The northernmost region of Belarus will become the literary capital of the country in early September. People of all ages and professions will gather here for the Days of Belarusian Written Language, with festive events scheduled for September 2 and 3. As a hospitable and responsible host, Horadok has been diligently preparing to receive guests: schools, kindergartens, the House of Crafts, the library, residential buildings, and streets have been renovated. The work is nearing completion, considering that some items were added to the list during the process (due to saved funds). Meanwhile, artisans continue to craft creative surprises, buildings are acquiring a fresh look thanks to huge murals, and the town square is being enriched with new objects. A name for it will soon be chosen after public discussion of ideas. Correspondents observed how majestic and meaningful sculptures are emerging from stone on one of the streets, masters are replenishing entire lines of souvenirs, and the town as a whole is being transformed.
Handmade Souvenir Compliments. What to Expect at the Craft Stalls
Work is in full swing in almost every corner of Horadok, but the main preparations are underway in the centre. Within walking distance are the main venues that will host the events of the Day of Belarusian Written Language, and where skilled artisans are creating souvenir compliments for guests and participants of the grand celebration with special care and love. Pottery, ceramics, weaving, willow and straw weaving – they have something to show and be proud of, as many traditions originated in this land in ancient times. Today, they are carefully passed on to the younger generation.
We peek into the Horadok House of Crafts and Folklore – every room is strewn with works. "We are making baskets, coasters, magnets, bells, mugs, pots, plates with Belarusian symbols, ears of corn," introduces the range of goods the head of the House of Crafts, Maryna Hushcha. "Here we have sets of napkins, openwork embroidered ritual cloths (rushnyki), panels with straw appliqué, and souvenir dolls."
She stops at a panel made of wood, fabric, ceramic, and other elements, explaining that this idea had been around for a long time. "I am a weaver, so I wanted to synthesize weaving with something. In my weaving, I use linen, straw, sedge - all natural. Naturally, wood and ceramics are also suitable here - they are also warm, and they will look very good together," she says. According to the head, all souvenirs for the Day of Writing were selected taking into account history: they plan to present items that were used in the town centuries ago.
Next to the miniature gifts on a large table lies a wooden book with a decorative insert - an image of Francysk Skaryna. It is still being finalized to be solemnly handed over to the host of the Day of Belarusian Written Language in 2024 - Ivacevichi. As Maryna Hushcha shares, the image of the Belarusian first printer was initially chased on copper and then cast.
"Belarusian Gold" and an Intermediary Between the Earth and Bread
Townspeople are mastering the craft of willow weaving in the "Lozovik" club, located in the adjacent room. Its head, Vasil Simankovich, talks with great enthusiasm and thoughtfulness about willow weaving in Horadok and the district. The master possesses the traditional spiral weaving technique, which is included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of Belarus (a total of 6 local traditions have the status of intangible cultural value).
"In the Horadok district, spiral weaving has been widespread since ancient times, as it represents an energy-efficient technology for storing food and other products (seeds for sowing, cereals, smoked goods). They were placed inside, covered with a lid, and the item served as a thermos: approximately constant humidity and temperature. There were no sharp fluctuations – products were well preserved. Such items were practically in the pantry of every family and were initially woven from roots, with willow being more commonly used for transportation. In Belarus, this has been the case for centuries. And in general, straw is our Belarusian gold. There is also a philosophical undertone: straw is a mediator between the earth and the bread. Belarusians actively used it even as a roofing material, wove hats, made shoes, and beehives," says Vasily Simankovich.
The master notes that spiral weaving is more labor-intensive than ordinary wickerwork. The work requires more time: in addition to processing straw, the willow tape is prepared separately, and only then comes the weaving process itself. "All the club members help me," he shares. "Children, pensioners, and people with disabilities attend the clubs, coming together with other groups. Of course, we want this intangible cultural heritage – spiral weaving – to be represented in our souvenir products. We have prepared these small bowls, which will hold ceramic items (jugs, mugs), and together they will make a gift. We are also creating collections of spiral weaving by club members. And I am replenishing my collection so that more guests can get acquainted with this craft."
"Promoting Our Traditions". A Belarusian Brand to Touch and Taste
About 150 souvenir dolls are made in the "Folk Costume" club. The Belarusian beauties will be in national attire, but without faces, as was customary in ancient times. Back then, dolls were not toys but served as amulets. "They were made without faces because it was believed that evil spirits could enter the doll through the face and harm the person. There were many different types of dolls: the traveler doll was given for journeys, the herbalist doll healed and aided sleep, and drove away evil spirits from infants. Now, dolls have become souvenirs and are simply interior decorations," explains Elena Orlova, the head of the creative association.
