The customs of the Belarusian people have been preserved by such holidays as Kolyady, Kupala, Maslenitsa, Dozhinki. In each of them, elements of ancient religions are noticeable.
The traditions of the Belarusian people go far into the past. The paganism of ancient ancestors and Christian beliefs are closely intertwined here. This is clearly demonstrated in interesting traditions and holidays.
The culture and traditions of the Belarusian people are a reflection of everyday life ordinary people. Belarusian culture is strongly connected to the land. One of these manifestations is the Dozhinki holiday. It is carried out at the end of sowing work. Belarus has quite fertile areas, rich in harvests. This ancient custom is known to all peoples associated with agriculture. The holiday turned out to be so popular that no war could kill it. The people have preserved it for many centuries. In Russia, this beautiful tradition is reflected in the annual On It, the best workers are chosen and gifts are given to them.
This is Ivan Kupala Day. It is believed that unusual things happen: animals begin to talk, trees come to life, and mermaids can be seen swimming in rivers and lakes. The day is filled big amount legends. And no one can figure out what is true and what is false. Held from the sixth to the seventh of July. This holiday is the oldest of customs. It has pagan roots.
Our great-grandfathers associated Kupala with sun worship. “Kupalo” means a hot, bright creature, seething with anger. In ancient times, people thanked fire, water, and earth on Kupala night. According to custom, young people jumped over the fire. This is how the purification ceremony took place. Paganism and Christianity became closely linked after the adoption of Christian beliefs. It was believed that it was on the day of the summer solstice that John the Baptist was born. And the word “bathed” comes from the word “bathe”, since baptism was carried out in water. There is a legend that it was on this night that everything that seemed in a dream became reality. The souls of the dead came to life in the form of mermaids bathing in the river. They could be seen in clear water.
One of the rituals on Kupala night was the search for ferns. It was he who, according to custom, had the key to everything that was happening. The owner of this flower understood the speech of animals and birds, looked at the mermaids and watched how the trees moved from place to place. This plant is not the only flower that our great-grandfathers worshiped. At that time, it was believed that all flowers were endowed with incredible healing powers. Women and children collected various herbs, illuminated them in the church and were treated with them for a whole year. On this holiday, another ritual was performed - cleansing with water. If you take a swim on this night, you will feel clean all year, so the belief said. The morning after the holiday everyone was rolling around in the dew. The people believed that dew would give everyone good health and strength. The Kupala holiday was celebrated by the entire village; sleeping that night was not allowed.
This holiday among Belarusians was the most beautiful among the winter ones. At first it was held from December 25 to January 6. With the adoption of Christianity, this holiday was moved to the birthday of Christ. Christmastide lasted from January 6 to January 19. According to pagan beliefs, “kolyada” comes from the word “kolo”, that is, the sun. This also means a gradual increase in the day. “Kol-yada” also means “circular food.” People gather in a large group and enter every yard singing and dancing. For this they were thanked with delicious food. Then people gather in one place and treat each other with the collected food. Carols are a special custom. We prepared for its celebration in advance, washed thoroughly in the bathhouse, cleaned the house, embroidered new clothes. On this day the people were pure in soul and body. Nowadays, caroling takes place from January 7th to 8th. These traditions of the Belarusian people are more related to practical jokes. They dress up in different outfits and go to visit loved ones.
This is the most fun and joyful of all holidays. This is what Belarusians call farewell to winter. It was necessary to spend the winter beautifully and meet the beautiful spring. This custom is dying out pagan roots deep into the old days. People call for spring to hasten its arrival. The festival takes place in early April. The stork is the most important bird on it. People make them from dough, from paper, from cardboard. Trees are decorated with birds. All the birds in the area flocked to this dough food. Thus, birds carry spring with them on their wings. There was a belief: on whose house the most birds land, that house will be the happiest. The people had fun on this day, danced, sang, and danced in circles.
It is similar to the weddings of other peoples of the East Slavic tribes. The wedding begins with matchmaking. Matchmakers from the groom's relatives come to woo the bride's parents. All guests are seated at the table and start a conversation, asking for their hand in marriage. At the end of the conversation, the parents either agree or refuse. Then there are viewings. The bride's parents inspect the groom's house where he will live future wife. Next, the matchmaker and godfathers agree on the dowry and the wedding date. The bride gives gifts to future relatives; this custom is called zaruchiny. If someone is against the marriage, then he pays all the expenses. Then they had a bachelorette party. Wreaths were woven, young girls danced and sang. Finally, the groom's friends take the bride to the house and the wedding celebration begins.
