While most Western countries are getting into Christmas vibes, people in Belarus are looking forward to seeing the New Year in. There was a time when Christmas was the main holiday in the territory of present-day Belarus, but in the 20th century, the Soviet authorities contributed to turning people’s focus towards New Year festivities. How do Belarusians celebrate the New Year nowadays, where do they go and what do they do?
Kaliady and Christmas
Historically, Belarusians have been divided over the Christmas issue: some families, mainly Catholic and Protestant, celebrate Christmas on December 25, while Belarusian Orthodox Christians has their feast on January, 7. As custom had it, a family gathered together on Christmas Eve. At dinner, family members prayed and ate twelve special dishes, including porridge, fish, and berry starch drink.
Curiously, Christmas solemnity got combined with the pagan Kaliady rites in Belarus. Kaliady comes from Latin calenda – the first day of each month. Jauhenka Siamenchyk explains the legend behind Kaliady:
“The first day of Kaliady, the day on which the length of daylight began to increase after the winter solstice, usually falls on 23-24 December, is also considered the beginning of the astronomical new year. New sun embodies as a child, who was abducted by a fierce witch in the winter. The witch turned him into a wolf. But the forces of light won. Young hot rays of the sun burned the skin of the wolf. It released from the captivity of the dark forces and gradually ‘matured’, every day gaining strength for the spring.”
Kaliady, a period between Catholic and Orthodox Christmas, was a unique attraction for kids as they could make costumes and walk from house to house singing songs in exchange for candies, money, or food; it was believed that one should be generous and treat performers. The tradition is gradually turning into history, remaining popular in villages and among smaller communities.
New Year in USSR
In the Soviet times, December, 31 became the main holiday for most Belarusian families, replacing the Christmas celebration. On this day, many people received a day off.
The Soviet system encouraged Belarusians to abandon their religious traditions. Christmas days in Soviet times were regular working days. Pursuing the policy of aggressive atheism, the authorities popularized the secular New Year. People were afraid to openly baptize children, as well as marry in church; religious feasts were no longer official holidays. The state invested a lot of money in New Year TV shows and movies.
In contrast to Western supermarkets, the Soviet trade industry could hardly meet consumers’ needs: some culinary delights often went on sale only before the New Year. Soviet citizens had to stand in lines or even wangle extra treats and champagne. For many kids, the New Year was the only opportunity to receive a gift or eat tangerines.
On New Year’s Eve, families gathered and watched TV and ate a lot of food, mainly salads and meat courses. After dinner, young people went to the main square to watch the fireworks at 00.00.
To have a typical New Year’s table, one needs time and patience. Among traditional dishes is Olivier, a high-calorie mixture of ham, mayonnaise, and peas. Another famous Soviet salad dish is the so-called Herring Under Fur Coat (‘seliadzec pad shubaj’); its ingredients being herring, mayonnaise, carrot, onion, and beet. Redfish sandwiches are often served as appetizers. Many people cook meat dishes and ‘haladziec’ – a cold jellylike treat made of meat and broth.
New Year in Belarus
Planning a New Year in Belarus begins well prior to the event. It is something similar to the Christmas hustle and bustle in European countries. For example, if Europeans put the Christmas tree at the beginning of December – in Belarus, decorations appear a bit later. In the same way, people buy gifts in advance and invite guests.
To welcome the New Year, young Belarusians often get together, rent an apartment, buy food and alcoholic beverages. They usually cook full course dinner together, have some drinks and go to watch the fireworks. Many continue the celebration by the table on January 1, New Year’s Day .
Another kind of celebration is a family party. In that case, it revolves around the festive table. Belarusians tend to buy products in advance to manage to purchase everything for the table. On December 31, family members bustle about the kitchen, making a festal dinner. At about 10 pm, everyone is well-dressed and ready to celebrate, but many are a bit tired after cooking.
Regardless of their age, Belarusians, even those who do not support the regime, often view New Year’s speech of President Lukashenka; some may switch over to that of Russia’s leader Putin.
After the speech, one may continue drinking and eating, or head to the city. Others celebrate right on the streets, waiting for fireworks and drinking champagne bottles
Remembering the old Soviet tradition, some Belarusians go to the sauna on December 31. They say steam and a bath broom may be of help in getting rid of all bad and negative things accumulated over the year. As Belarusians are eager to look good before and on New Year’s Eve, beauty salons do make pretty penny.
Not everyone, though, opts for a traditional New Year celebration: many treat themselves to going out to restaurants or travelling to the sea. Now it is trending to travel abroad, at least to the neighbouring countries. Belarusian travel agencies offer New Year European tours or shorter trips to Ukraine, Lithuania or Poland. Others may ignore the president’s speech and Russian New Year TV shows and, for example, watch Belsat, the first independent TV in Belarus. However, the rule of Soviets and lack of the state support of the unique Belarusian traditions impacted on how winter holidays are celebrated in Belarus these days.
Alesia Rudnik, belsat.eu
