Month: July 2010

Photo of the Day for July 11, 2010

Near Puzavichy 2010/Ля в. Пузавічы 2010 год

Photo of the Day for July 10, 2010

Vjalikaja Al’shanka 2010/Вялікая Альшанка 2010 год

Photo of the Day for July 9, 2010

The Gable II/Шчыт (частка ІI) Gables of Belarusan wooden houses often carry symbols of faith (the cross, an anchor) or, continuing a pre-Christian tradition, of nature (a half- or full sun, furrows in the field). This barn is a rare example of a symbol — the sun — covering the whole gable. На шчытах беларускіх драўляных… Continue reading Photo of the Day for July 9, 2010

Photo of the Day for July 8, 2010

Kust/Куст (Куста, Ваджэньне Куста) Kust or Kusta (“Bush”) is a pre-Christian Belarusian fertility and initiation rite still celebrated during the second or third day of Trinity in a few villages in the Pinsk and Luninets Districts of Western Polesia (Pripet Marshes). A group of village women choose a young girl, take her to the woods,… Continue reading Photo of the Day for July 8, 2010

Photos of the Day for July 7, 2010

Photo of the Day for July 6, 2010

The Extraordinary in the “Ordinary” III: Inheritance / Надзвычайнае ў “звычайным“ (частка ІІI): Дарога расьце ўсё жыцьцё It is exceptionally moving to see how carefully and steadily Belarusan parents and especially grandparents pass on traditions to their children and grandchildren — in the household and in ancient rites. Асабліва кранае тое, з якой стараннасьцю, з якім цярпеньнем… Continue reading Photo of the Day for July 6, 2010

Photo of the Day for July 5, 2010: The Bench II

The Bench II/Лаўка (частка ІI) What can seem more prosaic than the plain wooden bench in front of almost every village house in Belarus? And yet the bench is the pivot of social life, the village agora, the permanent observation post. The bench is the witness to the changing fortunes of the village and at… Continue reading Photo of the Day for July 5, 2010: The Bench II