Belarusians are an open and hospitable nation. Interesting traditions of the Belarusian people have survived to this day. This makes communication with them extremely pleasant and relaxed.
Over the centuries, some Christian customs have become so tightly intertwined with pagan rituals that it is difficult to distinguish between where they came from. Moreover, Belarusians treat both old rituals and innovations with reverent respect. And all together creates a unique symbiosis, which is called the culture of the Belarusian people.
The traditions of the Belarusian people find their diversity in song and storytelling. This can be confirmed by a huge number of folk songs, tales, ballads and fairy tales.
The originality of culture is also manifested in family traditions. The head of the family was traditionally a man, his main function was to protect the home and provide for the family. In the local language he was called "uncle". This is what he was like for family members, and for the children he was called “father.”
A woman’s place (like all Slavs) is next to a man; she is the keeper of the hearth and comfort. In the culture of the Belarusian people, a woman has equal rights with a man. The message about the traditions of Belarusian culture, that they can be found in ancient manuscripts, speak of the division of the family into “male” and “female” parts. This also applies to household items.
Natural wood and metal were traditionally considered “masculine”, fabrics and wicker – “feminine” materials. This is the reason for the division of household items, gardening and gardening tools, furniture and parts of the house.
The distinctive features of Belarusians are also visible in national costume. Visually, it is similar to national Slavic costumes; there are common motifs with both Lithuanian and Ukrainian outfits. But still confused national clothes impossible: authentic Belarusian motifs are observed in the style of clothing, jewelry and shoes. And they were created thanks to the skillful hands of folk craftsmen.
Ethnic motives are also visible in national character traits. Belarusians are kind, friendly, honest, generous and respectful in their attitude towards elders and relatives. In the vastness of Belarus, it is rare to see aggressive scenes of showdowns, deception in markets or in business. Honesty and scrupulousness are important to Belarusians; they value their reputation.
Belarusians are social people, they are used to doing everything together, spending holidays together and sharing work; they also solve important issues as a family.
In modern Belarus, European-style outfits dominate; business suits in the European style are popular. But national traditions in clothing are not forgotten, especially in villages. As a rule, Belarusians go to business meetings with kind hearted and pure thoughts, having previously agreed on the time and place. The bulk of the adult population is employed and at work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The spoken language of Belarusians is represented by the national Belarusian language (received such status in 1990). At the same time, Russian, German and English languages. For written speech, the Cyrillic alphabet is used, but sometimes Latin letters are also used. Considering that Belarusians and Russians are fraternal peoples, Russian speech can be heard in everyday life.
A unique linguistic phenomenon is the so-called “trasyanka” - slang that was created as a result of mixing the Russian and Belarusian languages. As mentioned above, there are some dialects in national language that are inherent in a particular area. For example, the city of Vitebsk (literary name) in the dialect of the local population sometimes sounds like Vitsebsk. Similarly, Grodno - Khrodna, Mogilev - Makhileu. It is important for guests and travelers to consider these facts.
“MINISTRY OF SPORTS AND TOURISM OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS. BELARUS UNIVERSITY OF PHYSICAL CULTURE»
Performed: 1st year student, group 112
Faculty of Science and Technology
Efimova Anastasia
Minsk 2012
Traditions of Belarusian culture
The traditions and rituals of Belarus have much in common with those of its Slavic neighbors. Belarusians (Belarusians) belong to the Eastern European type of the Central European race, their ancestors were the East Slavic tribes of Dregovichi, Krivichi, Radimichi, partly Drevlyans, Northerners and Volynians. The ancestors of the Belarusians absorbed many features of the ancient population of this region - the Letto-Lithuanian tribes of the Yatvingians, as well as some features of Polish, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Russian and Jewish culture, while preserving, despite the numerous devastating wars that swept across this land more than once, their main national features. The Belarusian ethnos itself is heterogeneous and includes several subethnic groups - “Poleschuks” live in Polesie, “Pinchuks” live in the Pinsk swamps, along the upper reaches of the Dnieper one can observe the Upper Dnieper anthropological type, and in the south of the country Ukrainian influence is noticeable. Even in the language, two dialects can be distinguished - southwestern and northeastern. Also, many representatives of Jewish, Tatar, Ukrainian, Polish, Russian and other cultures lived and live here, each of which has complete freedom of expression.
