GOMEL, 22 August (BelTA) – A summer camp for ethnographers is taking place in Petrikov District, Gomel Oblast, on 19-22 August. The summer camp is held within the framework of the international festival of ethnic and cultural traditions Call of Polesie. The festival will take place in the agrotown of Lyaskovichi on 13 September, BelTA learned from the organizing committee of the festival.
Every year experts in Belarusian folk art flock to Petrikov District to take part in the summer camp. They represent research centers, universities, and secondary schools. Among them are both professionals and other people interested in Belarusian folk art.
The participants of the festival will tour 13 villages of Petrikov District that have preserved old Polesie traditions in singing, dancing, arts and crafts, rites and games. The researchers will meet with local residents to document and record their rites. The records will be compiled and published.
It is for a reason that ethnographers are so keen on studying Pripyat Polesie. In fact, this region has preserved the features of authentic culture of the Poleshuks – feasts, rites and rituals, folklore and crafts. These unique features should be thoroughly studied by historians, ethnographers and culture experts. The authentic culture of the region should be adapted to modern-day conditions. This is the major objective of the Call of Polesie festival. The festival seeks to preserve and promote ethnic and cultural traditions of Polesie, study and support historical and cultural heritage of the region.
This year the Call of Polesie festival has been granted the status of an international event. Taking part in the festival will be representatives of Gomel Oblast and Brest Oblast, and folklore experts from the neighboring countries.