History
In the 5th century A.D. , Belarus (also known as White Russia) was colonized by east Slavic tribes. Kiev dominated it from the 9th to 12th century. After the destruction of Kiev by the Mongols in the 13th century, the territory was conquered by the dukes of Lithuania, although it retained a degree of autonomy. Belarus became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which merged with Poland in 1569. Following the partitions of Poland in 1772, 1793, and 1795, in which Poland was divided among Russia, Prussia, and Austria, Belarus became part of the Russian empire.

Following World War I, Belarus proclaimed itself a republic, only to find itself occupied by the Red Army soon after its March 1918 announcement. The Polish-Soviet War of 1918–1921 was fought to decide the fate of Belarus. West Belarus was ceded to Poland; the larger eastern part formed the Belorussian SSR, and was then joined to the USSR in 1922. In 1939, the Soviet Union took back West Belarus from Poland under the secret protocol of the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact and incorporated it into the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. Occupied by the Nazis in World War II, Belarus was one of the war's most devastated battlefields.

Belarus was originally a part of Kievan Rus. It later became a part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and remained so until the 18th century Polish Partitions took place. The region stayed under Russian rule for over a century, after which it became a constituent republic of the USSR for seventy years. Belarus finally obtained independence in 1991.
Under the pressure of dictatorial rule, Belarus maintained close economic and political ties with Russia. On 8 December 1999, the two countries agreed to form a two-state union with a goal to attain greater economic and political unity. Concrete steps are yet to be taken towards implementation of this agreement although Belarus had consented to follow a guided framework
to ensure its success. There was rapid progress in 2007 but the future of the merger is still unknown.

Tradistions
Paganism
Before 990 A.D. Belarusians - a mix of several Eastern Slavic tribes (mostly Kryvichi and their branches) and several Baltic tribes (Yatviangians, Litts, Latts) - were pagans in their beliefs. As the Slavs have arrived from South to the lands of today's Belarus they have encountered and absorbed the cultures and beliefs of Baltic and other peoples inhabiting the land. There was already a rich Pagan heritage which reveals today through ancient names. Neman (Nioman, Niamunas) - one of the main rivers of the area is bearing the name of Celtic Goddess of War - Neman. Kupala - an ancient Goddess of Water. One of the mysterious peoples completely assimilated by us was Yatviangians. Ancient Belarusians believed in God of Sun - Yaryla, celebrated seasons of nature very much similar to druidic calendar. The cycles of folk songs that were sang at these celebrations still exist. The main pagan festivities are:
Spring Greeting - a plentitude of spring greeting songs -"Vesnavyya pesni" exists, including "Yur'ya". Yur'ia is related to calling Yaryla (Yur'ya), the Sun-God, to bring out the keys and open mothers Nature womb - to let out the grass, and flowers, and animals

Kupalle (Solstice, June 21). Kupalle - is the most loved and cherished pagan holiday in contemporary Belarus. It is a hedonistic summer celebration of fertility in the name of a female God - Kupala. It seems like she is considered a lunar Goddess by some pagan sources, although direct translation of the name is "She Who Bathes". Lately it was renamed into a Christian celebration of a male saint - Ivan Kupala. Kupalle usually involves youth going into the forests and the meadows, wearing flower and grass garlands (see these modern pictures of Belarusian girls in wreaths on Kupala night), dancing in karagods (circles around fires), jumping through fires, competing in strength and a lot's of eroticism. For those interested, you can watch a documentary "Night on Ivan Kupala" to learn more. Also here are some notes about celebration of Kupalle by Ukrainians in Canada. See more on Kupalle in Belarusian Holidays page.

Dzyady(October 31?) - I believe is celebrated twice a year in April and in late October - it's a celebration of dead, bringing bread and drinks to their groves etc. Unlike Halloween it's a light holiday of commemoration of dead. It does not involve any satanic stuff.

Kaliady (a week before Christmas) - pre-Christian celebration of the end of year. Later it was very nicely adopted for Christmas celebration by Orthodox and Catholic churches. Still they have a problem to explain the meaning of spruce (evergreen - eternal life returning) and people dressed as animals and fantastic beasts carrying the sun and the goat's head in their hands :)

For more information on Pagan tradition of Belarus see our page about "Traditional Holidays and Celebrations in Belarus". The page contains also a traditional calendar of Orthodox Christian celebrations.
Maslenitca and Kupalle are most older belorussian holidays.