The country's culture represents perhaps the best preserved set of ancient pagan customs and traditions among the East European Slavs. Even despite the centuries-old dominance of Christianity, both Orthodox and Catholic, echoes of many ancient rituals have been preserved in Belarus, starting with Maslenitsa and Kupala, “Gromnitsa” and “Gukanne of Spring” (the turning point of the year from winter to summer), “Magpie” and “Grandfathers”, “Kolyad” and “Dozhinok” (the holiday of the end of the harvest), “talaki” and “syabryna” (the custom of community mutual assistance), and ending with many rituals associated with a wedding, birth or death. Like its neighbors, there were many rituals associated with agriculture, logging and baths, and all nature was revered as a single living being. All these rituals were intertwined with later Christian rituals, forming a unique and colorful Belarusian culture. The song and oral folklore is extremely rich and varied.
The core of local society has always been the family, usually a small one. The man occupied and occupies the most important place here - he is both “father” for children and “uncle” for younger family members, the main breadwinner and protector of the home. A woman is an equal mistress and manager of household work, a mother and keeper of the hearth. This two-part part of the family was reflected in everyday life - wooden and metal household items were considered “male”, woven and wicker - “female”. Moreover, preference was always and everywhere given to objects made from natural materials. National clothing, shoes, musical instruments and even the type of housing are close to examples of other Slavic cultures, but the Belarusian style is visible in everything, and it is impossible to confuse local clothing and jewelry, for example, with examples of Ukrainian or Lithuanian dress - local craftsmen are so original.
The quiet and majestic nature of the country left its mark on the appearance of the people. Belarusians, for the most part, are very friendly and good-natured; centuries-old communalism has left its mark on the nature of relationships between people. Here you rarely see noisy scenes in public, mutual assistance between people is high and respect for elders and the interlocutor dominates. Even business etiquette has included traditions of trust - they rarely hang around in the markets, scrupulously observe agreements and carefully protect their reputation (and not only in business). Many matters, and not only communal ones, are decided at the council; even holidays are most often celebrated either by the whole family or by the entire locality.
There are no strict standards regarding clothing - Belarusians are happy to wear both ordinary everyday clothes of European style and national outfits. In business etiquette, European-style suits are accepted. The business visit must be pre-agreed and confirmed immediately before the meeting. The working day in most institutions lasts from 09.00 to 18.00.
Russian, English and German are widely spoken in business circles. In everyday life, the Belarusian language is widely used, which was reintroduced as the state language in 1990. However, Russian is also widespread, which has led to the formation of a peculiar international slang known as “trasyanka”. In any place you can hear the beginning of a conversation in Belarusian, and the continuation in Russian, or vice versa. The Cyrillic alphabet is used as the written basis, but sometimes the Latin alphabet is also used. Some Belarusian toponyms sometimes sound quite unusual in the pronunciation of local residents, for example Khrodna (Grodno), Makhileu (Mogilev), Vitsebsk (Vitebsk) and so on, so such points should be kept in mind when communicating.
Culture
All Belarus
The Belarusian people stand out for their original, distinctive culture, the roots of which go back to the distant pagan, pre-Christian era.
The ancient culture of Belarus benefited a lot from the fact that when the process of settling it with Slavic peoples took place, they did not destroy everything that was created here by the aborigines, whom historians consider the Balts and Finno-Ugric peoples.
At first, our distant ancestors, like all East Slavic tribes, were pagans. This form of religious consciousness existed for a very long time and left a deep mark on the culture. Now there is no longer any doubt that in the era of paganism we had writing, the appearance of which was previously mistakenly associated only with the adoption of Christianity.
Writing first spread among the wealthy, privileged sections of the population. Very early, along with dogmatic literature, secular literature also appeared. Christian monasteries served as places for writing and copying books. Euphrosyne of Polotsk gave many years of her life to this holy cause. In addition to her, Kirill Turovsky, nicknamed Chrysostom for his oratory skills, worked fruitfully in the field of literary, cultural and educational activities.
