Volačobničtva and veneration of stone crosses: what Easter traditions Belarusians preserve

Sapotkin Easter eggs in Hrodna region, Belarus. April 18, 2025. Photo: BelTA

White Week

White Week is the time before Easter, during which the house was prepared for the holiday. Everything was washed, cleaned, stoves were whitewashed, towels, tablecloths, and curtains were taken down and washed. This is where the name came from, as everything became clean and white.

Among other things, the dough tub, in which bread was kneaded, was washed. After washing, it was placed in a corner and people said: "The dough tub has gone to confession." This was also a symbol of purification.

On the night of Thursday (the so-called Clean Thursday), a bathhouse was heated – it was essential to wash before the holidays. Also, from Thursday, a very strict fast began, which ended on Sunday, after the church service. Breaking the fast at the Easter table began with consecrated eggs.

Volačobniki (Easter carolers)

The Volačobny ritual is widespread mainly in the north of Belarus: in the Pojezierze (Lake District) and in the central parts of our country. It is similar to caroling. Mostly men and boys participate in it. They gather on Easter evening in a group of 8-10 people and go from yard to yard with songs, in which they praise the hosts of the house and their children, wishing them health, prosperity, well-being, and a good harvest. In return, the hosts must share treats with the Volačobniki.

Павялічыць

A reconstruction of traditional Belarusian rituals held in rural areas for Easter is taking place at the Belarusian State Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life. Minsk, Belarus. May 5, 2024. Photo: Getty Images

Volačobny songs can have up to 150 lines. The "lead singer" starts the singing, and the others pick up the refrain after him. The group may include musicians playing bagpipes, violins, and other instruments.

Besides Belarus, Volačobničtva is found in some regions of Poland.

Egg tapping game

This is a favorite Easter entertainment, popular even today. Its essence is to tap colored eggs together. The one whose egg is the strongest and remains intact wins.

Going "U Žaki" (as "Žaki")

This tradition is widespread mainly in the Hrodna region – people still "go u žaki" there today. The ritual is similar to volačobničtva, only here children play the role of žaki. They go from house to house on the first or second day of Easter and sing festive songs or recite poems, congratulating the hosts. While doing so, they chant:

I am a small žakoč,
I crawl like a crayfish,
I jump like a frog,
Give an egg, grandma!

The hosts thank the children with eggs, sweets, and pies. For this purpose, they often prepare more treats in advance to share with the Volačobniki or žaki.

In former times, a žak was a junior church server or a student, a scholar.

"Apparently, during the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, student and school youth had holidays precisely at Easter and returned to their parents' homes from universities and colleges for the holiday. It is known that during the festive liturgy they helped in the churches, and then, apparently, went from house to house to congratulate neighbors and, on occasion, collect some provisions for their journey and for their studies, because, as is known, student life is never too plentiful. Probably, after some time, not only student-žaki began to visit homes with festive greetings, but all young people. However, in this case, the name of the originators of the custom remained. Thus, even today's žaki continue the tradition of the former scholars," explained Belsat host Viktar Šukielovič.

Butter Lamb

This tradition is characteristic of the Hlybokaje region – here, in the village of Maciukava, on Easter, a lamb is made from homemade butter according to a local traditional recipe. It is placed in the middle of the festive table and is not touched on the first day of the holiday; eating begins on the second day.

The preparation of the lamb begins with collecting sour cream. Then, butter is churned in a special wooden churn. When the butter is formed, the buttermilk is drained, the butter is washed in several waters, and it is обязательно salted.

Павялічыць

Preparation of a butter lamb in the village of Matsyukava in Hlybokaje district, Viciebsk region, Belarus. February 22, 2017. Photo: BelTA

The butter is compressed into an elongated lump, and the figure of a lamb is carved. Using gauze or a bandage, the sheep's wool is made, which is lightly pressed onto the carved figure with a knife. Horns are made from wax, and eyes from peppercorns. The final touch is decorating the lamb with greenery.

The butter lamb is included in the State List of Intangible Historical and Cultural Values of Belarus.

"Stone Girls"

This ritual still lives on in the villages of Danilevičy and Baravoe in Lelčycy district. There, stones resembling both a cross and a human figure have been preserved.

