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 AndreiLiankevich photographer 
  Pagan // 2008-2010     Chernobyl // 2010     Fake animals //     Family values //   
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Project about Belarus Pagan tradition, sacred animals and birds, plants and stones. People gathering together around fire —Celebrating of Slav pagan festival night of Ivan Kupala or Kupalle. The Kupalle is a celebration accompanying the Solstice on June 21st is one of the most cherished pagan festivals. A girl in stork's costume posses during the traditional Koliadki holiday in the Belarus village of Pagost. Project about Belarus Pagan tradition, sacred animals and birds, plants and stones. Stuffed animal of doe is presented at local museum of Belarus national traditions. Doe is sacred Belarus animal, praised in fairy-tales and epics. Spike of wheat is seen with the grey sky on the background. spike of wheat (bread) is sacred object on Belarus folk tradition.
Woman dressed as tree participate in "Kusta" tradition celebration, when woman dressed as tree together with people walk around the village with songs. Local residents are dancing during the traditional Koliadki holiday in the Belarus village of Pagost, (300 km from Minsk), on Saturday, 10 January 2009. Koliadki refers to many of the pre-Soviet Era Christmas traditions. Fancy dressed people go from house to house, singing, dancing, eating and drinking. The hosts will give money or food to their guests as a sign for them to leave the house. Local residents are reflected in mirrow during preparation to the traditional Koliadki holiday in the Belarus village of Pagost. Candles, felt boot, sack, apple lay on the table covered with hand-made Belarus tablecloth with national ornament. All this objects are used by young girls to tell fortunes in Belarus pagan mythology. Pagan "God's" stone with the hols , where people put money is seen field. According to the myths , people believe that offering money brings health, prosperity and happiness.

Pagan // 2008-2010

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Belarus people have original culture rooted back in pagan, pre-Christian days. The Belarusian culture has benefited from the fact that when the Slavic tribs came to inhabit nowadays Belarus lands they accept the achievements of Pagan Baltic and Finno-Ugric tribes. This form of religious perception existed for quite a long time (we can freely speak about 15-20 centuries) and made the basis of today’s Belarusian culture. Now there is no doubt that Belarusians had written language already in the pagan period (earlier the emergence of the written language was attributed to the advent of Christianity). And when Prince Vladimir's efforts to baptise people in the 10th century A.D. , he could not completely destroy Pagan believes : the faith in the magic powers of trees, birds, flowers and stones…

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 AndreiLiankevich photographer 
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