Extending summer with Vulitsa Ezha (Streetfood from Belarusian): the final picnic of the season will be held on 16-17 September.
The eighth season of Vulitsa Ezha has already made a splash with two city picnics in the Botanical Garden, where everyone ate, drank, had fun and learnt a lot of new things. We want to hold summer longer – and it is possible. The final picnic will be held on 16-17 September in a truly velvety atmosphere. The organisers propose to spend the summer later, as loud as ever, and meet the warm autumn together.
As usual, the festival will be held in the Botanical Garden of Minsk. The opening hours of all events from 12:00 to 22:00.
About 20 partner zones of entertainment and activities are waiting for you: master classes, interactive activities for adults and children, competitions, tastings, music and dancing to the best rhythms of different styles, bright photo zones and gifts. But the main element will remain a large food court with unusual and very tasty dishes: you will definitely like it.
Besides, the open-air cinema will show your favourite pictures and cartoons on the big screen amidst the beautiful nature of the Botanical Garden. You can bring your own plaids or make sure you have a comfortable seat.
Come to the picnic, it will be fun!
On the second weekend of September Minsk will celebrate its 956th anniversary. In the Year of Peace and Creation, all the events will be united by the theme “The Heart of Belarus – my native Minsk”. The main large-scale festivities will last two days – 9 and 10 September.
Traditionally, the cultural, sporting, educational and spiritual potential of the capital will be creatively presented at venues in every district of Minsk.
Starting from September 8, the festivities will be held in the historic part of the city. In particular, the sites in the Upper Town, near the Palace of Sports and at the architectural and sculptural complex “Minsk – Hero-City” near the Museum of the Great Patriotic War will be used.
The main events will be held on 9 and 10 September. The festive programme will be opened on Saturday at 11:00 with the solemn ceremony of laying flowers at the stele “Minsk – Hero-City” with the participation of the city authorities. After that, the festive sites will start working.
From 12:00 to 17:00 near the Palace of Sports there will be a sports ground “International Olympic Day.
The green area between the stela “Minsk – Hero-City” and the Palace of Sports will host “Minsk of old times”. Opening hours: 9 September from 12:00 to 21:30, 10 September from 9:00 to 12:00. Different epochs of the capital’s life will be presented here: from the Middle Ages to the Second World War. The guests will get acquainted with the formation of Minsk, the Napoleonic invasion, the First World War and the Great Patriotic War.
At the same time on the territory of the Upper Town from 12:00 to 17:00 will be held the Republican Festival of National Cultures – about 20 nationalities will present their cuisine and creativity.
The main event on 10 September will undoubtedly be the Minsk Half Marathon. Although there will be a lot of other activities in the city without it.
From 18:00 to 23:00, a concert will be held near the Palace of Sports. You can see the festive fireworks at 23:00.
Everyone will be able to find something interesting for himself at the holiday. Come to Minsk and celebrate the birthday of Minsk together with us!
The History Park “Grand Duchy of Sula” is the first interactive history park in Belarus, which is located on the picturesque shore of the Sula Lake just 49 kilometres from Minsk.
This place can be called in different ways: principality, estate, interactive history park, museum… Here they speak the native Belarusian language and show how our ancestors lived from common people to nobility.
The complex is arranged in such a way that the main path takes you chronologically through events in history. It is said to be the path of time. Walking along it, you will come across buildings restored and built from scratch, which belong to different epochs of Belarus. Everything starts with the Stone Age objects and ends with the Lenski family estate.
Thus, there are seven separate areas on the territory of the complex: the area of ancient man, the area of ancient Belarusian cults and beliefs, the lands of the Viking Age, the Middle Ages and the gentry, the Belarusian village and the Lenski estate and park complex.
In the Viking village there is one of the main and most impressive sights of the park. It is a ship, or rook, or drakkar. It is an exact replica of a Scandinavian ship. The guests of “Sula” can ride on this drakkar.
In the medieval era zone you can visit the museum of pottery art or the museum of education, see how the water mill looked like from outside and inside.
