| Name (English) |
Name (Russian) |
Date |
Non-
working day? |
Description /History of
the Holiday |
How celebrated |
| |
| State Holidays |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
| Constitution Day |
День
Конституции |
March 15 |
No |
Day of adoption of the Constitution of
Belarus (1994) |
No specific traditions |
| |
|
| Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus
and Russia |
День
единения
народов
Беларуси и
России |
April 2 |
No |
Day of signing a treaty on creating a
Union State of Russia and Belarus |
No strong traditions. Some minor public
meetings and demonstrations may take place on the streets. In case
of major demonstrations expect that major routs in the cities will
be closed for cars and public transport and for general public
during parades. |
| |
|
| Victory Day |
День
Победы |
May 9 |
Yes |
Celebration of Victory of the Soviet
Union and allied forces over the Fascist Germany (1945) |
Sometimes parades and demonstrations take
place on the central streets of Minsk and, less often, other larger
cities. In case fireworks are organized (which is quite often in
Minsk) public access will be limited at the areas where fireworks
are launched. In case of major demonstrations expect that major
routs in the cities will be closed for cars and public transport and
for general public during parades. There is a tradition to greet the
participants of the World War two and lay flowers to numerous
monuments of this war. |
| |
|
| Day of the State Coat of Arms and the
State Flag of the Republic of Belarus |
День
Государственного
герба
Республики
Беларусь и
Государственного
флага
Республики
Беларусь |
second Sunday of May |
Yes (Sunday) |
n/a |
No specific traditions |
| |
|
| Independence Day of the Republic of
Belarus (also Day of the Republic) |
День
Независимости
Республики
Беларусь (День
Республики) |
July 3 |
Yes |
|
Sometimes major public festivities and
fairs organized on the streets of Minsk and other main cities. In
this case expect that major routs in the cities will be closed for
cars and public transport. In case fireworks are organized (which is
quite often in Minsk) public access will be limited at the areas
where fireworks are launched. |
| |
|
Republican Holidays
|
|
|
|
|
| New Year |
Новый
Год |
January 1 |
Yes |
Celebration of the New Year |
On the night of December 31 – January 1
public festivities and fairs organized on the streets. In case
fireworks are organized (which is quite often in Minsk) public
access will be limited at the areas where fireworks are launched. It
is traditional to send greeting cards and give presents (though some
people would give presents only on Catholic or Orthodox Christmas)
|
| |
|
| Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland
and of Armed Forces of Belarus |
День
защитников
Отечества
и
Вооруженных
Сил
Республики
Беларусь |
February 23 |
No |
Originally this day was celebrated for
creation of the Red (Soviet) Army in 1918. Though later this holiday
became popular as celebration of all military persons and men in
general. Now this holiday remained in Belarus though it was renamed
from the Soviet times. |
No major public events specific to the
holiday are normally organized. It is traditional to greet all
military personnel and very often – all men. It is normal to send
greeting cards or to give small presents to all men and especially
those currently or previously related to military.
|
| |
|
| Women's Day |
День
женщин |
March 8 |
Yes |
Activist Klara Zetkin proposed to
celebrate March 8 as the International Women's Day at the 2nd
International Conference of Women-Socialists in 1910. |
No public activities and festivities
specific to the holiday are normally organized. Every woman in
Belarus would expect special greetings, flowers and gifts on this
day. It is common to send greeting cards to women.
|
| |
|
| Labor Day |
Праздник
труда |
May 1 |
Yes |
International Labor Day (also,
International Workers Day) – was started in the USA in 1880 with
the fight of workers for an eight-hour work day. (Later USA moved
their Labor Day to the first Monday of September to be different
from then Soviet Russia) |
Parades and public festivities and
celebrations on the streets are common. In case of major
demonstrations expect that major routs in the cities will be closed
for cars and public transport and for general public during parades.
In case fireworks are organized (which is quite often in Minsk)
public access will be limited at the areas where fireworks are
launched.