In addition to dolls, she sews small plush horses, slightly larger than a palm. As in olden times, they have round buttons on their legs – analogous to rocking horses, but in miniature. Those wishing to purchase these items will be offered them packed in specially sewn linen bags – these will also be available for sale during the holiday. "As we are a House of Crafts, we promote our traditions so that people do not forget how our ancestors dressed. We create these souvenirs specifically in folk costumes, with our symbols and embroidery. We try to recreate the elements as they were made before," explains Elena Orlova. "We have already made about 50 large dolls, and there are also medium and small ones – there will be an impressive number of those as well."
Souvenir collections for the start of September will be released by the House of Crafts, educational institutions of Horadok, and the Territorial Centre for Social Services for the Population. Everyone has joined the production: "We just returned from the 'Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk', where all our products were sold out. And now we have to replenish our stocks at a rapid pace," the craftspeople explain with a smile.
At different times and on different days, people of the silver age and individuals with disabilities are engaged in creating their handmade product collections. For them, 27 hobby clubs and 5 workrooms operate at the territorial centre's department. Festive stalls will be complemented by "bags of happiness", shoppers with cornflowers and the inscription "Horadok-2023". Guests will also be offered bed linen and bread of their own production from the "Dobry Khleb" (Kind Bread) workshop opened last year. "We bake two types of bread: unleavened sourdough and 'Horadoksky'. We are still learning and making it for our own needs," they say at the centre. "And in the future, we plan to sell it. We want to organise a tasting for the Day of Writing."
According to the staff, people with disabilities enjoy learning new directions, and this is an important aspect of vocational rehabilitation.
By the way, the concept of each item has been thoroughly thought out here. The focus is on ecological materials. "We are preparing carefully for the Day of Writing. We are making many items from eco-materials on the theme of 'Taras on Parnassus'. Hats, bast shoes-amulets, horseshoe-shaped amulets, dolls and keychains in the shape of books - all in the Belarusian style. We make brooches and earrings from genuine leather and turkey feathers. All this is in the project, and we hope to finish it by the holiday. We will have herbal pouches, decorative pillows, and kitchen mittens. Everything is practical and will be used in everyday life. I also plan to paint with acrylics, and we will surely present these items on the Day of Writing. Hosting such a holiday is very exciting, a huge responsibility for our town," clarifies the head of the club, Tatsiana Pavlenok.
"There will be beauty". Who is behind the transformation of Horadok
The town square next to the administration building has been particularly crowded in recent days. However, for now, there are more builders than tourists. Paving stones were being relaid nearby, and the base for a small architectural feature was being prepared in the centre of the square – a large sculpture of an alphabet book will be installed here. Wrought iron figures will be installed in some locations, says Alexey Kuzmich, head of housing and communal services at the Gorodok Boiler and Heat Supply Enterprise. The fountain will become shallower and will have a fence, making it safer for visitors.
Work is progressing from early morning until late, without days off. "We have very little time, and we have a lot of tasks," clarifies Alexey Kuzmich. "There will be significant visual changes. We will later install new wrought iron benches in the square. All of this has been purchased and is awaiting installation."
The enterprise is the main contractor for the town's improvement works. All efforts are currently focused on this, as the deadline is August 15. Therefore, about 200 employees of the organisation are involved in the improvement of all facilities. Planned works are being carried out in parallel.
"Firstly, we are carrying out current repairs: 37 buildings were planned for the Day of Writing, and only a little remains. Improvements in the square, paving on Sovetskaya Street, repair work at the 'Immortalitу' memorial complex, plus we are also engaged in landscaping," he lists. "And people are working on clearing all paving stones and paths of any small vegetation. In total, about Br900 thousand has been allocated for maintenance and improvement for the year. Asphalt concrete is also being laid on Burlygi, Marx, and Vokzalnaya streets. Valiev Street is being topped up with asphalt granulate. The issue of Molodezhnaya and Tolkacheva streets is being processed. Roughly speaking, two to three days of work are allocated for a street."
As a resident of the town, Alexey Kuzmich is particularly pleased to observe its transformation. "Any changes for the better are pleasant. Gorodok is a compact town, everyone knows each other here. It will be beautiful, and all that remains is to maintain cleanliness and order in the future," he assures.
"A Collective Image of My Observations". Students on the Stone Figures That Will Embellish Gorodok Square
For almost a month, second and third-year students of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts have relocated to Horadok. Future creators have been honored with the task of creating sculptures for the public garden during their summer practice. They say the assignment is both responsible and pleasant, as their stone works will adorn the local landscape for many years to come. "There are 7 of us here, six are creating figures on the courts, and one is working on a fibrocement composition in the form of letters elsewhere," shares Anastasia Sipach. "Working with stone requires great care. One wrong move, and it can crack; I can already see cracks appearing on my stone. However, this was the type of stone I was given initially, but generally, working with stone is the easiest. If I had to choose between wood and metal, stone is currently the most pleasant and comfortable."
