Belarusians love festivities and spectacles, love to create a festive atmosphere for themselves and their environment. The article will discuss exactly this, or rather, on November 4. What holiday in Belarus is celebrated on this day, you will find out by reading this article.
How to define a holiday?
By definition, a holiday is a strictly defined period of time that is marked on the calendar for the current and next year in honor of a person significant to the people, or a state event.
The holiday is a general good mood, state of mind, participation in recreational activities. This is a fun pastime in a good company of relatives and friends.
All holidays of any state can be divided into the following categories:
- state;
- nationwide;
- church;
- professional;
- other holidays.
So, on November 4, what holiday is celebrated in Belarus?
Film Festival "Leaf Fall"
On November 4, Belarus did not celebrate a single official celebration, but the Listopad International Film Festival created a festive atmosphere for all film enthusiasts.
Professionals in the field of film industry from many countries gathered in the capital of Belarus. Since the birth of the holiday in 1994 with the status of “Post-Soviet Film Festival”, it has been developing every year and in 2003 it received the official international status. And now this one of the largest film festivals gathered on November 4, 2016 for the festival of participants and moviegoers from 45 countries and showed the 160 best film premieres.
According to tradition, the best works of authorship are shown at various venues, and four categories of films participate in the competition program: feature films, documentaries, the Listopadik film contest for children and youth, and the National contest.
The competitive entries are evaluated by six professional juries, in which famous figures and leading film experts of the international level.
The cinema holiday ended a week later, on November 11, with a debriefing. “Bronze Leaf Falls” - the prize of amateur sympathies - was awarded to the film “Glory” in Greece and Bulgaria, “Silver Leaf Falls” - the film as a phenomenon of art - was awarded to the film “Mimosa”, and the main prize “Gold to the Leaf Falls” was awarded to the picture “Lily Lane”.
For the humanism and spirituality of the cinema, the film “Prayer of the Lyre” by Japanese masters received a special prize.
But this is just one of the answers to the question: “November 4 - what holiday in Belarus?” As often happens, several great events coexist on the same day. We will talk about them below.
Self Care Day
This grand film festival is not the only one that fell on November 4. On this day, one of the most unusual international holidays was celebrated - Self-care Day.
“Love your neighbor as yourself” - this ancient phrase says that love for people begins with love for yourself. Traditionally, almost every person remembers himself in the days of illness or on his birthday. And only such a good reason, as the International Day of Self-Care, makes you remember yourself and pay attention to yourself.
On this day, every resident of Belarus had an occasion to treat himself, beloved and unique, with something special. Someone treated himself to an unusual dish, someone took a dance lesson, and someone made a schedule of self-care, the only and beloved. Is November 4 a holiday in Belarus? Unfortunately, no, but still this did not stop the lovers of romantic walks from leaving the city by evening. After all, this is a good reason to organize rest for the soul, eyes and thoughts.
Where to relax for the weekend?
Beautiful landscapes, clear skies, Braslav and Sorochansky lakes, the Berezina river are also known outside Belarus.
Fans of fishing know the fishing places: Chigirinsky Reservoir, Narochansky National Park, Neman and Viliya will indulge in a good catch and bring a lot of pleasure.
And lovers of rural landscapes can treat themselves to an unusual holiday with a trip to the farmstead. Cozy rooms, hiking in the forest for mushrooms, horseback riding will restore harmony of body and soul.
Winter Kazan (icon of the Mother of God)
November 4 - what holiday in Belarus? It is also the day of the Winter Kazan Icon of the Mother of God , one of the most revered shrines among the people.
The holiday was founded in honor of the expulsion of the Poles from Muscovy in 1612. The army, commanded by Dmitry Pozharsky, from Kazan delivered the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
For three days in a voluntary fast, the people and the militia prayed for help to the Lord and His Most Holy Mother. The request was granted, and the troops liberated the Moscow lands on November 22 (November 4 in a new style). For several centuries, this icon is in special honor among the entire Orthodox people.
Signs
According to popular beliefs, winter Kazan is replaced by autumn and each year rainy or very damp weather. If the day is clear, then you should prepare for a cold snap. And another wonderful belief has survived to the present day: "Whoever marries Kazan will be happy." This day was literally a festive day, peasant breadwinners returned to their families from earnings, and the village walked "in a rich way." They put mash in advance, baked cakes, fried and cooked meat.
In general, to the question: “November 4 - what holiday in Belarus?” - answer will not work. From the foregoing, it becomes clear that there are a lot of reasons for celebration, but not one of them is a full-fledged celebration. Nevertheless, this does not prevent the citizens of the country from having a festive mood.