Where did the Name "Belarus" Come From?

       Belarus (Belaya Rus) means "White Russia”. It is a very old term, and there's still no exact version of its origin.
      Historians say that:
1. "White" in old Slavic languages meant "free," pointing to the fact that Belarus was never invaded by the Tatars or under their control, unlike the other principalities later i Rus n the 13th - 15th centuries.
2. "White " that this name is older and served as a difference between Kievan Rus, "Black Rus" - a small territory in the western part of modern Belarus, and the territory known as "White Rus".
      What opinion more correct?
      They dont no. But it is clear that it is very old and originally corresponded to the territory where the ancestors of the Belarusians lived and where our republic located.
       By the way, some people say that Belarus is "white Rus because:
-there are a lot of birch trees in Belarus
- there are a lot storks
- belorusian are fair-haired, light-eyed and they carried white linen clothes
but these opinions are not supported by serious historians.

The shirt story: Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic

1919-1921: The Rassian-Polish War results in the partitioning of Belarus between the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic and Poland
1921-1939 - Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) is established with its capital in Minsk. The short renaissance of Belarusian culture in 1920-1928 is choked by Stalin's executions and mass deportations to Siberia of 1930-ies.
1939. Re-Union of Western and Eastern Belarus
1941-1945. World War II. During the 2nd World War Belarus suffered greatly. It lost every 4th person living there. But despite all this, Belarus has restored its cities, rebuilt its economy.
1945-1990- Post WWII Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
1945: On April 25, delegates from Belarus and Ukraine are invited to the San Francisco Conference. Recognized for their role in the war effort, both countries become members of the United Nations.
And nowadays the Republic of Belarus has become a sovereign independent state on the 27th of July, 1990. But about modern Belarus the story will be ahead.

The shirt story: Rzhecz Pospilita Polsko-Litewska and Russian Empire.

1569 - 1772. Rzhecz Pospilita Polsko-Litewska.
In the 16th century in the result of numerous wars modern Belarus became a part of Rečpaspalitaya. Cultural decline set in, the Belarusian language was greatly influenced by Polish.
1772 - 1917. Part of Russian Empire.
o 1772, 1793, 1795: Three partitions of the Polish Commonwealth among Russia, Prussia, and Austria. All of Belarus is incorporated into the Russian Empire, with the exception of a small northwestern corner, taken by Prussia.
So in the 18th century the territory of the republic appeared under Russian rule followed by russification, at the beginning of the 20th century Belarus was a backward province of the Russian Empire.

The shirt story: Grand Duchy of Lithuania

XIII-XVI cc. Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Samojitia and and Rus' - Belarusian Renaissance. The territory of modern Belarus was the centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It was one of the largest, most powerful and flourishing states ill medieval Eastern Europe. It is when Belarusian language and nation began to take shape and soon flourished.
1240-1263: Rule of Mindouh (Mindaugas), who consolidates east Lithuanian and west Belarusian territories into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a capital in Navahradak 13th-16th centuries. Belarusian lands flourish in the heart of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Samojitia and and Rus'.
o 1529, 1566,1588 - Three editions of Statute - the Belarusian State Law Code - were published among first European constitutions and Law Codes.
o 1581: Establishment of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Samojitia and and Rus' - the Supreme State Court.

The shirt story: Early Belarusian Principalities

VI-VIII cc. Pre-Statehood It is believed that Belarusian history begins with the Baltic nations of Kryvičy, Dryhvičy, Radzimičy which grouped in independent principalities.
IX-XII cc. Early Belarusian Principalities.- Polotsk, Turov.
862: First mention of Polotsk - a capital of Polotsk Principality - Belarusian historical and spiritual beginning.
o 980: First mention of the city Turov- a capital of the powerful Turov- principality.
o 1044-1066: Erection in Polotsk of St. Sophia Cathedral to match similar buildings in Novgorod and Kiev, as a symbol of independent power.

Symbols of Belarus-the Wisent (Zubr)

The wisent is more ancient symbol of Belarus. It symbolizes power, force, persistence and nobleness. This legendary animal you can see having visited Belovezhskaya pushcha – a unique large forest of Europe.
Wisents are brought in the international Red Book. They are on protection of the state.

Symbols of Belarus-the Stork

        They say about Belarus-" The ground under white wings (stork\s wings) ". And it is true – there are a lot of this beautiful birds in our country. Stork quiveringly cares of posterity, always lives nearby from people.
       So our people like stork very much. They think that if stork will build a nest on a tree near the house a happiness will live in this house. And still speak, that storks arriving from tropical countries bring with themselves spring and hope. Therefore Byelorussians connect with the feathery neighbors only good and they consider a stork as a symbol of the country.
     Except for a white stork very rare black storks nest in Belarus too.

