Radaunitsa III.  Радаўніца (частка ІІІ). Incorporating deep pre-Christian rites, Radaunitsa is one of the most important festivals of the year to honor one’s forefathers.  The focus is on cleaning the graves of one’s forefathers and having them blessed by the local priest.  In most places, as here in the Central Polesian village of Azdamichy, Radaunitsa… Continue reading Photos of the Day for May 31, 2011: Radaunitsa III / Радаўніца ІІІ

Radaunitsa II.  Радаўніца (частка ІІ). 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 30, 2011: Radaunitsa II / Радаўніца ІІ

Early May, Tsjerablichy 2011.  У раньнім траўні, Цераблічы 2011 год.

Landscapes of Belarus XV.  Краявіды Беларусі XV. Early-May Evening, Vjeras’nitsa 2011.  In this photo, the annual spring flood, while already receding, continues to fill pastures near a side arm of the central channel of the Prypjats’ River. Вечар у раньнім траўні, Верасьніца 2011 год.

Crosses of Belarus VIII.  Крыжы Беларусі (частка VIII). Rubjel’ 2009.  Рубель 2009 год.

Vasil Pjetrusjevich, tired but satisfied after working with his wife and his father to plant potatoes in his mother-in-law’s plot a couple of kilometers outside the village.  Potatoes form a central part of the Belarusian diet.  It is thus crucial to finish planting in time to ensure a good harvest in the relatively short growing… Continue reading Photo of the Day for May 26, 2011

Women of Polesia XXXIV.  Паляшучкі (частка XXXIV). At the commemoration of Radaunitsa (honoring the graves of one’s forebears), Tsjerablichy 2011.  Радаўніца, Цераблічы 2011 год.

The Loom III.  Кросны (частка ІII). 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 24, 2011: The Loom III / Кросны ІІІ

A bow to Belarusan National Poet Ryhor Baradulin and master artist Ljavon Vol’ski.  Паклон Народным паэтам Рыгору Барадуліну й мастаку Лявону Вольскаму. Белая яблыня грому Белая яблыня грому Чорных cадоў ліхалецця. Яблык яе нікому Не пажадаю на свеце. Голая яблыня грому Жахам жагнала прысмерк. Пэўна, што д’яблу самому Помніцца горкі прысмак. Светлая яблыня грому З… Continue reading Photo of the Day for May 23, 2011

Portraits of Belarus XXII: Late March Snowfall and Early May.  Партрэты Беларусі (частка XXII):  Сьнегапад на прыканцы сакавіка й травеньскае плаваньне. Tsjerablichy 2011.  Цераблічы 2011 год.