Belsat TV contributor Larysa Shchyrakova took part in a traditional caroling (kalyadavannie) in Homiel region.
‘Kalyada’, or ‘Kalyady’ is an ancient pre-Christian Slavic winter festival. It was later incorporated into Christmas.
On January 6, representatives of the Belarusian youth organization Talaka visited residents of the village of Mikhalki, wished them a merry Christmas and sang carols. However, the ritual has its local specifics – for example, ‘Bear’, ‘She-Goat’, ‘Gypsies’, ‘Star Bearer’, ‘Fur Bearer’ were among the carol singers.
This year Talaka members has recovered the ritual of burning a straw goat and a spider – our ancestors believed that all evil that happened in the past year could be destroyed in such a way.
Having made a round of the village, the carol singers had dinner where traditional Christmas dish – Kutia – was served. At midnight, the girls began to tell fortunes by pouring candle wax into water and interpreting a figure that emerged; setting fire to paper and trying to see something in shadows; reading coffee cups and using mirrors.
Having made a round of the village, the carol singers had dinner where traditional Christmas dish – Kutia made of barley – was served. At midnight, the girls began to tell fortunes by pouring candle wax into water and interpreting a figure that emerged; setting fire to paper and trying to see something in shadows; reading coffee cups and using mirrors.
Photos by Larysa Shchyrakova