Favorable conditions for the development of culture arose with the formation in the 13th century. Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In it, the Old Belarusian language became the state language. This was legally enshrined in 1566, when the Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was adopted in its second edition.
The proximity of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the countries of Central and Western Europe, the level of spiritual development of its population that was quite high for that time, favored the fact that the progressive ideas of the Renaissance and Reformation came to this region. At this time, the Belarusian people gave world civilization many outstanding figures of science and culture, among whom the primacy belongs to the Belarusian and East Slavic pioneer printer, educator and thinker Francis Skorina. Being in 1517-1519. in Prague, he translated and published 23 books of the Bible, in the text of which words and phrases of the Old Belarusian language were widely used. Until that time, the Bible had only been published in German (1445) and Czech (1448). Europe of that time knew well the colleagues and followers of F. Skaryna - Nikolai Gusovsky, the author of the Latin-language poem "Song of the Bison" (1523, Krakow), Symon Budny, who wrote many works written not only in Old Belarusian, but in Polish and Latin.
Having allowed the free settlement of Tatars and Jews on the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, its authorities did not interfere with their cultural development, incl. construction of various kinds of architectural objects for religious and secular purposes. The mosque built in the Smorgon region in the village of Davbuchiski (first mentioned in the Lithuanian metric in 1558) is one of the most ancient in Europe.
In the conditions of destructive wars, the Belarusian people managed to create dozens of first-class architectural structures that organically combined their own and borrowed styles. Baroque became the dominant artistic style in the architecture of Belarus. Such remarkable architectural objects were built in this style as the palaces of the Sapiehas in Ruzhany, the Khreptoviches - in Shchorsy, the Radivilovs - in Nesvizh, the St. Nicholas Church and the Carmelite Church - in Mogilev, the far churches - in Nesvizh and Grodno, the Cathedral of Peter and Paul - in Vitebsk . Those invited for this purpose at the end of the 16th century participated in the construction of the Jesuit church and collegium in Nesvizh, as well as the palace and castle complex. Radivil Sirotkom is the famous Italian architect Gevanni Bernardoni.
Conditions for the preservation and development of Belarusian culture did not improve when the territory of Belarus, as a result of three divisions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1772, 1793, 1795), came under the rule of the Russian Empire. From that time on, Polonization was first very cautiously, and later openly added to, Russification. However, even in such conditions, the Belarusian land gave birth to such outstanding people as Adam Mitskevich, Stanislav Manyushka, Michal Kleofas Aginsky, Ignatius Dameyko, Mikhail Glinka, Joseph Gashkevich, Ivan Chersky.
After the uprising of 1863-1864. in Poland, Belarus and Lithuania, all printing in the Belarusian language was prohibited (1867). However, many scientists and writers, including Vincent Dunin-Martsinkevich and Francishak Bogushevich, made a significant contribution to the development of Belarusian folk culture.
The revival of the national traditions of Belarusian culture was greatly facilitated by the intensification of the Belarusian national movement at the beginning of the twentieth century. The talent of the future classics of modern Belarusian literature - Y. Kupala, Y. Kolas, M. Bogdanovich - blossomed. The popularization and propaganda of Belarusian culture was facilitated by the publication of the newspaper “Nasha Niva”.
Favorable conditions for the development of national Belarusian culture arose in the 1920s, when the republic pursued a policy of Belarusization. Belarusian-language schools and the Institute of Belarusian Culture began operating. On its basis, the Academy of Sciences of Belarus was created in 1929. However, from the beginning of the 1930s, this progressive process was interrupted, since strict ideological control prevailed in cultural life, and many figures of Belarusian culture and science were repressed.
The war of Nazi Germany against the USSR of 1941-1945 inflicted huge and largely irreparable losses on Belarusian culture. A significant part of Belarusian writers and other cultural and scientific workers died at the fronts, in partisan detachments, and underground.
