Belarus

Culture

Traditional Belarusian dress originated from the time of Kievian Rus, and continues to be worn today at special functions. Because of the cool climate of Belarus, the clothes were made out fabrics that provide closed covering and warmth. The outfits were designed with either many threads of different colors woven together or are adorned with symbols called ornaments. The Belarusian nobles usually had their fabrics imported and chose the colors of red, blue or green. Males wore a shirt and trousers adorned with a belt and females wore a longer shirt, a wrap-around skirt called a "paniova", and a headscarf. The outfits also were influenced by the dress worn by Poles, Lithuanians, Latvians and other European nations and have changed over time because of improvements in the techniques used to make clothing. {{ref|outfits}} Belarus has four World Heritage Sites, two of them shared between Belarus and its neighbors. The four are: the Mir Castle Complex; the Niasvizh Castle; the Belovezhskaya Pushcha (shared with Poland); and the Struve Geodetic Arc (shared with Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Moldova, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine). {{ref|UNESCO}}

Related Topics:
Kievian Rus - Clothes - Fabric - Ornaments - Green - Paniova - Headscarf - World Heritage Sites - Mir Castle Complex - Niasvizh Castle - Belovezhskaya Pushcha - Poland - Struve Geodetic Arc - Estonia - Finland - Latvia - Lithuania - Norway - Moldova - Sweden

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The typical Belarusian diet includes bread, potatoes, cabbage and pork. Belarusians tend to eat small portions of food in the morning and hearty meals for lunch and dinner. Some of the most widely served dishes include "kotleta po krestyansky", a mix of chopped pork served in a mushroom sauce; a soup by the name of "shtchi", which includes sauerkraut, potatoes and fried onions; and "kalachi", a loaf of bread that has been formed into the shape of a padlock. When guests enter Belarus from a foreign country, they are usually served rye bread with a pinch of salt on the side and it is presented to them on a traditional cloth, called a "rushnik".

Related Topics:
Lunch - Dinner - Kotleta po krestyansky - Mushroom - Shtchi - Sauerkraut - Onions - Kalachi - Rye bread - Rushnik

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Belarusian theater began to gain popularity in the early 1900s. One of Belarus's most famous plays, Paulinka (written by Yanka Koupala), was first performed in Siberia for the Belarussians who were being be sent to the region. The plays were performed at local "clubs" not only across Siberia, but also in neihgboring Ukraine. This took place during the "re-birth" of the Belarusian culture after many years of decline. In the 17th century, Partesnoe penie, part singing, became common for choruses, followed by private theaters established in cities like Minsk and Vitebsk. {{ref|theater}} Documentation of Belarusian folk music stretches back to at least the 15th century. Prior to that, skomorokhs were the major profession for musicians. A neumatic chant, called znamenny, from the word 'znamia' (sign or neume), was used until the 16th century in Orthodox church music. This was followed as many as two hundred variations of the style, mostly influences by the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation. Popular music groups that came from Belarus include Pesniary, Dreamlin and NRM. Currently, there are 27 professional theater groups touring in Belarus, 70 orchestras, and 15 agencies that focus on promoting concerts.

Related Topics:
Theater - Yanka Koupala - Siberia - 17th century - Partesnoe penie - Music - 15th century - Skomorokh - Neumatic chant - Znamenny - Renaissance - Protestant Reformation - Pesniary - Dreamlin - NRM - Orchestra

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The Belarusian government sponsors many annual cultural festivals: "Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk"; "Minsk Spring"; "Slavonic Theatrical Meetings"; International Jazz Festival; National Harvesting Festival; "Arts for Children and Youth"; the Competition of Youth Variety Show Arts; "Muses of Niesvizh"; "Mir Castle"; and the National Festival of the Belarusian Song and Poetry. These events showcase talented Belarusian performers, whether it is in music, art, poetry, dance or theater. At these festivals, various prizes named after Soviet and Belarusian heroes are awarded for excellence in music or art. Several state holidays, like Independence Day or Victory Day draw big crowds and include various displays such as fireworks and military parades. Most of the festivals take place in Vitebsk or Minsk.{{ref|festivals}}

Related Topics:
Music - Art - Poetry - Dance - Theater - Independence Day - Victory Day - Fireworks - Military

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From the 1952 Helsinki Games until the end of the Soviet era, Belarus competed in the Olympic Games as part of the Soviet Olympic squad. During the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Belarus competed as part of the Unified Team. The nation's athletes competed in an Olympic Games as Belarusians for the first time during the 1994 Lillehammer Games. Belarus has won a total of 52 medals; 6 gold, 17 silver and 29 bronze. The first Olympic medal for the Soviet Union was won by Belarusian Mikhail Krivonosov at the 1956 Summer Games held in Melbourne, Australia.{{ref|Olympics}} Belarus's National Olympic Committee has been headed by President Lukashenko since 1997; he is the only head of state in the world to hold this position.{{ref|noc}}

Related Topics:
1952 Helsinki Games - Olympic Games - 1992 Olympics in Barcelona - Unified Team - 1994 Lillehammer Games - Medal - Mikhail Krivonosov - 1956 Summer Games - Melbourne, Australia - National Olympic Committee - 1997

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Certain aspects of the Belarusian culture have been lost over time because of the Russification period. While poets such as Koupala were trying to revive the use of the Belarusian language, the Russian language is still used in official business and in various parts of Belarusian society. Other symbols of culture that faced Russification were the symbols of Belarus in 1991 and the Belarus National Republic, the white-red-white flag (???-???????-???? ????) and the Pahonya coat of arms. While the coat of arms is similar to that of Lithuania (Vytis), these were replaced by the current symbols in a 1995 referendum, which may be considered reminiscent of the Soviet era. President Lukashenko has introduced laws that force radio and television stations to showcase a percentage of Belarusian talent daily, but it does not state that the performance has to be in the Belarusian or Russian language.

Related Topics:
Russification - Belarusian language - Russian language - Belarus National Republic - Pahonya - Coat of arms - Lithuania - Vytis - 1995 - Referendum - Radio - Television

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