Press releases

MINSK, 12 January (BelTA) – The traditional folk rite ‘Kalyady Tsars’ (Christmas Tsars), inscribed on the World List of the Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, will be held in the village of Semezhevo, Kopyl District, on 13 January, Tatiana Shauro, director of the Semezhevo community center, told BelTA.

This ancient ceremony is held only in Semezhevo once a year, on the night of 13 to 14 January. It involves unmarried young people, seven of whom are chosen to play the roles of the Christmas Tsars. They dress in white trousers and shirts, with red embroidered belts crisscrossed across their chests, and high caps adorned with colorful paper ribbons. The procession also involves additional comic characters of dzed (old man) and baba (old lady) played by a young girl and boy who interact with the audience.

During the drama, ‘tsars’ visit the local houses of unmarried girls to give comic performances and receive good wishes and awards. The procession continues into the night, lit by torchlight. People believe that being visited by the 'tsars' brings peace, harmony and wealth for a year.

A local legend sheds some light on the origin of the rite. In the 18th century a squad of the Russian army was stationed in Semezhevo. During the Christmas holidays soldiers and officers would go around the village wishing people Merry Christmas and showing small performances, dancing and singing songs and asking for treats. When the squad left the village, the local people, mainly young men, started to dress up in costumes that resembled military uniforms during the Christmas holidays. And these characters were dubbed ‘tsars’ by locals.

The Borisov, Smolevichi and Myadel districts will also hold Christmas festivities on 13 January.

By 25 January Minsk Oblast will host 95 Christmas events: ethno-parties, rites, song festivals, exhibitions of drawings and souvenir Christmas trees, and theatrical performances.