In the post-war period until the mid-1980s, Belarusian culture developed within the framework of ideological precepts and strict party control. However, during this period many talented writers appeared, such as A. Adamovich, V. Bykov, R. Borodulin, G. Buravkin, A. Vertinsky, V. Zuenok, I. Naumenko, B. Sachenko, I. Chigrinov, I. .Shamyakin. Original masters worked in the fine arts: artist M. Savitsky, sculptors Z. Azgur, S. Selikhanov. The network of cultural and educational institutions increased, and amateur artistic activities developed.
The policy of glasnost contributed to the liberation of Belarusian culture from ideological dictates and the revival of the spiritual traditions of the Belarusian people. The situation with the Belarusian language began to change for the better, including thanks to the law on languages adopted in 1990 in the Belarusian SSR. The number of Belarusian-language theater groups has increased.
Main directions of state policy in the field of culture and public life
Our republic is not characterized by aggressive nationalism, but by state support for historically established bilingualism, the revival of spirituality and the preservation of traditional religious confessions, art in all forms.
The state pursues a consistent policy to preserve the cultural heritage of Belarusians, the best features of the Belarusian character: respect for people of other nationalities and faiths, tolerance, humanism, peacefulness.
The state and the state budget are consistent guarantors of financial support for the development of art and culture. The principle of continuity in cultural policy is expressed in the preservation of the infrastructure of state cultural and art institutions.
The basis of the state policy is loyalty to the historical memory of the people - Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Loyalty to memory was reflected in the decision of the country's leadership to introduce the course “The Great Patriotic War of the Soviet People” in educational institutions.
The country is pursuing a consistent course towards the formation of the ideology of the Belarusian state and the crystallization of the Belarusian national idea. The national idea is most succinctly and succinctly embodied in the slogan of the President of the Republic of Belarus: “For a strong and prosperous Belarus!”
The historical path of formation and development of Belarusian culture
The historical path of formation and development of Belarusian culture is complex and contradictory.
Belarus has always been characterized by an intensive process of interaction between cultures. And therefore, the formation and development of Belarusian culture cannot be understood without taking into account the impact on it of the progressive trends of Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Lithuanian cultures. Many Belarusian thinkers equally belong to the cultures of neighboring, fraternal peoples. These are S. Budny, M. Smotritsky, K. Lyshchinsky, S. Polotsky, G. Kanissky and others.
Unfortunately, for a long period, the cultural ties of the Belarusian people with the advanced countries of Western and Central Europe (Italy, France, the Czech Republic, etc.) have been underestimated. They were most significant during the Renaissance and became quite evident during the Enlightenment. This explains the fact that in Belarusian culture, starting from the 10th century, two directions - Western and Eastern - constantly competed.
In the 10th century, the Slavs adopted Christianity and with it adopted many characteristic features of the economic and spiritual life of the Byzantine and Roman empires. At the same time, Western Slavs take Latin culture as a model, while Eastern Slavs are guided by Byzantine canons. Belarus finds itself between them, which significantly affects its culture. “The problem of choosing between the West and the East and the sincere rejection of either one or the other are the main features of the history of the Belarusian people. The example of F. Skaryna, about whom it is still unknown who he was - either a Catholic or an Orthodox Christian, or perhaps both at the same time, captures this phenomenon of the Belarusian spirit and individuality in the soul of our first intellectual. The Belarusian intelligentsia has retained this trait to this day, for which there are well-known reasons.”1
The boundaries of two cultural types in different times changed their outlines: Western European features were assimilated into East Slavic culture, and vice versa. As a result, the culture of the Belarusian lands was formed in the context of the interaction of diverse objective and subjective factors that had an ambiguous impact on the culture of the people living on the Belarusian lands. However, despite all the difficulties, history shows that, in general, there was a process of progressive development in all spheres of human creative activity.
Over the long period of its existence, Belarus has gone through a historical path from overwhelming illiteracy to the creation of world-class literary and artistic works and scientific discoveries, from folk crafts and everyday culture to majestic temples, palaces, and modern architectural ensembles. And at the beginning of the 3rd millennium, Belarus represents a formed, holistic, unique socio-cultural space, the boundaries of which became more defined in the 20th century.