Initially, each of the young artists prepared several sketches related to Belarus and the Day of Belarusian Written Language. The commission selected the most interesting ideas for approval. A handshake between two people as a symbol of accord, a "Zubr" (Bison) composition, a flat stone with the words "Horadok" and "Belarus" carved on both sides, and a collective image of a prince and a chronicler – this series of figures will delight residents and visitors.
"This depicts a bird in hands – a very common theme," says a student about her sculpture. "It symbolizes faith, something new – a young bird in old, withered hands. It will be a symbolic monument where everyone will see something of their own. It's simply a collective image derived from my observations. I actually really enjoy this kind of practice. I'm glad I ended up here. At a young age, I was fortunate enough to participate in such an event, and my work will stand here for decades. By the way, I plan to visit for the Day of Belarusian Written Language."
Third-year student Anton Gursky will present Horadok with a sculpture of a chronicler. It will be a collective image. "The figure is a symbol of my understanding of Belarusian literature and history. The sculpture is three-dimensional, round, and should be viewed from all sides. And this is a sketch," he points to a miniature placed on a stone. "To work with stone, one needs willpower and patience; it's difficult, but it's worth it. I'm glad I could also participate, contribute my part, a piece of my thinking, my art."
According to the future sculptor, he had not previously participated in such large-scale projects, which made it all the more interesting to get involved. He says they were just not very lucky with the weather – during this period, Gorodok turned out to be "quite a stormy town". The students experienced both downpours and scorching sun. Partly due to the weather conditions, the work is progressing slower than desired.
The figures are planned to be moved to the park on August 11, where special pedestals have been prepared for them.
Residents of the small town of Gorodok, with a population slightly exceeding 11.5 thousand people, are confident that the region will surely appeal even to the most meticulous tourist. They are particularly proud of the natural wealth, as forests cover more than 44% of the district's territory, and numerous lakes – 162 of them – adorn the landscapes. Some of these will be offered to guests of the Day of Belarusian Written Language, as tourist routes have been specially updated for the holiday.
"We have developed 29 tourist routes covering various types of tourism: cultural and educational, religious, gastronomic, military-historical, and nostalgic routes. They vary in mode of transport, for example, walking, water, cycling, and car routes. We offer animation programs, quests, and master classes at the House of Crafts and Folklore. We will offer six routes to tourists during the holiday itself, but this does not mean that the others will not be available," clarified Alla Grigoryeva, chief specialist of the sports and tourism sector of the Gorodok District Executive Committee.
The main route will be the one associated with the writer Konstantin Verenitsyn, the author of the poem "Taras on Parnassus", titled "Along Verenitsyn's Lands". It starts from Gorodok and covers many key points of the district: memorial signs near the museum, a monument to the poem's character in the town square, and then tourists head to the writer's native places – the village of Ostrovlyane. "We have updated this route, including tourist sites along the way, for example, our famous natural monument – the Giant Oak," she added. "In addition, attractions can be viewed at the Losvido tourist and health complex. The cultural organiser of the complex can guide visitors along the famous 'Napoleon's Trail' – also a quite interesting and popular route, as it runs along Lake Losvido."
The total length of the round trip route is 35 km and, depending on the mode of transport, takes from 3 to 5 hours. Among other options for visitors is water rafting on the lakes. The 9 km route is called "Pearls of Gorodok" and runs across three lakes: Lugovoye, Orekhovoye, and Shcherbakovskoye, starting from the ski-roller track. "The lakes themselves are located in a picturesque place - the урочище Vorobyovy Gory, which is also known not only for its sporting aspect but also for its cultural sites," emphasizes Alla Grigoryeva. "On the route, there is the memorial complex 'Pantheon of Memory', and on the island between two lakes, there is the Snegurochka's residence, where our famous festivals 'Taras on Parnassus' and 'Mara Gurmana' and theatrical programs are held."
The Gorodok District will welcome guests with a pure and open heart and will show its hospitality to the fullest, assures the Chairperson of the District Executive Committee, Irina Polyakova. According to her, thanks to the celebration of the Day of Belarusian Written Language, the town has had the opportunity to become even more attractive to residents and guests. "We are preparing to hold the celebration at the highest possible level. And we want to show our important highlight," she clarified. "And for this, we are making every effort."
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by
