Easter is the most important religious holiday
in the Orthodox Church. It falls two weeks later than the Easter Day celebrated
by Roman Catholics. The 40 days before Easter is a time of fasting called
Lent. Celebrations for Easter begin the week before Easter Sunday
with a service of forgiveness. On Good Friday, there is a procession of
the Epitaphion, a shroud on which is painted a picture of Christ's
body being taken down from the Cross. On the Saturday night, the congregation
forms a procession that symbolizes the search for the body of Christ. The
procession leaves the church in darkness but when it returns and the resurrection
is announced, everyone lights candles. On Easter Day, there are many processions
with candles to commemorate the resurrection. |
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Many festivals that originated in pre-Christian
times are still celebrated in Belarus. The festival of Kupalle held in
July celebrates nature and summertime. People return to their home villages
to celebrate in fields and forests with picnics and bonfires. Traditional
songs are sung and people dance in circles around bonfires. Sometimes a
man and woman will hold hands and jump over the bonfire as a symbol of
spiritual cleansing.
The festival of Kaliady celebrates the winter
solstice, the shortest day of the year. It takes place on December 21.
Children dress up in traditional clothes and wear masks depicting animals.
They proceed in groups from house to house, singing and dancing. At each
house they show off the masks and receive food and drink in return. |
Did you know? |
Painting
eggs is an Easter tradition in Eastern Europe. In Belarus people dye a
single hen's egg red by boiling it with red onion. People also bake a special
round cake and take the cake and egg to church where they are blessed. |
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Another ancient tradition is the annual tidying
of the graves of parents and grandparents. Orthodox Christians celebrate
this festival around April 23 and call it the Easter of the Dead, or Radounitsa.
Some families leave painted Easter eggs at the graves to show that the
departed are still part of the family. Catholics honour the dead on All
Souls Day, or Dzyady, on November 2.
A few of the holidays celebrated in the former
Soviet Union are still observed. Attendance at the May Day parades honouring
workers used to be compulsory, but now most people celebrate the holiday
quietly staying at home or visiting their families. February 23, which
was once Soviet Army Day, is now Men's Day, but it is not an official holiday.
On this day men receive presents much as they do in North America on Father's
Day. |
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January 1 |
New Years
Day |
January 7 |
Orthodox
Christmas |
March 8 |
Women's
Day |
March 15 |
Constitution
Day |
March/April |
Catholic
and Orthodox Easter |
May 1 |
Labour
Day (May Day) |
May 9 |
Victory
Day |
July 27 |
Independence
Day |
November 2 |
Remembrance
Day |
December 25 |
Catholic
Christmas |
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Did you know? |
Paparat
is a fern that grows in the forests of Belarus and rarely flowers. On Kupalle
it is said that if you find a blossoming paparat you will find happiness.
It is also said that evil spirits follow people in the forest to keep them
from finding the magic plant. |
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