The literary capital is blossoming before our eyes. How Horadok is being renovated for the Day of Belarusian Written Language
The northernmost region of Belarus will become the country's literary capital 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 diligent host, Gorodok has been actively preparing to receive guests: schools, kindergartens, the House of Crafts, the library, residential buildings, and streets have been renovated. The work is nearing completion, especially considering that some items were added to the list during the process (due to saved funds). Meanwhile, artisans continue to create artistic 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. Our 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 Gorodok, but the main preparations are taking place in the center. Here, 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 much to show and be proud of, as many traditions originated in this land in ancient times. Today, they are carefully passed on to the youth.
We peek into the Gorodok 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," says Marina Gushcho, head of the House of Crafts, introducing the assortment. "Here we have sets of napkins, embroidered openwork towels, panels with straw appliqué, souvenir dolls."
She pauses at a panel made of wood, fabric, ceramic, and other elements, explaining that this idea had been conceived long ago. "I am a weaver, so I wanted to synthesize weaving with something else. In my weaving, I use linen, straw, sedge – all natural materials. Naturally, wood and ceramics fit well here – they are also warm, and together they will look very good," she says. According to the head of the House of Crafts, all souvenirs for the Day of Written Language were selected with history in mind: they plan to present items that were used in the Gorodok land 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 presented to the host of the Day of Belarusian Written Language in 2024 – Ivacevichi. As Marina Hushcha shares, the image of the Belarusian first printer was first chased on copper and then cast.
"Belarusian Gold" and an Intermediary Between Earth and Bread
Citizens are learning the craft of willow weaving in the "Lozovik" club, located in the adjacent room. Its head, Vasily Simankovich, enthusiastically and thoughtfully talks about willow weaving in Horadok and the district. The master uses 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 very widespread since ancient times, as it is an energy-saving technology for storing food and other products (seeds for sowing, groats, smoked meats). They were placed inside, covered with a lid, and the product 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 initially, they were woven with roots; willow was more used for transportation. It has been like this in Belarus since time immemorial. And in general, straw is our Belarusian gold. There is also a philosophical subtext: straw is an intermediary between the earth and bread. And 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 willow weaving. It requires more time: in addition to processing straw, the preparation of willow strips is done separately, and only after that 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 the 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 by club members on spiral weaving. And I am replenishing my collection so that more guests can get acquainted with this craft."
"Promoting Our Traditions". Belarusian Brand by Touch and Taste
About 150 souvenir dolls are made in the "Folk Costume" club. Belarusian beauties will be in national outfits, 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 a person. There were many different types of dolls: the 'traveler' doll was given for a journey, the 'herbalist' doll healed, helped with sleep, and drove away evil spirits from infants. Now, dolls have become souvenirs and are simply interior decorations," explains Elena Orlova, head of the creative association.
In addition to dolls, she sews soft horses slightly larger than a palm. As in olden times, they have round buttons on their legs – similar to rocking horses, but in miniature. Those wishing to purchase these items can have 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 such 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 too."
By the beginning of September, the House of Crafts, educational institutions of Gorodok, and the Territorial Center for Social Services for the Population will release lines of souvenirs. 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 stock at a rapid pace," the craftspeople explain with a smile.
People of the silver age and those with disabilities are engaged in creating their handmade product collection at different times and on different days. For them, the territorial center's department operates 27 clubs and 5 workshops. Festive stalls will be complemented by "bags of happiness," shoppers with cornflowers and the inscription "Gorodok-2023." Guests will also be offered bed linen and bread of their own production from the "Dobry Khleb" (Good Bread) workshop opened last year. "We bake two types of bread: unleavened sourdough and 'Gorodoksky.' For now, we are learning and making them for our own needs," they say at the center. "In the future, we plan to sell them. We want to organize a tasting for the Day of Writing."
According to the employees, people with disabilities enjoy exploring new directions, and this is an important aspect of vocational rehabilitation.
By the way, the concept of each item has been carefully thought out here. The focus is on eco-friendly materials. "We are preparing thoroughly 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 are making brooches and earrings from genuine leather and turkey feathers. All of this is in the project, and we hope to finish it by the holiday. We will have herbal sachets, 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 definitely present these items on the Day of Writing. Hosting such a holiday is very exciting, a huge responsibility for our city," clarifies the club leader, Tatyana Pavlenok.
"Beauty will come." Who is behind the transformation of Horadok
The city square near the administration has been particularly crowded in recent days. However, there are more builders here than tourists for now. Nearby, tiles were being relaid, and in the center of the square, a base was being prepared for a small architectural form - there will be a large sculpture of an alphabet book. Wrought iron figures will be installed in some locations, says Alexey Kuzmich, head of the housing and communal services of the Horadok 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 at night, without days off. "There is very little time, and we have a lot of tasks," clarifies Alexey Kuzmich. "There will be significant visual changes. We will then install new wrought iron benches in the square. All of this has been purchased and is waiting for its time."
