Culture, Art, Religion
The national culture of the Belarusians throws back to high antiquity. The Belorussian people have accumulated colossal intellectual wealth reflecting all diversity of its existence in intellectual, moral, aesthetic and other terms.
The Belarusians have created multi-genre folklore which is considered to be one the richest in the Slavonic world. Among Belarusian outstanding enlighteners are Efrosinia Polotskaya and Kirill Turovski, first printer and the creator of the first printed East-Slavonic Bible, Frantsisk Skorina. The basis of culture appeared to be literature the classics of which was formed by Vintsent Dunin-Martsinkyevich, Frantishek Bogushevich, Aloaiza Pashkevich, Maxim Bogdanovich, Yanka Kupala, Yakub Kolas.
There are over 15,000 historical monuments in Belarus. The architectural and cultural complex of the Radziwills in the town of Nesvizh, the Mir Castle complex, Nesvizh archive and library collection, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha and the Struve Geodetic Arc have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List of cultural and natural properties.
UNESCO experts are considering the inclusion into the List of the Augustow Canal and Polotsk monuments. Documents for another five historical and cultural legacy objects are expected to be prepared by 2012, including the Rumyantsevs-Patskevichs palace and park ensemble in Gomel.
Many realities of Belarussian culture have turned into symbols of national identity. The Slutsk belts, the multi-coloured “kaflia” (tile), the volatile “vytsinanka” (images cut out of black paper), wood-carving, the cross of St. Yefrossinia of Polotsk, the artworks of Mark Shagall, Kazimir Malevich as well as Belorussian ballet are well-known markers of Belorussian contribution to the world heritage.
Many realities of Belarussian culture have turned into symbols of national identity. The Slutsk belts, the multi-coloured “kaflia” (tile), the volatile “vytsinanka” (images cut out of black paper), wood-carving, the cross of St. Yefrossinia of Polotsk, the artworks of Mark Shagall, Kazimir Malevich as well as Belorussian ballet are well-known markers of Belorussian contribution to the world heritage.
Belorussian crafts are an inseparable part of the national culture. Belorussian craftsmen make objects of willow sticks, straw and flax linen of an original form and design.
Belarus has 27 drama and music theatres, 158 movie theatres, 56 professional music and dance groups, 129 museums, 4725 public libraries, 4260 activity centres, 24 recreational parks, 524 children’s music and art schools, 3 institutions of higher learning in the sphere of art and culture.
The museum funds comprise over 2.5 million exponents. 4 mln. people visit Belorussians museums annually. Of special interest to Belorussian as well as foreign visitors are the memorial of Brest fortress, which is dedicated to the prolonged and courageous stand its the garrison made when Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union in 1941, and the Khatyn memorial dedicated to the victims of the Nazi punditive expedition to the village of Khatyn and other villages of Belarus, which were completely burnt together with its dwellers. The real jewel of Belorussian fortified architecture is the castle of Mir, which is a branch of the National museum of Belorussian history and culture a.o.
Belorussian film-makers managed to win international recognition. Many films took part in international film festivals and won a number of awards.
