Belarusian Customs and Traditions

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 (ритуалы), 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 divided into traditional, religious and national.

In Belarus people widely celebrate such popular Christian holidays as Christmas - both Catholic and Orthodox, and Easter. On these days believers go to churches and temples, gather together with their families and eat traditional dishes like pudding made of barley (ячмень), pancakes, Easter Cakes and goose stuffed with apples. Traditionally dinner table should be first covered with hay and then with a table cloth and the food, after having meals family takes straw out and decides who has the longest and the strongest one - this person will be lucky during the year. 

On Christmas people living in villages also go from home to home dressed as animals or other fairy characters, sing songs and dance that is called - Koliada.

One of the most important holidays in Belarusian culture is Kupalle - a holiday of nature with its roots deep in ancient times and connected with the solstice (солнцестояние). Many people take part in this holiday demonstrating a special repertoire of music and dance, spectacular rites. The celebration goes through the whole night, when people jump over the bonfire and try to find a fern flower (цветок папоротника) - a mysterious flower, which is seen only once a year only on Kupalle. People believe that the person who finds this flower will become wealthy This custom shows the importance of traditions in today`s culture.

In Belarus people celebrate such national holidays as the New Year, the 8th of March - women’s day, the 1st of May - labor’s day and the 9th of May - the Victory day, also the 3d of July - the Independence day, the 7th of November - the day of October Revolution and the day of the city, which is celebrated in a different day in each city, traditionally it is a day when a city or a town was first mentioned in the history. 

As you see people in Belarus have a lot of traditions and customs connected with celebration of holidays, also Belarusians are fond of holidays as they bring fun and excitement and help families to spend more time together, share wonderful moments and become closer.