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Center of National Cultures comments on cultural diversity in Belarus

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MINSK, 22 August (BelTA) - In many countries the Belarusian communities organize various events to popularize Belarusian culture, Director of the Belarusian Center of National Cultures Olga Yakobson told the media, BelTA has learned.

“First of all, these are traditional ritual feasts. In Jordan, Belarusians celebrate the Kolyady [Christmas] festival and the Ivan Kupala summer solstice festival. For example, during the Kolyady festival in Jordan caroling kids get Christmas boxes made of Belarusian sweets, mainly by the Kommunarka and Spartak confectionaries. They are especially brought to Jordan for the occasion. This year the Belarusian Embassy in Hungary asked us to help them with the script for the Ivan Kupala festival," Olga Yakobson said.

Deputy Commissioner for Religions and Nationalities Sergei Gerasimenya noted that many other ethnicities live in Belarus and they celebrate their own holidays. "Belarus is home to many ethnicities. Yet the country maintains a national harmony. In this regard, Belarus is a black sheep among the neighboring countries. There are no racial or ethnic conflicts and related crimes here. We see them happen everywhere but not in Belarus," Sergei Gerasimenya said. In his opinion, the Belarusian culture is built on the ethnic diversity.

Olga Yakobson added that artistic groups of various ethnicities in Belarus are supported under the state program Culture of Belarus. "National cultural public organizations never practice restricted attendance policies for their events. Everyone is equal. Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Jews and Muslims hold their events. They come to celebrate each other’s holidays or get together to celebrate the common holidays. Every year we prepare a large plan and every ethnicity brings its proposals to the table. Then they are implemented at the Center of National Cultures or other concert venues", she said.

According to her, representatives of different confessions, participating in joint events, broaden their horizons and learn more about a particular national culture. "Culture unites. It is people's diplomacy. The most important thing is that we all are a big family. All nationalities are different but they are united by a huge love of our beautiful Belarus," Olga Yakobson noted.

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