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Unique music instruments on display at Belarus National History Museum

MINSK, 2 December (BelTA) – The Belarus and its Neighbors exhibition opened at the Belarus National History Museum on 29 November, BelTA has learnt.

The exhibition has been jointly organized by the Russian Museum of Ethnography (St. Petersburg) and the Belarus National History Museum. It is presented to the public for the first time.

“Belarus and its Neighbors is a unique exhibition. For our museum it is the number one project. The exhibition involves many cultural aspects, and to demonstrate this, the museum will hold a number of events like lectures and music evenings,” Director of the Belarus National History Museum Oleg Ryzhkov said.

Deputy Chairman of the Belaya Rus association Alexander Shatko noted that the projects jointly conducted by the Culture Ministries of Belarus and Russia and the Belarus-Russia Union State strengthen the cultural ties between the two countries. “Belarus and Russia are not just neighbors. We are one nation with common culture,” Alexander Shatko emphasized.

The exhibition features over 700 authentic cultural artifacts of traditional culture of people who lived on the territory of the Belaya Rus historical region. The items on display include traditional costumes that vividly create the images of the Belarusians, Lithuanians, Latvians, Polish, Ukrainians, Russians, and other peoples, emphasize their common features, and show the originality of each culture. One of the main parts of the exhibition features wedding-associated artifacts: hope chests, kitchen utensils, and clothes. Another part is dedicated to religion as an important aspect of national unity and cultural diversity of nations. In particular, it displays Easter-related items such as icon cases, rushniks (towels), painted Easter eggs, and other artifacts.

The exhibition also includes the items of different crafts: weaving, woodworking, pottery, and blacksmithing. A collection of unique music instruments is the big draw of the exhibition. 

The exposition displays artifacts from one of the largest European ethnography museums. The Russian Museum of Ethnography was established in 1895. It presents unique cultures of the peoples inhabiting Russia and its neighbor countries: their daily life, traditions, and worldviews.

The exhibition will stay open till 26 January 2014.

The Belarus and its Neighbors exhibition has been organized with the financial support of the Japan Tabacco International company in Belarus and the Milavitsa company.

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