According to archaeological excavations, people began to settle in the lands of modern Sennenshchyna around the 11th century BC. At the beginning of the 20th century, Sennenskoye Uyezd of Mogilev Governorate was a sufficiently large administrative unit, inhabited by almost 220 thousand people.
According to archaeological excavations, people began to settle in the lands of modern Sennenshchyna around the 11th century BC. At the beginning of the 20th century, Sennenskoye Uyezd of Mogilev Governorate was a sufficiently large administrative unit, inhabited by almost 220 thousand people. It included parts of the current Tolochinsky (along with Tolochin), Chashnitsky, Beshenkovichsky, Krupksky (Minsk Region) districts. State figure Pyotr Masherov, sculptor Zair Azgur, legendary pilot Alexander Gorovets, People's Commissar of Agriculture of the BSSR Dmitry Prishchepov, who was one of the initiators of the creation of the Vitebsk Veterinary Institute, were born in Sennenshchyna. From July 6 to 10, 1941, an important event of the initial period of the Great Patriotic War took place. As part of the Lepel counteroffensive of the Red Army, heavy battles took place here, which went down in history as the Sennenskoye Tank Battle. In sports arenas, the region and the country were glorified by the world biathlon champion Pyotr Ivashko, and the Olympic champion Irina Leshchenko (Krivko).
Who Invented the Ornament?
In 2015, a memorial sign was erected in the central square of Senno in honor of Matryona Markevich, the author of the "Rising Sun" pattern, which was taken as the basis for the ornament on the State Flag of the Republic of Belarus.
A native of the village of Klimovichi, she embroidered the memorable towel in 1917. Matryona Sergeevna's brother, ethnographer and Doctor of Art History Mikhail Katsar, was invited in 1951 as an expert of the commission for the creation of the flag of the BSSR. There was a wish that the state symbolism should contain details that would reflect national characteristics. Mikhail Sergeevich drew attention to the drawing of the ornamental pattern "Rising Sun", embroidered on a towel by his sister and kept in the pre-war archive of Belpromsovet.
The elements of the ornament symbolize the "key to happiness," a wish for good development of events, prosperity, wealth, and continuation of life.
One of Matryona Markevich's towels is kept in the district historical and local lore museum, and its exact copy was made by masters of the Sennenskoye House of Crafts.
The Energy of the Sun
More than two years ago, the first helio-energy installation "Polymya" with a capacity of 1.6 MW began operating in the Senno district, Vitebsk region.
It was named after the nearby agro-town "Polymya". It occupies an area of 3 hectares, on which 132 tables with 4752 panels are located. Throughout the year, the installation can provide almost endless solar electricity to 900 apartments.
Healing Spring
The "Kaplichka" spring in Senno is one of the most accessible natural monuments in the Vitebsk region. You don't need to travel along field and forest roads to reach it – the spring is located in the city center.
The spring flows from a mountain where an ancient pagan sanctuary was located, and almost immediately flows into Lake Senno. The water has a characteristic smell of hydrogen sulfide. In addition, it also contains selenium. It has a beneficial effect on the digestive system. In August, queues sometimes form here – a significant number of Senno residents and people from the surrounding areas salt cucumbers, always using water from "Kaplichka".
Local historian Vasily Bandarevich, in his book "An Excursion to the Sources of Senno", notes that in 1802, the "Kaplichka" was mentioned in his records by academician of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, mineralogist and chemist Vasily Mikhailovich Severgin: "Near the mentioned house of the elder Serokovsky, beyond the postal yard, there is a well in a clay elevation, the water of which has a liver-sulfur (hydrogen sulfide) smell, and it also loosens the bowels and eases the chest when two glasses are drunk in the morning."
In 1995, thanks to the district inspection of natural resources and environmental protection, as well as the builders of MPMK-64, the spring acquired its modern appearance. A rather large stone monument has been built here. Thus, "Kaplichka" has become one of the landmarks of Senno.
Voronin Boulder
The "Chortov Kamen" ("Devil's Stone") ("Kravets") near the village of Voronino is the second largest on the territory of Belarus. The largest is also located in the Vitebsk region – near the village of Gorki, Shumilino district.
According to research, this piece of grey-pink granite "slid" to us thousands of years ago with the next glacial wave from the vicinity of the city of Vyborg, located near St. Petersburg. Its length is 10.2 m, width – 6 m, height – 4 m. The boulder has the status of a geological natural monument of republican significance and is protected by the state.
The "Devil's Stone" was believed to be the home of an evil spirit skilled in tailoring. According to legend, people would place fabric and money on the boulder, and the next day, they would collect the finished clothes. Therefore, it was also known as the "Tailor". The devil lived in the marsh beneath the stone, where a spring gushes, but often sat on its surface. In the middle of the boulder, there is even a hollow resembling a peculiar chair. It is said that if you sit in it, you can feel the imprints of scissors, needles, and coins to your right (though we couldn't find them). The local devil was known for his good disposition towards people, especially the poor. However, he disliked drunkards and often played tricks on men returning from a tavern while intoxicated. He would lead them to the stone, and the poor soul would think he had reached his own stove: undressing and falling asleep.
It is unknown when the "Tailor" sewed his last shirt or sheepskin coat. Perhaps it was around the time when those same men wanted to measure the depth of the devil's marsh: they tied two huge poles together and began probing the bog. They never reached the bottom, but the owner of the stone apparently took offense at having his dwelling disturbed and ruined his "atelier". According to another version, a woman once asked the devil to sew something or other...
