Great anniversary of Year of Culture: 125th anniversary of birth of Maxim Bogdanovich

The entire Belarus and fans of the poet’s talent in various countries across the globe celebrated one of the key jubilees of the Year of Culture – 125 years since the birthday of Maxim Bogdanovich. Maxim Bogdanovich was unusually gifted but a turn of events led to his early demise. He, Yanka Kupala, and Yakub Kolas were referred to as Pesnyary (songsmiths) and outstanding poets of the national Renaissance even during their lifetimes. Many decades later Maxim Bogdanovich, the author of the beautiful collection of poetry Vyanok (Wreath), a prose writer, a publicist, and a literary critic, a man who sang odes to Belarus as a country of cornflowers, still lives in the nation’s memory.

Maxim Bogdanovich is sometimes described as a genius of Belarusian land. He was born in Minsk’s historical center Trinity Suburb on 9 December 1991. The famous house in Alexandrovskaya Street is now home to the Literary Museum. On the 125th day of the poet’s birthday the museum opened doors after a massive reconstruction to offer a display full of new and rare artifacts to the visitors.

The events timed to the 125th anniversary of Maxim Bogdanovich’s birthday became part of UNESCO’s list of anniversaries of prominent people and events. The celebrations of the anniversary of Maxim Bogdanovich’s birthday took place in Belarus and abroad through the year. An exhibition was held in Moscow in November to highlight the life and art of the youngest classic poet in Belarus’ history. The tickets were sold out. As part of the campaign "We read together" excerpts from the best works of the classic were read out by prominent people of Grodno Oblast in Grodno where he spent several years and where his mother is buried.

But, of course, the main festivities were scheduled for 9 December. Exactly 125 years after Maxim Bogdanovich was born the solemn ceremony The Return, which was symbolical for many Belarusians took place in his motherland: a capsule with soil delivered from the grave of the poet, who was buried in Yalta, Russia in 1917, was placed inside the crypt of the All Saints Church in Minsk. The entire country was united in a large-scale program: open-air rallies and flower-laying ceremonies, exhibitions, poetry recitals, movie premieres, TV and radio marathons, quizzes and recital contests…