Libraries

Culture and spiritual values of the State are largely dependent on the work of libraries, with 41 percent of the republic's citizens being their readers. Informatization of the society gave rise to active computerization of libraries and transforming them into modern information centers. Today, 80 percent of public libraries use an automated library system. 123 of them opened public centers of legal information. Broadly accessible Internet-classes are also being created on the basis of libraries. Construction of a new building of the National Library was a major goal of the current five-year period. A wide range of library resources and various services provide an opportunity to use the Library for every citizen of our republic. The National Library has been and will remain to be an inexhaustible source of knowledge, a centre of intellectual life for many generations.

Festivals

The Belarusian government sponsors many annual cultural festivals: "Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk"; "Minsk Spring"; "Slavonic Theatrical Meetings"; International Jazz Festival; National Harvesting Festival; "Arts for Children and Youth"; the Competition of Youth Variety Show Arts; "Muses of Niesvizh"; "Mir Castle"; and the National Festival of the Belarusian Song and Poetry. These events showcase talented Belarusian performers, whether it is in music, art, poetry, dance or theater. At these festivals, various prizes named after Soviet and Belarusian heroes are awarded for excellence in music or art. Several state holidays, like Independence Day or Victory Day draw big crowds and include various displays such as fireworks and military parades. Most of the festivals take place in Vitebsk or Minsk.

Etiquette

"Sardechna zaprashayem!" is the traditional expression used when welcoming guests, who are usually presented with bread and salt. Shaking hands is the common form of greeting. Hospitality is part of the Belarusian tradition: people are welcoming and friendly; and gifts are given to friends and business associates.

Food in Daily Life

Belarusian eating habits are not very different from those of people in other Eastern European cultures. They usually have three main daily meals, and staples include red meat and potatoes. Belarusians are also very fond of spending their free time in the woods searching for the many types of mushrooms that are used in soups and other dishes.

Favorite Belarusian dishes include borsch, a soup made with beets that is served hot with sour cream; filet à la Minsk and Minsk cutlet; potato dishes with mushrooms; and pickled berries. Mochanka is a thick soup mixed with lard accompanied by hot pancakes. There is also a large selection of international and Russian specialties available. A favorite drink is black tea, and coffee is generally available with meals and in cafes, although standards vary. Soft drinks, fruit juices, and mineral waters are widely available.

Rituals and holy places

Among the most important religious holidays are Easter, Christmas, and days of remembrance. Russian Orthodox Easter is celebrated sometime between late March and early May, and the difference between Orthodox Easter and Catholic Easter may be up to six weeks. Roman Catholic Easter varies according to a lunar calendar. Russian Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 7, and Roman Catholics celebrate Christmas on December 25. Russian Orthodox practitioners observe Radaunitsa, a remembrance day, on April 28, and Roman Catholics celebrate All Souls Day (Dsiady) on November 2.

There are several places in Belarus that are related to various saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church, including Polock, Sluck, Brest, and Turov. The holiest place of the Russian Orthodox Church is the Garbarka Hill, in eastern Poland.