Photo of the Day for May 20, 2011: Neglected Patrimony I / Занядбаная спадчына І

Neglected patrimony of Belarus I:  19th century ice-house on the “Zadzvjeja” estate of the Chachot family, members of the Polish aristocracy.  Jan Chachot (1796-1847) wrote poems in Belarusian and Polish and published important collections of Belarusian folklore and folk songs.  He was exiled by the imperial Russian authorities to the Urals for eight years owing… Continue reading Photo of the Day for May 20, 2011: Neglected Patrimony I / Занядбаная спадчына І

Photo of the Day for May 18, 2011: Radaunitsa I / Радаўніца І

Radaunitsa I.  Радаўніца (частка І). Incorporating deep pre-Christian rites, Radaunitsa is one of the most important festivals of the year to honor one’s forefathers.  Many people attend a church or chapel service, but the focus is on cleaning the graves of one’s forefathers and having them blessed by the local priest.  In most places, as… Continue reading Photo of the Day for May 18, 2011: Radaunitsa I / Радаўніца І

Photo of the Day for May 12, 2011: The Loom II / Кросны ІІ

The Loom II.  Кросны (частка ІI). In previous generations the loom was an essential Polesian household fixture.  But weaving was an arduous task.  Granny Vul’ljana recalls how women and girls would exhaust themselves weaving long into winter nights to produce enough cloth for the coming year.  Now, she notes, only three looms remain in the… Continue reading Photo of the Day for May 12, 2011: The Loom II / Кросны ІІ