Throughout the coming week, Belarusians celebrate Christmas
There is no period in the year more filled with cheerful events than from January 6 to 19, which is popularly called Kolyada. This is a traditional holiday of pagan origin among Slavic peoples, associated with the winter solstice, and later timed to coincide with Christmas and Epiphany. Its integral attributes included dressing up (disguising using skins, masks, and horns), caroling, singing special songs, games, amusements, and dances.
According to custom, the Goat with its retinue walks around the village, enters houses, performs Kolyada songs, and wishes the hosts health and prosperity in the new year. For these wishes, people generously treat the carolers. The Goat is an ancient symbol of life force and fertility. It brings this strength to the owner of the house and his land, his field, so that bread grows better. It is not for nothing that Kolyada songs contain the words: "Where the Goat walked – there the grain grew!".
You could get acquainted with folk customs, take part in traditional games and amusements on January 7 at the Cultural and Historical Complex.
"The Golden Ring of Vitebsk City "Dvina". A festive entertainment program "Vitebsk Kolyady" was held there, with Ded Moroz, Snegurochka, and costumed characters as its main protagonists. A concert of amateur art groups was organized, and an exhibition-sale of folk crafts and arts, as well as an exhibition "Christmas Fairy Tales" were open. In a word, it was fun!Elena Petrova