World Heritage List

     I know that many of postcrossers collect postcards of UNESCO sites.
For the information :A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

As to Belarus-
Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List
1. Cultural Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh (2005)
2. Mir Castle Complex (2000)
3. Belovezhskaya Pushcha / Białowieża Forest (1979)
4. Struve Geodetic Arc (2005)

In the Tentative List:
1. Augustow Canal (2004)
2. Saviour Transfiguration Church and St. Sophia Cathedral in the town of Polatsk (2004)
3. Kamyanets Tower (2004)
4. SS. Boris and Gleb (Kalozha) Church in the city of Hrodna (2004)
5. St. Nicholas Monastery Complex in the city of Mahilyou (2004)
6. Brest Fortress (2004)
7. Palace and Park Ensemble in the city of Homel (2004)
8. Edifices for Worship of Fortress Type in Belarus, Poland and Lithuania (2004)
9. Architectural ensemble of Francysk Scaryna avenue in Minsk (1940's -1950's) (2004)
10. Worship wooden architecture (17th -18th centuries) in Polesye (2004)

Heritage

         Belarus has very rich and interesting history. And Byelorussians well know the past and carefully concern to everything, that remains to them in the inheritance from ancestors. About the attitude of Byelorussians to the past, to native ground Yanka Kupala has well written in the poem – “Heritage»:

From forebears' ages, long since gone,
A heritage has come to me,
Among strange folk, among my own,
Me it caresses, motherly.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
And through black night and through white day
I keep, my watch unceasingly,
Lest this my treasure goes astray,
Lest by drones it should eaten be.

I bear it in my living soul
Like torch-flame ever bright for me,
That through deaf darkness to my goal,
Midst vandals it may lighten me.

With it lives my thought-family.
Bringing dreams of sincerity . . .
And its name, all-in-all must be
My native land, my heritage.

Yanka Kupala (July 7, 1882 - June 28, 1942) (pen name of Ivan Dominikovich Lucevich)

The web-site "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk"

The web-site "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" opened on the Internet. Now anyone can find any information connected with the festival. The site was updated regularly as soon as new information about the competition, concerts and other events came.
http://festival.vitebsk.by/en/

Festival Symbols

        International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" has a festival sign (logo), festival motto, festival flag.
        The festival sign (logo) represents a graphic drawing of a cornflower (traditional for Slavic people), located on music notes. On the lines of the notes, symbolizing different music styles, there is a verbal logo "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" in Belarusian.The name of the festival is repeated in Russian and English around the festival sign.
         Festival motto: "Through art - to peace and understanding!" This motto reveals the basic ideas of the International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk". These are the words for the festival participants, a call for peace, beauty, harmony and perfection.
       The festival flag is made of white cloth with the multi-color festival sign in the center.

Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk

        Belorussians very peaceful and kind people. They always lived and live amicably with the neighbours, try to support good relations. To begin my blog I would like from remarkable event which passes these days in Vitebsk - with Slavianski Bazaar. This festival - an original way of maintenance of friendship with other countries.
         The first festival has passed in Vitebsk in July, 1992, 16 years ago. Since then it has won hearts not only Byelorussians, but also representatives of many other countries, becoming very known and prestigious festival.
       The International Federation of Festival Organizations (FIDOF, USA) recognized the professionalism of the event, the impeccable quality of its organization, the mastery of its performers and the promotion of noble humanistic aims on the international level by awarding FIDOF Diplomas and proclaiming the International Festival of Arts “Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk” to have been ‘The Festival of the Year’ in 2000 and 2004.
        Creative people of many countries consider it as honour to get for this slavic holiday and to show the skill. The festival is a cosy place for famous masters as well as for young artists.

A little the official information

Belarus is an ancient Slavonic country situated in the East of Europe. It occupies the territory of 207,600 sq. km. and is populated by 10.3 million people. Belarus borders Russia to the north and east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the north. It has 6 regions: Minsk, Brest, Grodno, Gomel, Mogilev and Vitebsk. Minsk is the capital of the country (there are about 2 million inhabitants in that city)
Language/Script: Belarussian, Russian/Cyrillic
Religions: Orthodox. Other: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Islamic, and Jewish.
Political System: Belarus is a presidential republic, governed by a president and the National Assembly. Since 1994, Alexander Lukashenko has been the president of Belarus.
Terrain: Predominantly flat, with hilly areas occupying only 8 % of its territory. The highest point is 346 m above sea level.
Climate: Moderately continental
Time Zone: GMT+2 hrs
National currency: belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)
International Airport: Minsk
How To Get In Belarus: By air - some European airlines have regular flights to Belarus. The national company - Belavia (Belarussian airlines). By rail - direct international express and inter-city trains operate between Belarus and some European countries. By road - good road connections exist with the Ukraine, the Baltic States, Poland and Russia.
 

With what all has begun?

        My name Yuliya. I'm 29. I'm actually an economist, but for the time being I spend my days at home with little baby-girl aged 1.5. I like spend time with my daughter, to do housekeeping. When I have free time, I like to read good books. Also I like to learn foreign languages (it is pleasant to me as different languages sound , they like a music). I take a great interest in psychology, computers. Also I dream to visit different country of the world.
               Several months ago I became the member of the project Postcrossing. Owing to it I have got many friends in different parts of the world, have started to collect beautiful cards from all over the world. I am very glad to this all. The only thing, that upsets me a little, that many of my new friends know nothing about my country. Therefore I had an idea to create this blog to tell about my Belarus.
        So, it is a page about the country in which I has grown and I live - about Belarus.
         Sorry for my English- I do not own it in perfection, but I hope very much, that owing to dialogue with my numerous English-speaking friends, I shall seize it much better.