15 February, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Ten folk rituals will be held throughout 2012 in Polotsk district. The new project, aimed at reviving the original customs of Polotsk residents, is being implemented by local amateur clubs with the support of the district executive committee, Petr Petkevich, Deputy Chairman of the Polotsk District Executive Committee, told a BELTA correspondent. Folk festivals are an integral part of national culture. Unfortunately, over time, many good traditions that serve to unite people have been forgotten, the interlocutor noted. Members of amateur creative groups, of which there are many in Polotsk region, are painstakingly collecting and restoring the traditions of folk festivals, preserving legends and beliefs associated with certain holidays or rituals. This year, amateur groups have come up with the initiative to hold ten master classes on rituals in the villages of the district, thereby breathing new life into them. "We hope that many ancient traditions will resonate with modern villagers and also attract tourists," said Petr Petkevich. Like in an ensemble of ten artists, each ritual will have its own independent part. In the old way, they will play "Vyaselle" (Wedding), hold "Khresbiny" (Christening), and gather for " Kuzminki" (this is what village gatherings were called, which began in November). On "Yurye", considered by Belarusians to be the best day for the first grazing of cows in the field, in one of the farms, in accordance with ancient beliefs, livestock will be taken out to summer pastures. Polotsk region also plans to show how great-grandmothers baked black bread and made cheese, how great-grandfathers picked apples on Apple Spas, and on Honey Spas, they charmed bees. -0-

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