friends and lifelong friendship, learn to value moral qualities in people and develop our talents and skills.

Our teachers are highly educated people. They are strongly devoted to their work. The atmosphere in our school is built on tolerance and mutual respect.

There are extra-class activities like concerts, debate clubs, sports competitions, excursions. These activities are popular with pupils and teachers and they help to create a kind of a team spirit among us.

But sometimes I feel fed up with school and want to be more independent, study only those subjects that I like and need for my future, have less homework

But sometimes I feel fed up with school and if I really had to make a change I would like a school to have more freedom and less homework. I think that much homework is bad, because we work six - seven hours a day and then we have to come home and work too. So, more should be covered in class.

Too much stress is put on the marks achieved and not the actual intelligence of the student. I would like the school to individually talk to the students and see their capability, and not just judge students on their marks.

We should be able to choose our careers and have subjects that specialize in them. Instead of studying things that won’t be worthwhile later on, we should have down-to-earth matters.

But anyway, I think school is a wonderful place. I’ll always look back at my school years as the happiest in my life.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14