The Belarusian miasteczko (a historical type of urban settlement similar to a market town) is rich in tasty and useful places. There is a bakery, a pharmacy “Zyolki”, a museum of bread and cheese, a weaving workshop, a Jewish shop, a Shapovalskaya hut, a museum of beekeeping, a museum “Batleika”. Thus, in the museum of bread and cheese you can buy fresh products, in the pharmacy – medicinal collections, in the tavern – strong drinks.
The manor and park complex will surprise you with a Masonic wing, a museum-estate of the Lenski family and the “Holy Family” chapel.
There is a beach area, pavilions, children’s playgrounds on the territory. Also at the beach in good weather on weekends and public holidays there is a grill-zone with several barbecues. You can have a snack or a full meal in one of the restaurants. Also, no one is forbidden to bring your own food into the park.
Come to the park and enjoy your holidays and Belarusian history!
The city’s favourite summer picnic is fast approaching! The eighth season of Vulitsa Ezha will start with the first bright festival on 24-25 June and will traditionally take place among the beautiful nature of the Botanical Gardens in Minsk. More than 50 eating places on the food court, over 200 original dishes and dozens of entertainments will be waiting for you in just a week.
VULITSA EZHA is no longer just a festival, but the biggest gastronomic community in Belarus. The best street food projects and top chefs gather here, and guests learn about local gastronomic trends.
There will be a large family zone with entertainment for children 0+: carousel, play complexes, master classes, drawing and modeling, animators, water make-up, construction sites, free zone for creativity, board games, games with animators.
There will also be a chance to see and buy handmade works of art: exclusive homeware, decorations and accessories.
Now there is no need to leave the city to get full of energy and have a great rest: you can just come to our picnic with your loved ones and have a carefree time. Come, you won’t regret it!
In Soviet times, vegetables, fruit, salads and compotes were put in jars for the winter to preserve the harvest.
It was all the more difficult to get fresh fruit and vegetables in winter. Food was in short supply. But to feed a family was necessary every day. So many families made their own preserves: in the autumn – preserves for the winter, at the beginning of winter – sauerkraut, in winter – dumplings.
Every Soviet housewife considered it her duty to make preserves. The more the better. The Internet, where one could look up recipes, did not yet exist. There were handwritten recipes for baked goods. Cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, salads, juices, jams, compotes… From one’s own garden or bought – it did not matter. Of course, there were also canned vegetables on sale, but our own, homemade ones, tasted much better!
Nowadays, the tradition of making homemade preserves is slowly becoming a thing of the past. On the one hand, you can buy all kinds of preserved food in the shops. On the other hand, you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables all year round, which many people think is much tastier and healthier.
Nevertheless, many housewives still make preserves for the winter, paying tribute to habit and tradition. And many family members long for homemade preserved cucumbers or tomatoes in winter or early spring.
On Tuesday of the second week after Easter, the Orthodox Church celebrates Radonitsa, a day of special commemoration of the departed, the first after the feast of Easter. In 2023, Radunitsa falls on 25 April. In Orthodox churches on Radunitsa, a funeral liturgy and memorial service are traditionally held.
It is a tradition of the Orthodox Church to celebrate Radunitsa on the ninth day after Easter. It is believed that the soul of the deceased goes to heaven after this time.
This day has its origins in the pagan tradition: in pre-Christian times, this event was associated with the cult of ancestors. Etymologically, the word “Radunitsa” is derived from the words “kin” and “joy”.
On this day people come to the graves of their relatives. Every year on this holiday more than a million Belarusians go to cemeteries. The Orthodox Church has a negative attitude to meals at cemeteries, especially alcohol. It is better to refuse eating at cemeteries, as these traditions are associated with paganism. The most important thing on this day is to pray for the deceased. Also on this day there is no need to weep; Radunitsa is a holiday not of sadness and grief, but of joy of eternal life, the victory of Jesus Christ over death.
In Belarus, Tuesday, on which Orthodox Radunitsa falls, is a day off. As a rule, there are four days off – Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. It is decided to postpone the working days and get one working Saturday.
