Belarus (Bielarus) : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

Culture : The most popular celebration in contemporary Belarus. It is a hedonistic summer celebration of fertility in the name of a female God: Kupala

Culture : Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Great Patriotic War

Secular holiday : Belarus celebrate their independence on July 3, commemorating that date in 1944, when as part of the huge Soviet offensive Operation Bagration the Soviet Republic of Belarus was liberated from German occupation. Post-Soviet Belarus gained their independence on August 25, 1991. Belarussians therefore celebrate their independence on the day when the Soviets liberated them, rather than the day on which they received independence from the Soviet Union. [Wikipedia]

Culture : Lasts 3 days - http://www.belarus.by/ in Vitebsk 2015 edition confirmed

School holidays :

Culture : On September 17, 1939, the reunification of the Western and Eastern Belarus began. For nearly 20 years half of the republic, with a population of nearly 4 million people, had been under the jurisdiction of the Polish State. It was the consequence of the Riga Peace Treaty. from 2021

cards/flowers :

cards/flowers : Mother's Day is not only a token of deep respect and love for mothers. This is the recognition, at the state level, of the critical role of women in the development of the society, the confirmation that the family and maternity are the priorities of the country’s social policy.

Culture : from 2022

School holidays :

Secular holiday :

School holidays :

Culture : Pre-Christian celebration of the end of year. People are dressed as animals and fantastic beasts carrying the sun and the goat's head in their hands.

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

Culture : Szilveszter