Belarusian art and literature
A distinctive feature of Belarusian professional art and literature is their close connection with folk culture. Any culture originates in folk art and folklore. It is in folklore that there is a source of further flourishing of various types of art - music, dance, literature, etc. It preserves deep layers of national history and culture. Belarusian folklore is one of the richest in the world (songs, magic spells, epics, fairy tales, legends, stories, etc.). Many customs and rituals are characterized by a fusion of pagan and Christian elements (Kupalle, Velikoden, etc.). Samples of traditional culture have been preserved in Belarus to this day in the rural environment, where they “live” almost unchanged. Despite many unfavorable factors on the path of the Belarusian ethnos, it was able to preserve its language and the specifics of its culture, largely thanks to folklore traditions. Folk culture has not lost its defining function in the modern national cultural process, which includes, along with professional art, amateur creativity.
Belarusian folklore is highly appreciated in the world - Holland, France, Egypt, the Czech Republic, Poland and other countries where many folklore groups have visited. In addition, Belarus is a member of the international Council of Folklore Festival Organizations, under the auspices of which more than 50 festivals are held annually .
Belarusian authentic folklore in the context of European ethnocultural processes has a special historical and cultural significance, since to this day it retains the systemic integrity and spontaneity of the manifestation of oral culture. Therefore, preserving the traditions of folk culture and creating conditions for its self-development is an integral part of state policy in the field of culture. For its implementation in Belarus there is both a scientific base and practical experience.
An equally significant and interesting direction in the development of folk culture is decorative and applied art. It embodies the vast, ever-living soul of the people, their rich life experience and aesthetic taste. The beautiful products of folk craftsmen, made according to the laws, do not leave anyone indifferent, and contact with them evokes a feeling of pride in their people, who gave the world wonderful craftsmen who create real works of art from a variety of materials - wood, clay, wicker, straw, flax, etc.
A curious phenomenon of Belarusian culture is products made from straw. There is nothing like this anywhere in Europe, which, in particular, was noted by the participants of the 6th European Conference on Folk Art, which brought success to Belarusian masters, held in 1977. The conference was organized by the International Organization for Folk Arts, which includes Belarus, under the auspices of UNESCO.
Products made from straw are a traditional Slavic art, the roots of which come from the ancient, pagan cult of bread. Products made from straw were intended for preserving baked goods. In the everyday life of the Slavs, baskets and baskets are most common. baskets different types from straw, wicker, birch bark.
The so-called straw spider is a symbol of prosperity and wealth - a carol decoration not only for Belarusians, but also for other peoples of Europe. In addition to weaving, straw was used in the appliqué technique, which was used to decorate wooden chests, boxes, frames, and wall hangings.
One of the most widespread types of Belarusian folk art is weaving. Many long-standing folk rituals and traditions are associated with it; it is often mentioned in Belarusian poetic works and folk songs (for example, Slutsk belts.)
The skill and artistic taste of the weavers were fully demonstrated in the decoration of towels, because a towel (towel) was perceived not just as a piece of material for household needs, it was an integral part of traditional rituals. A newborn was wrapped in it, bread and salt were served on it, a red corner in the house was decorated with it, it was used in wedding ceremonies, treats were laid out on it, remembering relatives who had passed on to the other world. In folk life, therefore, towels performed not so much utilitarian as decorative and ritual functions, which naturally affected the artistic quality of these products. As a rule, towels had a white field, on which, mainly along the edges, there were woven or embroidered patterns of red color, often with small splashes of black or yellow. The Belarusian towel is a connection between the past and the present, between man and higher spheres; these are bonds with symbolism that is not fully understood.
Weaving as a folk craft lives and develops today as a decorative and applied art.
At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, a traditional Belarusian costume was formed, the features of which were formed under the influence of natural geographical conditions, the main occupations of the population, historical traditions, etc. The folk decoration was also influenced by other ethnic components; it reflected the historical and cultural ties of Belarusians with their neighbors - Ukrainians and Russians. Poles, Lithuanians, Latvians.
The Belarusian folk costume was necessarily decorated with embroidery, especially festive outfits. Along with the aesthetic function, embroidery played the role of a national symbol (for example, red roosters on a white field, cornflowers, a specific floral pattern, etc.).
Folk costume is a phenomenon of not only material, but also spiritual culture. Cloth. according to ancient beliefs, it was supposed to not only protect a person in both cold and heat, but also protect him from the adverse effects of invisible evil forces. This belief reflected the integrity of the worldview and the idea of. That man, nature, and space are interconnected by common laws of existence.
