From the wisdom of proverbs to Slutsk belts: another eventful day at the Summer School

Associate Professor of the Department of Belarusian Philology Maria Yakaltsevich delivered a fascinating lecture for the Summer School participants on the image of women in Belarusian paremiology – proverbs and sayings. The choice of this topic became very symbolic in the Year of the Belarusian Woman.

The lecture aroused great interest among project participant Piotr Fedosov:

– This is not the first time I have come to the Summer School, so I have heard Maria Antonovna's lectures before. This deep linguistic approach to the analysis of proverbs is truly a unique experience that I have not encountered elsewhere. Most of the meeting was devoted precisely to the image of women. I especially remembered a very warm proverb: "There is no shop where mothers are sold." It is wonderful, because mother is always about boundless love.

The lecture was followed by a talk by Library Director Mikalai Grynko, "And the Hand Weaves, Forgetting..." He told the students about the history of the Slutsk manufactories and the world-famous Slutsk belts.

The participants delved into the study of the traditional Belarusian costume, paying special attention to headwear and the distinctive features of the festive attire with its wide aprons, lace and rich embroidery. The students learned about the sacred content of the ornament: in the past, embroidery could determine a person's social status, the number of children in the family, and even the skill of the hosts! And the first belt in every Belarusian's life was a thin twisted ribbon of three threads, which was put on a child immediately after birth.

Anna Pykhtina, School student, shared her impressions:

– It was extremely interesting to learn so much about the Belarusian costume. We not only discovered the history of belts but also touched the rich world of folk culture as a whole. I really liked how these themes intersect with literature, as I sincerely love Belarusian poetry and prose. A particular pleasure was examining the many bright illustrations in various artistic styles.

A distinctive conclusion to the day was a weaving master class, where every participant could try their hand at the craft.