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BELARUSIAN CUSTOMS and TRADITIONS

1. Now let’s talk about customs and traditions. What can you tell me about your favourite holiday? Throughout many centuries of history, the Belarusian people created its unique and original culture. Traditional folk customs and rites harmoniously interlace with Christian traditions.

Christians make up the biggest part of the population of Belarus. According to the Christian doctrine, Christmas and Easter are the main religious holidays, annually celebrated by millions of believers all over the country. In Belarus, all the Christian holidays are celebrated twice: by the Catholic and Orthodox religious calendars.

Along with Christian holidays, such folk festivities of pagan origin as Kupalle (Midsummer Night) and Maslenitsa (Shrovetide) are widely celebrated in Belarus. Folk games and traditional ceremonies are part of them. Maslenitsa is a ceremony at the junction of two seasons; it sees off winter and meets spring. Popular festivals of folk music, dancing and national costumes are organized at the time of Maslenitsa.

My favourite holiday is New Year. New Year is widely celebrated all over the country. Preparations to this holiday start a couple of weeks before. The towns and cities of Belarus put on holiday attire; illumination, New Year trees in the squares and New Year fairs add to the holiday mood. The culmination of the festivity is the December 31— January 1 night, when various concerts and open-air merrymaking take place. January 1 is an official holiday.

The Belarusian people are proud of the country’s past and its traditional culture. Every summer, in Belarusian castles (in Lida, Mir, Novogrudok, Nesvizh, etc.) knights’ tournaments and international medieval festivals take place. They attract spectators and participants from many countries of the world.

2. Do you find some Belarusian holidays and traditions special? Why (not)? One of the main traditions of Kupalle is search for the mythic paparats-kvetka (fern flower). Those, who find it, will enjoy good luck for the whole year; all their wishes will come true. This makes the holiday a special one.

3. What questions can you ask a Belarusian teenager about his/her birthday celebration? How many friends do you usually invite? Have you got special rules or customs of celebration? Which songs do you usually sing on birthdays?

4. Which holiday celebration in Belarus will you recommend your British friend? I will recommend visiting the medieval festival “The White Castle” which is arranged every spring in Minsk. The spectators can admire performances in costume, combats of knights and ancient music.

5. Do you think it is important to follow our grandparents’ traditions? Why? It’s absolutely important to follow them in order to save them for our ancestors.

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