Since ancient times, pottery has been one of the traditional folk crafts in Belarus. Pottery was practiced everywhere. Craftsmen made clay utensils for household use. It was readily purchased in Vilna, Kyiv, Warsaw, and in Russian cities.
Despite all their diversity, the pottery of Belarusian masters retains common artistic features, which gives them a characteristic national flavor. Simple expressive forms are predominant, based on a ball, cylinder, cone. Their artistic expression is emphasized through a peculiar plasticity, an emphasized expression of the natural qualities of the material. In accordance with various technologies for making ceramic products, a distinction is made between pockmarked, poured and black-smoked ceramics. Some types of dishes were glazed, which gave them an even more elegant look. Complex shapes and bright paintings are not typical for traditional Belarusian pottery.
The diversity and richness of decorative and artistic techniques, the uniqueness of ceramic forms is preserved to this day in the traditional centers of ceramic production - Ivenets, Rakov, Glubokoe, Telekhany. There are almost no enterprises left in Europe today where so-called stamping (mass production of products) does not “dominate.” In Belarus, there are still enterprises (for example, the Borisov Applied Arts Plant), where ceramic products with original painting are made by hand. It is no coincidence that the named plant received a proposal from the Union of Artists of Russia and the European Union of Artists to create an International European Center for Ceramics on its basis. This is evidence of recognition of the creative achievements of Belarusian pottery masters.
Artistic wood carving has become widespread in Belarus. Belarusian folk carving has never been distinguished by particularly expressive decorativeness (it should not be identified with professional volumetric openwork carving of the 17th – 18th centuries). People valued practicality and functionality most of all; the decor only complemented the convenient shape of the product.
Not as widespread as weaving, pottery, and wood carving in Belarus are artistic metal processing and folk art painting. Metal was less accessible in rural life. Than flax, clay, wood. It was used only for the most necessary products.
Artistic painting, a fairly widespread phenomenon of artistic life in Belarus, received a unique expression in the painted carpets of Alena Kish, who lived and worked in the pre-war years (before the Second World War) in the Slutsk region. This artist, without any special education, left real works of decorative art, which art historians classify as primitivism. Moving between villages, moving from house to house, on homespun panels painted black, she painted scenes typical of painted wall hangings - a lake or river with lilies, boats, trees and bushes on the shore. There are also images of birds and animals. Alena Kish's carpets are a rare example of a combination of fine art and decorative design.
Thus, since ancient times, a unique folk culture has developed in Belarus, the traditions of which deserve respect and careful treatment by the state and people living on Belarusian soil. Today, the Center for Belarusian Folk Art “Skarbnitsa” (Treasury) has been created in the republic with the support of the state.
The purpose of its creation is to improve the professional level of products from Belarusian arts and crafts enterprises. Graduates of the Academy of Arts and the Belarusian State University of Culture came to the Center - masters of ceramics, textiles, wood carving, metal processing, artists and art critics. .
The character of a people is visible in its culture. From generation to generation, Belarusians have preserved the history of their ancestors and traditions. The originality and respect for the origins have been preserved to this day. Memory remains in the form of traditions and customs, oral folk art, prejudices and superstitions, and the peculiarities of national cuisine.
The commandments regarding daily duties and habits apply to each party. Construction of the house begins after the experiment. Having chosen a site for a future home, the owner must take a jug and place a spider in it. The place is considered successful if a cobweb has formed in the vessel overnight.
The proverb “Bread is the head of everything” is realized through laying a piece of bread between the first crowns of the foundation frame. The end of the roof is decorated with a pair of crossed horns, symbolizing the favorite animal, the goat.
The traditions of Belarusian culture are an interweaving of Christianity and paganism, family and public holidays. Common Slavic traditions have been preserved. Among Orthodox traditions, Easter, Radonitsa, Trinity, Peter's Day, Elijah, Apple Savior, and Intercession are celebrated. Maslenitsa, carols and Ivan Kupala are remnants of pagan culture, combined with major calendar holidays and posts.
Special traditions of Belarusians include: Gromnitsa, clicking of spring, St. George’s Day, dazhinki, cleanup, grandfathers, sorochinas and homelands.
