Month: April 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (VI/X):  incubating the cucumber seedlings and preparing the hothouse ground.  Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (VI/X):  падрыхтоўка агурочных расад і хлебы для насаджэньня.   Vjerka tends this year’s cucumber seedlings.  Tsjerablichy 2006.  Спадарыгя Верка падрыхтуе агурочныя расады да насаджэньня.  Цераблічы 2016 г.   When not teaching mathematics, Vjerka’s husband… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 10, 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (V/X):  new hothouses for cucumbers.  Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (V/X):  новыя парнікі для вырошчваньня агуркоў.   This year Vasil’ and Katsja decided to rebuild their hothouse in another part of the farmyard.  Сёлета спадар Васіль і спадарыня Каця вырашылі перабудаваць свой парнік у іншай частцы двара.   Carrying… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 9, 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (IV/X):  new hothouses for cucumbers.  Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (IV/X):  новыя парнікі для вырошчваньня агуркоў. Eastern Stolin District in the central Pripet Marshes (Polesia) has been renowned for private farmers’ production of cucumbers since the late 1980s.  In March villagers of the area get to work repairing hothouses… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 8, 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (III/X):  tapping sap, Tsjerablichy 2016. Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (III/X):  збор бярозавага соку, Цераблічы 2016.   A sudden return of freezing weather to the southern region of Polesia created icicles of birch-tree sap.  Вяртаньне марозу на Палесьсе стварыла лядзяшы бярозавага соку.   Vjerka and her niece Chesa collect… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 7, 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (II/X): tapping sap.  In March Belarusians throughout the country avidly collect, flavor, and drink tree sap, especially birch sap. Рытмы й абрады надыходзячай вясны (II/X):  збор бярозавага соку.   Kijavichy (Kapyl’ District in central Belarus) 2016.  Кіявічы (Капыльскі р.) 2016 г.   Tapping tree sap, Tatarshchyna (a hamlet off… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 6, 2016

Rhythms and rituals of approaching spring (I/X):  spring flood in the Pripet Marshes (Polesia) 2016.  The extent of annual spring flooding depends on the amount of winter snow and rain in the upper basin of the River Prypjats’ (Pripet) and the amount released from the river’s headwater region in Ukraine.  In contrast to 2013, 2008… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 5, 2016

Portraits of Tsjerablichy:  Mal’vina.  Tsjerablichy 2016.  Партрэты Церабліч:  спадарыня Мальвіна.  Цераблічы 2016 г.

Bread-baking class with Belarusian master artisanal baker Aljes’ Pryshyvalka, Mjensk 2016.  Майстар-клас ШТУКАРСКІ ХЛЕБ з пекарам Алесем Прышывалкам, Менск 2016 г.    Bread is considered a sacred food, indeed a living creature worthy of the highest respect, by Belarusians and other nations in the immediate region.  Rye (zhyta – жыта) is the most traditional of… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 3, 2016

Crosses of Belarus (part XLV):  three crosses, Machul’ 2016.  Крыжы Беларусі (частка XLV):  Мачуль 2016 г.

Polesian folk sculpture, Ramjel’ 2016.  The creator of these whimsical and refreshing sculptures was a champion motorcycle racer for the Soviet Union who emigrated to Austria and raced for his adopted country before returning to his home village in Polesia. Палеская народная творчасьць, Рамель 2016 г.