Cultural habits / Dos and don'ts

Belarus has deep historical roots in the past that's why the Belarusan customs, traditions, the celebratory aspects of Belarusan life often have a fascinating history. Some of them, like Kupallye, can trace their origin to pagan times. Others, like Easter holidays, are rooted in early Christian traditions. Some festivals celebrate great events in the national history, like Victory Day, others commemorate great national figures like Francysk Skaryna, the great enlightener, etc.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 Belarusan people have always remembered and tried to celebrate their national holidays, customs and traditions. Nowadays they are gaining the second life. We can classify the most ancient Belarusan 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. The people celebrated th¥s regeneration with ceremonies designed to propitiate and thank gods for the found energy.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. Young people and children are walking around the village, singing special songs, dancing, wishing good crops and luck. They get honey, pies from peasants. The housewives cook special meals, bake bird-formed little pies.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. It is the Christian festival of the Resurrection. Nowadays it is a big event in every church or cathedral. 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 and charished 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 purrifying 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. (For those interested, you can watch a documentary "Night on Ivan Kupala" to learn more).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. match-making, 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 - "kuccia" (barley porridge with berries), pancakes, meat, fried eggs. 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. Christmas today has become a strange and rich mixture of spiritual contemplation and a natural desire for enjoyment. 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.