The Rite of ‘Ciahnuć Kaliadu na Duba’ (Pulling the Christmas Dummy onto the Oak Tree) is an element of the winter holiday cycle according to the traditional Belarusian peasants’ calendar of pagan origin. It is the only Belarusian rite that is performed to mark the end of Christmas celebrations, which starts with eating the traditional family lenten kuccia on January 6 and is followed by ščodraja kuccia and carol-singing rounds during the night from ...
The Kury Rite is connected with the celebration of so-called Sviatki, winter holidays between Christmas and Epiphany, is observed every year on Ščodry Viečar, which is celebrated on New Year’s Eve on January 13. The Kury Rite is unique in that it involves only children (aged 6 to 14). Another interesting feature of the tradition is that this Christmas group carry no traditional caroling masks, that would represent any traditional characters – they do ...