  
Religion
Historically, Belarusians have followed the Russian Orthodox Church. This began when Russia took over Belarus following the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Partitions. 10% of the population is Roman Catholic and this group is mostly centred around western Belarus, especially near Hrodna. Polish, Lithuanian and some Belarusian residents make up this community.


The Museum of Folk architecture in Strochitsy, Minsk region. The building of the museum is also an example of folk Belarusian architecture



The Church of Saints Boris and Gleb(XII). Is situated in the city of Grodno. Is one of the most ancient religious buildings in Belarus (the Christan religion came to Belarus only in the end of X century).



The Kamianets Tower (White Tower--Belaya Vezha), was built in XIII cent. Is situated in the region of Brest, Kamianets.



The Catholic Church of the Holy Virgin Mary (XVIII). Situated in the Minsk region, Houhlava. As an example of Belarusian national architecture.



Trayetskaye Pradmescie settlement. Restored ancient part of Minsk, the capital. Very beautiful place..



Castle of Mir, the only castle in Belarus which conserved so good. Was built in XVI. Is situated in Grodno region, Mir.

Religions in Belarus (non-Orthodox)
Orthodox religion is by no means the only Belarus religion. Many other religions are also well represented in the country, including: Roman Catholics (almost 400 churches), Protestants (over 500 communities including Lutherans, Mormons, Baptists, Calvinists), Jews (more than 40 Hebrew communities), Muslims (27 communities and nine mosques), Orthodox religion

Orthodox is the principal religion of Belarus. There are over 1000 Orthodox churches in Belarus and an increasing number of cloisters are being revived. Many of the country’s most famous monuments and architectural attractions are inspired by the Orthodox tradition.

Religious freedom and tolerance
Work continues to protect the different Belarus religious groups and Belarus churches, and to guard against the influence of religious sects.
The Minsk Theological Academy, the first of its kind in Belarus, opened in 1995.

Delicious Ethnic Cuisine Dishes
Fragrant pork, stewed in pots with sour cream and mushrooms, fish soup from a pike, a potato dumpling with cracklings — all this is the Belarusian ethnic cuisine!

The most important vegetable on a table of the Belarusian is considered to be potato. More than 1000 dishes are prepared from it! Fried and boiled, stewed and mashed potatoes act both as garnish and as the basic dish. Even if you don't like vegetables you will not be able to refuse from Belarusian draniki, potato griddle cakes with special sauces, — they are so fragrant and copious!

Every possible salads are prepared from cabbage, carrots, beans. The seethed beans, with garlic and linseed oil is one of the most ancient Belarusian dishes.

You do not share vegetarian tastes? Then pay attention to dishes from pork which takes a special place in the Belarusian cuisine. There is a tradition in villages to stab a pig and do sausages in the beginning of winter, salt down lard and make polendvitsa — dried salty meat.

The most copious meat dish is machanka. It is pork or sausage slices fried beforehand, and then stewed in a pot with sour cream. Machanka is good with griddle cakes or oladushki which are dipped right in the pot. Mushrooms also enjoy great popularity. They are cooked in sauce, stewed with meat or marinated.

An integral part of any dinner is soup. It can be hot or cold. Hot mushroom krupenya will warm you in dank autumn evening not worse than a mulled wine mug. Holodnik, on the contrary will be pleasant in hot summer midday. Holodnik is a beet soup. Sorrel and two kinds of onions — ordinary and spring onions — are added to it, and plenty of sour cream.

Traditional Belarusian beverages are kvass, krupnik and krambambulya. If you wish to enjoy the national Belarusian ethnic flavour to the full, go and taste all of them. Kvass is prepared from birch sap and infused on grain crusts. Krambambulya was created by gentry representatives about 200 years ago. It is a strong alcoholic beverage, infused on spices. Krupnik is a "mix" of an extract from fragrant herbs, strong alcohol and honey.