There is a legend that in this region, a woman with her 12-year-old daughter Eva once worked in a field. At some point, the girl wanted to rest. Suddenly, a dark cloud covered the sky. The mother began to worry and urge her daughter, but she did not listen and did not go to work. Then the mother angrily shouted: "May you turn to stone!" Instantly, a storm arose, and when it ended, the mother saw a stone instead of her daughter. According to another version of the legend, the mother and daughter dishonored bread, for which both were turned into stones.

Павялічыць

The ritual of veneration of the "Stone Girls" in the village of Danilevičy, Liepiel district, Viciebsk region, Belarus. Photo: Lieĺčycy. Photo: Svietlaje žyccio / Telegram

Now, this place with stones is specially honored by local residents. On the eve of Easter, old clothes are removed from the crosses, burned, and new, specially embroidered ones are put on. The stones are also adorned with beads and flowers. Food and even money (offerings) are left by the crosses, asking for health and a good harvest. Everything that has been left by the stones during the year is burned in a bonfire the following Easter with the words "Go to God as smoke."

The next morning, with the sunrise, new treats are brought to the "stone girls." They believe that whoever brings them first will be the happiest this year.

Spring round dances – "Lieliuški" – begin near the crosses.

The "Stone Girls" stand near the cemetery.

"During Soviet times, they tried to move this stone cross to where the church used to stand – the churchyard. When they dragged it there, cattle started dying. For local residents, this was a sign that everything needed to be returned, because something in the universe was disrupted. When Eŭka returned, everything became good," recounted ethnographer Piotar Calka.

"Stone Girls" have had the status of an intangible historical and cultural value since 2016.

"Namski Easter"

This is a unique traditional ritual, annually held on the Thursday of Easter week in the village of Abrova, Ivacevičy district, Bresť region. It is an ancient procession with icons, embodying a local cultural tradition, included in the List of Intangible Historical and Cultural Values of Belarus in 2009.

"Namski" means "our," "given to us."

The procession begins with women, who, carrying an icon wrapped in an embroidered towel, walk around the church, and then, together with the priest, go through the village. Residents prepare in advance to meet the procession: they set up tables near their houses with treats – buns, Easter eggs, sweets, and a monetary offering for the church.

Participants of the procession approach each table, the priest reads excerpts from the Bible, sprinkles the hosts who meet him with holy water, and congratulates them on the holiday.

Павялічыць

The "Namski Easter" ritual in the village of Abrova, Ivacevičy district, Bresť region, Belarus. Photo: svaboda.org

Some villagers say that "Namski Easter" in its current form appeared in the 1920s, when, according to legend, children in the village were dying daily from an unknown disease. Old Abrova residents then suggested how to avert the misfortune: women gathered and wove a towel overnight, with which they wrapped the icon of the Mother of God. With this icon, they visited every house in the village, and children stopped dying.

After this, every year the residents of Abrova hold such a procession on the following Thursday after Easter.

In its current form, the ritual was interrupted during Soviet times and was restored in the 1990s.

A tradition with a similar name exists in Polesia – "Navski Easter." It is also celebrated on Easter Thursday. Another name is "Easter of the Dead." "Navski" comes from "navki," which means "souls of the deceased." On this day, as on Radaŭnica, it is customary to visit cemeteries and leave colored eggs there.

Sapotkin Easter eggs

This is a unique way of decorating Easter eggs, preserved in the village of Sapotkin in the Hrodna region. It is one of the ancient folk painting styles. Since 2016 – on the State List of Historical and Cultural Values of the Republic of Belarus.

Sapotkin Pysanky (Easter eggs) are usually made in a monochrome palette, but multicolored examples can also be found.

Павялічыць

Sapotkin Easter eggs in Hrodna region, Belarus. April 18, 2025. Photo: BelTA

After applying the initial pattern, the egg is dipped into diluted cold dye (starting with the lightest color), removed, and wiped with a napkin or cloth. A new pattern is made with wax and a pin (stylus), and the egg is dipped into a darker dye. This method can be repeated as many times as desired to add colors.

The most widespread and beloved motif of Sapotkin craftswomen is a rosette circle in the center of the egg; free areas are filled with half-rosettes, dots, and chains. Often the centers of rosettes fall on the ends of the egg.

Traditional patterns on Sapotkin eggs include ancient motifs: birds (chickens), flowers (daisies, dandelions), and spruce branches.

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