The document discusses traditions and customs in Belarus. It notes that traditions play an important role in Belarusian life. Some key traditions discussed include Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter, as well as pagan festivals like Kupalle and Maslenitsa. Kupalle involves searching for the mythical fern flower, which is believed to bring good luck. Maslenitsa celebrates the changing of seasons. The document also mentions medieval reenactments that are popular tourist attractions, and traditional customs during Kupalle night like girls floating garlands in rivers to predict their future husbands.

2. Every nation and every country has it’s
own customs and traditions. In Belarusian
traditions play a very important part in the
life of the people than in other countries.
Belarusianmen are proud of their customs
and traditions.

6. 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

7. 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.
One of the main traditions of
Kupalle is search for the
mythic paparats-kvetka (fern
flower). Those, who find it, will
good luck for the whole year;
all their wishes will come true.
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.

8. The Belarusian people are proud of
the country’s past and its traditional
culture. The medieval festival “The
White Castle” is arranged every
spring in Minsk. The spectators can
admire performances in costume,
combats of knights and ancient
music. 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. During several days,
you will have achance to plunge into
aromantic atmosphere of the Middle
Ages, to contemplate areconstruction
of historic events, to become an
apprentice of acraftsman, enjoy
medieval music and try on knights’
armor or ladies’ magnificent dresses.

10. When the night grew dark on the River Svislach ,girls made garlands and tried to tell their
fortunes by putting them into water. If the garland swam a long distance, the girl’s future husband
would come from far away; if the garland stuck to the riverbank, the husband would be a local
guy; the sinking garland was a bad omen.The most daring participants of the fest went into the
wood in order to search for a magic “Paparats-kvetka” (fern flower). The one who found this
beautiful flower gleaming in the dark would become a visionary, able to understand the language
of animals and birds, and would also able to see treasures buried under ground. By all counts,
Paparats-kvetka was the flower of happiness. The irony of the legend is that the fern does not
produce flowers. However, this never prevented young people from looking for Paparats-kvetka.
Or, perhaps, they were simply looking for a romance? It was not unusual for a young man who
went to look for the flower to meet that girl from a nearby village he liked so much. Often, the
search continued until morning… Perhaps, this is the reason why Belarusians say that storks
bring children to parents. After all, storks return home from south around March, some nine
months after Kupalle…
Watching the sun rise was also a very special part of the celebration. If one has been awake the
whole night and watched the sun without blinking, he would be able to see it “playing”, dancing in
the morning air.