The enterprise is the main contractor for the city's landscaping work. All forces are currently focused on this, as it needs to be completed by August 15. Therefore, about 200 employees of the organization are involved in the landscaping of all facilities. Planned work is being carried out in parallel.
"Firstly, we have ongoing repairs: 37 buildings were planned for the Day of Writing, and there's very little left to do. Landscaping in the square, tiling on Sovetskaya Street, repair work at the "Immortalitу" memorial complex, plus we are also engaged in greening," he lists. "And people are working on cleaning all the tiles and paths from any small vegetation. In total, about Br900 thousand has been allocated for maintenance and landscaping for the year. Asphalt concrete is also being laid – on Burlyga, Marks, and Vokzalnaya streets. Valieva Street is being covered with asphalt granulate. The issue of Youth and Tolkacheva streets is being worked on. Roughly speaking, two to three days of work are allocated for a street."
As a resident of the city, Alexey Kuzmich is particularly pleased to observe its transformation. "Any changes for the better are pleasant. The town is a compact city, 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 Stone Figures to Adorn the Town's Square
For almost a month, second and third-year students of the Belarusian State Academy of Arts have moved to Gorodok. The future creators have been honored with the opportunity to create sculptures for the square during their summer practice. They say the task is 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 making figures on the courts, and one is creating a composition in the form of letters from fiber concrete elsewhere," shares Anastasia Sipach. "You have to work with stone very carefully. One wrong move, and it will crack; you can already see cracks on my stone. But this is the kind of stone I got initially, but in general, working with stone is the easiest. If you choose between wood and metal, then stone is the most pleasant and comfortable so far."
Initially, each of the young people prepared several sketches related to Belarus and the Day of Writing. The most interesting ideas, according to the commission, were approved. A handshake between two people as a symbol of agreement, the "Zubr" composition, a flat stone with the words "Gorodok" and "Belarus" carved on both sides, a collective image of a prince and a chronicler – this series of figures will delight townspeople and guests.
"Here is a bird in hands - a very common theme," says a student about her sculpture. "It's a symbol of faith, of something new - a young bird in old, flabby hands. It will be a symbolic monument where everyone will see something of their own. It's just a collective image from my observations. I actually really like this practice. I'm glad I ended up here. At an early age, I was lucky to participate in such an event, and my work will stand here for decades. By the way, I plan to come here for the Day of Belarusian Written Language."
Third-year student Anton Gursky will present Gorodok 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 installed on a stone. "To work with stone, you need willpower and patience; it's difficult, but it's worth it. I'm glad I could also participate, contribute my share, a part of my thinking, my art."
According to the future sculptor, he had not participated in such large-scale projects before, so it was all the more interesting to join this one. He says they were just not lucky with the weather - during this period, Gorodok turned out to be "quite a stormy city." The students experienced both downpours and scorching sun. Partly due to weather conditions, progress is 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 of just over 11.5 thousand people, are confident that the region will surely appeal even to the most meticulous tourist. They are especially proud of the natural wealth, as forests occupy more than 44% of the district's territory, and numerous lakes, 162 of them, adorn the landscapes. Some of them will be offered for viewing 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. 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. Six routes will be offered to tourists during the holiday itself, but this does not mean that the others will not be available," explained Alla Grigoryeva, chief specialist of the sports and tourism sector of the Gorodok District Executive Committee.
The main route will be associated with the author of the poem "Taras on Parnassus," writer Konstantin Verenitsyn, titled "Along Verenitsyn's Lands." It starts from Gorodok and covers many key points in 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 attractions along the way, such as our famous natural monument – the Giant Oak," she added. "Additionally, attractions can be viewed at the Losvido tourist and health complex. The cultural organizer of the complex can guide you along the famous 'Napoleon's Trail' – also a quite interesting and popular route, as it runs along Lake Losvido."
The total length of the route, round trip, is 35 km and, depending on the mode of transport, takes from 3 to 5 hours. Among other options for visitors is a water rafting trip on the lakes. The 9 km route is called "Pearls of Gorodok" and passes through three lakes: Lugovoye, Orekhovoye, and Shcherbakovskoye, starting from the ski and roller ski track. "The lakes themselves are located in a picturesque place – the Vorobyovy Gory tract, which is also known not only for its sporting aspects but also for its cultural sites," emphasizes Alla Grigoryeva. "On the route, there is the 'Pantheon of Memory' memorial complex, and on the island between two lakes – the Snegurochka's Residence, where our famous festivals 'Taras on Parnassus' and 'Gourmet's Mara' are held, along with theatrical programs."
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 gained an opportunity to become even more attractive to residents and guests. "We are preparing to hold the holiday at the most dignified, highest level. And we want to show our important highlight," she clarified. "And for this, we are making every effort."
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by