Interesting traditions of the Belarusian people

Belarusian culture is one of the oldest European cultures. Traditions and customs of the Belarusian people have kept such holidays as Kolyady, Kupala, Maslenitsa, Dozhinki. In each of them, elements of ancient religions are visible.

The traditions of the Belarusian people are rooted in the past. It closely intertwines the paganism of ancient ancestors with Christian beliefs. This is evident in interesting traditions and festivals.

Feast of the Dozhinki

The culture and traditions of the Belarusian people are a reflection of the everyday life of ordinary people. The culture of Belarusians is strongly connected with the land. One of such manifestations is the feast of the Dozhinki. It is carried out after the sowing. Belarus has quite fertile areas, rich in harvest. This ancient custom is known to all peoples who are connected with agriculture. The holiday was so in demand that no war could kill him. The people have kept it for many centuries. In Russia, this beautiful tradition is reflected in the annual Sabantuy holiday. The best workers are chosen on it and give them gifts.

Holiday of the Kupalye

This is Ivan Kupala's Day. It is believed that unusual things happen: the animals begin to talk, the trees come to life, and in rivers and lakes one can observe how the mermaids swim. The day is full of many legends. And no one can find out what is true and what is false. It is held from the sixth to the seventh of July. This holiday is the most ancient of customs. He has pagan roots.

Our great-grandfathers connected Kupala with the worship of the sun. "Bathing" means a hot, bright creature, boiling with anger. In ancient times, the people thanked fire, water, land on a bathing night. According to custom, young people jumped through the fire. Thus passed the rite of purification. Paganism and Christianity after the adoption of Christian beliefs have become closely related. It was believed that it was on the day of the summer solstice that John the Baptist appeared. And the word "bathing" came from the word "bath", since the baptism was carried out in the water. There is a legend that it was on this night that everything that it seemed in a dream became a reality. The souls of the dead revived in the form of mermaids bathing in the river. They could be seen in clear water.

One of the rituals on the night of the bathing night was the search for a fern. 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 the trees move from place to place. This plant is not the only flower that our great-grandfathers worshiped. At the time, it was believed that all flowers are endowed with incredible healing power. Women and children gathered various herbs, lit them in the church and treated them for a year. On this holiday, another rite was held - purification with water. If you swim this night, you will feel clean all year, so it was believed. In the morning after the holiday, everyone rode along the dew. The people believed that the dew would give all strong health and strength. The holiday of Kupalya was celebrated throughout the village, it was not allowed to sleep that night.

Christmas carols

This holiday among the Belarusians was the most beautiful among the winter ones. First it was held from December 25 to January 6. With the adoption of Christianity, this holiday was postponed for the birthday of Christ. Christmas season lasted from January 6 to January 19. According to the pagan belief "carol" appeared from the word "colo", that is, the sun. Here we mean the day of the winter solstice and the gradual increase in the day. Another "count-poison" means "circular food". The people are going to a big company and peeking into every yard with songs and dances. For this they were thanked by delicious food. Then people gather in one place and treat each other with collected foods. Kolyada is a special custom. To his celebrations were prepared in advance, thoroughly washed in the bath, cleaned the house, embroidered new clothes. On this day the people were pure soul and body. In our time, caroling from 7 to 8 January. These traditions of the Belarusian people are more of a drawing. Dress up in various outfits and go on a visit to relatives.

The holiday of Hukanne Viasna

This is the most cheerful and joyful of all the holidays. So the Belarusians call off the winter. It was necessary to spend the winter beautifully and to meet the beautiful spring. This custom extends its pagan roots deep in the old days. People call spring to speed up her arrival. The festival takes place in early April. A stork is the most important bird on it. People make them from dough, from paper, from cardboard. Decorate the birds with trees. All the birds in the district flocked to this food from the dough. Thus the birds carry a spring on their wings. There was a belief: on whose house more birds will sit, that house will be the happiest. The people had fun that day, danced, sang, danced.

Belarusian Wedding

It is similar to the weddings of other peoples of the Eastern Slavic tribes. The wedding begins with matchmaking. Matchmakers from the groom's family come to ask for the bride's parents. All guests are seated at the table and start a conversation, ask for hands and hearts. At the end of the conversation, the parents agree or refuse. Then spend brides. The bride's parents examine the groom's house, where the future wife will live. Next, the dowry and the cousins agree on the dowry and on the date of the wedding. The bride gives future relatives gifts, this custom is called zaruchiny. If someone is against marriage, then he pays all expenses. Then they arranged a hen party. Wreaths wore, young girls danced and sang. Finally, the groom's friends take the bride home, and the wedding begins.

Belarusians are an open and hospitable nation. Interesting traditions of the Belarusian people have survived to this day. This makes communication with them exceptionally pleasant and easy.