The g4 tours team would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter!
May there be a lot of light, kindness and peace in your families!
After the great festivities of Maslenitsa, Orthodox believers begin Great Lent (Great Fast). Great Lent precedes the feast of the Holy Resurrection of Christ, Easter. In 2023 it will last from February 27 to April 15.
There is an opinion that the Great Lent is established in memory of the fasting of Christ, who spent 40 days in the desert without water and food after His Baptism.
Great Lent is the main and most austere fasting period. During the entire period of Great Lent the food is to be simple but varied, without unnecessary spices, sweets and salt. Meat, dairy products and eggs are replaced by plant food. Vegetables, fruit and porridges are preferred. The food is prepared only with water and without oil. There is a calendar that divides the fast into weeks, and each week with specific dishes.
The most austere weeks of Lent are considered to be the first and Holy Week. During these days diligent Christians eat nothing more hearty than a piece of bread and water. Not everyone is able to achieve this. The food during Lent needs to be handled sensibly. It is said that you should rely on your own strength, health and the blessing of the priest with whom you confess. He knows and feels your spiritual state like no other.
Fasting is not a diet. The purpose of Lent is not a ban on cottage cheese or sausages, but prayers, good deeds, fighting against your own sins and repentance.
From February 20 to 26, 2023, Orthodox believers in Belarus celebrate the Maslenitsa week. Maslenitsa precedes the Great Lent. Lent is the longest fast in Christianity and the period preceding the main Orthodox holiday, Easter.
Maslenitsa is a bright and colourful celebration at the end of winter which brings joy to little ones and adults alike. Games, songs, dances, merry laughter and noise are its main signs. The name “Maslenitsa” is associated with the word “butter” (maslo) in the Russian language. Traditionally in this week was forbidden to eat meat, but we can eat milk and dairy products.
Butter and cheese – these are the obligatory attributes of the holiday. Besides, what is the Maslenitsa week without blini (pancakes)? During the Maslenitsa week the blini acquired a truly royal value – they tried to eat them every day. Melted butter, sour cream, honey, jam, fish, caviar, cabbage – everyone wrapped everything he liked in blini. Except of meat, of course.
During the Maslenitsa until now in cities and towns there are held festivals, many blini with all sorts of fillings are baked. The Maslenitsa traditions are aimed at saying goodbye to winter and welcoming the spring. The Maslenitsa festivities culminate with the burning of a straw doll at a bonfire, accompanied by joyful cries and songs.
On 24-26 February in all the districts of Minsk, Maslenitsa markets will be organized, blini will be baked and spring will be welcomed.
On 19 January, Orthodox believers celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. Baptism is considered to be one of the oldest holidays in Christian culture. It is associated with the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
The Feast of the Baptism of Jesus is closely connected with Jesus Christ’s earthly life – baptism, which was carried out in the Jordan River by prophet John the Baptist. The second name of the feast is Epiphany. This name refers to the miracle that took place at the baptism of Christ: the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended from heaven, and a voice from heaven called Jesus a son.
During the Epiphany masses and baptismal bathing in ice-holes are held all over Belarus. For this purpose special ice-holes in the form of a cross are made in the ponds. It is popularly believed that bathing in ice-hole gives purifying power for soul and body.
However, ice-hole bathing remains a voluntary event for the faithful. For the Christians during the Epiphany, the most important thing is to attend the service in the church, confess, receive Holy Communion and take the Epiphany water.
One of the main traditions is to take holy water. People come to churches with empty containers, and then the holy water is stored for the whole year. This water can be used to bless one’s home, and many people use it to heal their ailments. There is an omen that not only the water, but also the snow on this day has healing powers – you can rub your hands and face with it to regain health.
As on other church holidays, on Epiphany one should not quarrel, swear, gossip or speak evil words. On Epiphany we should not clean, sweep away rubbish or throw away food. This is considered to be bad omens and considered to be unlucky.
Washing is especially banned. At Epiphany all water has magical properties, and it is sinful to waste it on such trifles.