The boulder lies on the bank of the Abalyanka River. In this area, the river is very winding and resembles a stream. Not far from the stone is Snake Hill. Legend has it that its name is connected with the following story. A serpent often appeared in the vicinity, stealing women and girls, and the devil was at war with it. In the dark, the rivals regularly fought, and once a duel lasted for three nights. When the devil grew weak, he armed himself with a needle and struck the enemy in the eye. The serpent roared in pain, and then the evil spirit cut off its tongue with scissors. The monster soon died, and the exhausted devil crawled to the stone, jumped into the marsh, leaving a large column of water, and never appeared again. In the daytime, peasants came and saw the slain serpent. They were afraid to touch it and began to cover it with earth. Thus, a hill with characteristic outlines was formed, where many wild strawberries now grow in the summer and from which wonderful local landscapes open up.
An alley of young pine trees leads to the "Devil's Stone". Local authorities have installed a gazebo here. According to Anatoly Baranovsky, the chairman of the Nemoytovsky rural council, the territory around the natural monument is maintained by employees of PS "Senno" of UP "Zapad-Trannaftaprodukt". People often visit the boulder, and some leave donations in the form of Belarusian and Russian coins. The "Devil's Stone" is included in the developed tourist route Senno – Drutsk (Tolochin District).
Kupavats' Zaslonau Memorial Complex
The "Kupavats'" Memorial Complex, created on the site of a former village, is one of the significant sites of Sennenshchyna during the Great Patriotic War.
On November 14, 1942, during a punitive operation by the occupiers, Konstantin Zaslonau, commander of a partisan formation, died here. Together with his comrades, he engaged in battle with superior enemy forces. After the war, his remains were reburied in Orsha.
The complex consists of the outlines of the foundations of former houses, a monument, and a mass grave where 52 Soviet soldiers and partisans are buried. A reconstruction of a partisan camp has been made with trenches, dugouts, a dugout shelter, a watchtower on a tree, a kitchen, and a dining room. This year, an information stand and a sign with a QR code have been added, through which one can obtain more complete information about Konstantin Zaslonau and the activities of the partisans.
According to Oleg Barytka, the Chairman of the Studzyonkaŭski Village Council, employees of the K. Zaslonau Orsha Locomotive Depot regularly visit the complex. Annually, students of the Orsha College, a branch of the Belarusian State University of Transport, make a tourist trip to this significant place. Many people who care about history come to Kupavats', which is far from major roads. Among the regular visitors are schoolchildren and residents of Sennenshchyna.
Glukharovskaya Whistle
The Glukharovskaya whistle, which has been granted the status of a historical and cultural value by the Ministry of Culture of Belarus, was revived by Ukrainian Volodymyr Kvashko.
Volodymyr Ivanovych is originally from the Sumy region of Ukraine, where he worked as an artist-decorator for the railway. In 2000, together with a friend, he became interested in ceramics and acquired a potter's wheel. A year later, he came to Senno to visit his brother. He visited an exhibition at the House of Crafts to learn about the experience of local masters. He stayed there, having met his destiny.
According to Olga Kvashko, the director of the Senno House of Crafts, the revival of the images and manufacturing technology of the Glukharovskaya whistle began in 2007 by master Inessa Saprinenka. Seven years later, Volodymyr Kvashko took over the baton with the active support of Lyudmila Vakar, the leading methodologist of the regional methodological center for folk art. She personally knew Gennady Glukharov, a potter from the former brick factory of the Senno branch of the Vitebsk Production Association of Construction Materials. A production leader in the 1980s, he participated in the Exhibition of Economic Achievements of the USSR and the All-Union Festival of Folk Art.
For three consecutive years, Uladzimir Kvashko presented his crafts for judging at the "Salaveyka" competition, held as part of the "Dnipro Voices in Dubroŭna" International Festival. However, his efforts were unsuccessful, as the form did not yield the desired results. Despite many anxieties, the work continued. Finally, in 2017, competent specialists appreciated the simplicity and archaic nature of seven figures: two variants of a horse, a harrow, a dog, a piglet, a lark, and a peacock. Uladzimir Kvashko received the Grand Prix of the competition. Since then, the Glukharovskaya whistle has experienced a new life. It is now known beyond the region. For example, it was acquired by the Mahilyow Regional Museum of Local Lore. Anyone can purchase a clay toy that, since ancient times, was used as a ritual and magical instrument.
Towel of Unity
Last year, on National Unity Day, the renovated 40th Anniversary of Victory Park was opened in Sianno. The new locations have become additional points of attraction not only for local residents but also for visitors to the town.
The park is designed for all types of recreation. The ski-roller track, where pupils of the Sianno biathlon school, famous throughout Belarus, hone their skills, has also been repaired.
It is noteworthy that the reconstruction took place when 80 years had passed since the tank battle near Sianno. At the entrance to the forest park, eight pylons have been installed with information about the events that took place in the region during the Great Patriotic War. This includes information about the Lepel counter-offensive in early July 1941, with Sianno at its epicentre.
Assistance in the park's renovation was provided by "Vitebskablgaz" and "Vitebskenergo," with contributions from the Bahusheŭski Forestry and regional entrepreneurs. Representatives of organizations and institutions also made their contribution: people regularly participated in subbotniks (volunteer workdays) for landscaping.
On the park's opening day, a five-meter-long towel was presented. It came into being thanks to the "Let's Weave the District's Amulet Together" campaign. Over several months, more than 500 people, from ordinary residents to regional leaders, contributed their threads to the towel, which became a symbol of unity, solidarity, brotherhood, and hospitality.
This creation, made by collective effort, has become the newest brand of Sianno District.
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by