Like other Slavic peoples, events take place all week from Christmas Eve before Christmas to Epiphany. The tradition is borrowed from Catholic Poland. Distinctive Features became a puppet theater and the choice of the most beautiful girl.
According to legend, thunder can be heard on February 15th. Village residents went to church to bless candles - thunderbolts - in order to protect their relatives and households from evil forces. Upon returning home, the head of the family burned his hair with a candle, making a cross-shaped movement. The ritual helped relieve pain. The remaining candles were used as protection on various occasions. Whether it’s the birth of a baby or taking cattle out to pasture.
The click of spring coincides with the Annunciation on April 7. During this period, special attention was paid to nature: signs predicted the date of the onset of the thaw. The girls sang spring songs while sitting on the river bank.
God bless,
That spring has come!
I, young, walked past the village.
Grow, lively, rooty,
rooty, burdocky,
So that it sways under the sky,
So that I, young, pressed
And the sheaves were applied!
The older generation said this: “on Matei the road sweats, on Saraki the trees let go, on Alexei the fish breaks the ice with its tail, and on Annunciation the stork flies.” Folklore is sometimes difficult to understand due to the specifics of the dialect. But one thing is clear for sure: Saraki is a commemoration of the forty martyrs according to the church calendar, hence the conclusion that the dates of the signs are related to the church calendar. And the stork is a symbol of rapid warming and good luck. The owners of the yard were happy when the bird settled on their territory. Of course, that’s why there was a special attitude towards her.
They dreamed of marriage during caroling, after Peter's Lent and on the Feast of the Intercession. A Belarusian wedding differs little from the typical one among Slavic peoples. The main feature is the wedding ceremony or dowry chest, which was brought to the groom's house. After the wedding night, the wedding ended with “sweet vodka”, glorifying the maiden honor saved for her husband. After seven days of marriage, they had fun, that is, they came to visit the bride’s parents.
Belarusian everyday traditions are closely intertwined with Orthodox ones. This was reflected in calendar celebrations and customs. Every year, village families hold various events dedicated to every event in life. Tradition is the culture of the people, its zest and tribute to history.
Preparations began a week before the Holiday. After the consecration of willows, it was customary to eat one bud, after which the head of the family lightly whipped the household with branches so that they would be healthy. Like other Slavs, the house was cleaned to a shine. The wives baked wheat cake and painted eggs with onion skins. Throughout Easter week, that is, the week after Easter, volcanoes walked around the village, or, in other words, dragged themselves. This was the name given to those who sang songs wishing all the best. They were treated and invited into the house. Each verse was followed by the traditional exclamation “Christ is risen!”
At the end of Bright Week with the onset of Radonitsa, a Belarusian family goes to the grave of their relatives, which is poured with vodka and covered with a towel with food. The number of dishes is usually odd. Before the meal, they remember their parents: “Holy parents, come to us to eat bread and salt.” According to this custom, there is a corresponding proverb: “They plow on Radunitsa before lunch, cry after lunch, and jump in the evening.”
In the warm season, people venerate the Saints, who help with livestock farming and arable land. At the beginning of May, St. George's Day is celebrated in memory of St. George the Victorious. People pray to him for livestock. On May 6, it is customary to cook oatmeal jelly and graze animals all day. When the owners take the animals out to the field, they pray to St. George the Victorious, sprinkling the herd with Holy water. It is necessary to whip the willow that was consecrated before Easter. Morning dew on this holiday is considered healing. They washed cows with it and anointed their eyes. This is what the people said:
Saint Yuri, God's Ambassador,
I went to God
I took the golden keys,
He opened up the damp earth,
Let the dew warm
To White Rus' and to the whole world of God.
On Peter's Day, celebrated on July 12 at the end of the fast of Peter and Paul, farmers plant buckwheat. The Apostle Peter is their patron in mowing, gardening and the rapid ripening of the harvest. Folk chronicles testify to this: “Saints Pyatro are the core.”
On August 2, Belarusians, like all Slavic peoples, honor the prophet Elijah, who has power over the weather. He, like Peter, is the patron of agriculture. If the season turned out to be dry, on this day people gathered, a prayer service was served, after which a thunderstorm followed. This same day was considered the end of the beekeeper’s work, because it was time to harvest.
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