|
| |
|
| Day of the October Revolution |
День
Октябрьской
революции |
November 7 |
Yes |
To commemorate the period of history
related to the Communist revolution in October 25, 1917 (old
calendar – which is Nov. 7 according to modern calendar) |
Sometimes public demonstrations and
parades are organized. In this case expect major routs closed in
Minsk and other large cities. |
| |
|
Religious Holidays
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Christmas (Orthodox) |
Рождество
Христово (православное
Рождество) |
January 7 |
Yes |
Celebration of Christmas |
No major public events specific to the
holiday are normally organized. There is a custom to send greeting
cards and give gifts (though many people do it once a season either
on Christmas or on New Year) |
| |
|
| Easter |
Пасха |
Different every year |
No |
Celebration of Easter. Easter is
celebrated both according to the Catholic Church calendar and to
Orthodox Church calendar. Sometimes the dates coincide, but more
often they do not and two Easters are celebrated. |
It is traditional to visit church and
decorate eggs (though it is not particularly traditional to have
Easter bunny). People would greet each other saying "The Christ
has risen!" and answer "Indeed He has risen!". Some
people will fast before the Easter |
| |
|
| Radunitsa |
Радуница |
Different every year |
Yes |
Day of remembrance of deceased ancestors. |
There is a custom to visit graves of the
ancestors and to bring food leaving it on the graves as if
"sharing" food with deceased relatives |
| |
|
| Remembrance Day (Dzyady) |
День
памяти (Дзяды) |
November 2 |
No |
Day of remembrance of deceased ancestors
and their spirit |
The same as on Radunitsa, there is a
custom to visit graves of the ancestors and to remember their
spirit. Some political movements tend to organize mourning marches
(mostly in Minsk and its suburbs). |
| |
|
| Christmas (Catholic) |
Рождество
Христово (католическое
Рождество) |
December 25 |
Yes |
Celebration of Christmas |
No major public events specific to the
holiday are normally organized. There is a custom to send greeting
cards and give gifts (though many people do it only once in a season
either on Christmas or on New Year) |
| |
|
Memorial Days:
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Day of Remembrance of Soldiers –
Internationalists |
День
памяти
воинов-интернационалистов |
February 15 |
No |
A day to remember the soldiers that
fought in international conflicts, especially, Afghanistan |
|
| |
|
| Day of Chernobyl Tragedy |
День
чернобыльской
трагедии |
April 26 |
No |
Anniversary of Chernobyl nuclear
catastrophe (1986) |
Sometimes mourning marches take place |
| |
|
| Day of National Remembrance of the
Victims of the World War II |
День
всенародной
памяти
жертв
Великой
Отечественной
войны |
June 22 |
No |
This is anniversary of the beginning of
the World War II (Great Patriotic War) when Fascist Germany attacked
the Soviet Union (1941) |
No specific traditions |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Professional /General Holidays |
|
|
|
Established to greet representatives of
different professions / industries and general celebrations |
Not widely celebrated. It is normal to
greet a representative of the celebrated profession either
personally of by phone/e-mail. |
| |
| Day of a Social Worker |
День
работников
социальной
защиты |
January 5 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Bank and Financial Workers |
День
банковских
и
финансовых
работников |
First Sunday of January |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Rescuer |
День
спасателя |
January 19 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Belarusian Science |
День
белорусской
науки |
Last Sunday of January |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Militia |
День
милиции |
March 4 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Workers of Communal Services |
День
работников
бытового
обслуживания
населения
и жилищно-коммунального
хозяйства |
Forth Sunday of March |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Geologist |
День
геолога |
First Sunday of April |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Print |
День
печати |
May 5 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Radio, Television and
Communications Workers |
День
работников
радио,
телевидения
и связи |
May 7 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Fitness and Sports Workers |
День
работников
физической
культуры и
спорта |
Third Saturday of May |
Yes (Saturday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Board Guards |
День
пограничника |
May 28 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Chemist |
День
химика |
Last Sunday of May |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Light Industry Workers |
День
работников
легкой
промышленности |
Second Sunday of June |
Yes (Sunday) |
(light industry in Belarus includes
textiles, clothes and some other industries) |
|
| |
|
| Day of Medical Personnel |
День
медицинских
работников |
Third Sunday of June |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Prosecution Office Workers |
День
работников
прокуратуры |
June 26 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Inventor and Rationalizer |
День
изобретателя
и
рационализатора |
Last Saturday of June |
Yes (Saturday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Economist |
День
экономиста |
June 30 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Water Transport Workers |
День
работников
водного
транспорта |
First Sunday of July |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Tax Office Workers |
День
работников
налоговых
органов |
Second Sunday of July |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Metallurgist |
День
металлурга |
Third Sunday of July |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Firemen |
День
пожарной
службы |
July 25 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Retail Workers |
День
работников
торговли |
Last Sunday of July |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Railway Workers |
День
железнодорожника |
First Sunday of August |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Construction Workers |
День
строителя |
Second Sunday of August |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Statisticians |
День
работников
государственной
статистики |
August 23 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Miner |
День
шахтера |
Last Sunday of August |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Oil, Gas and Fuel Industry Workers |
День
работников
нефтяной,
газовой и
топливной
промышленности |
First Sunday of September |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Customs Officers |
День
таможенника |
September 20 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Forestry Workers |
День
работников
леса |
Third Sunday of September |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Machine Building Industry Workers |
День
машиностроителя |
Last Sunday of September |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Archive Workers |
День
архивиста |
October 6 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Teacher |
День
учителя |
First Sunday of October |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
Students in Schools, Colleges,
Universities and other educational institutions would greet their
teachers (normally with flowers) |
| |
|
| Day of Culture Worker |
День
работников
культуры |
Second Sunday of October |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Standardization |
День
стандартизации |
October 14 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Pharmaceutical and Microbiological
Industry Workers |
День
работников
фармацевтической
и
микробиологической
промышленности |
October 15 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Automobile and Road Services
Workers |
День
автомобилиста
и
дорожника |
Last Sunday of October |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Civil Aviation Workers |
День
работников
гражданской
авиации |
First Sunday of November |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Agriculture and Food Processing
Industry Workers |
День
работников
сельского
хозяйства
и
перерабатывающей
промышленности
агропромышленного
комплекса |
Third Sunday of November |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Lawyer |
День
юриста |
First Sunday of December |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of State Security Office Workers |
День
сотрудника
органов
государственной
безопасности |
December 20 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Energy Industry Worker |
День
энергетика |
December 22 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Engineer Forces (In Army) |
День
инженерных
войск |
January 21 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Anti-Aircraft Forces |
День
войск
противовоздушной
обороны |
Second Sunday of April |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Paratrooper |
День
десантников |
August 2 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Railway Forces (In Army) |
День
железнодорожных
войск |
August 6 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Air Forces |
День
военно-воздушных
сил |
Third Sunday of August |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Tanker |
День
танкистов |
Second Sunday of September |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Missile Forces and Artillery |
День
ракетных
войск и
артиллерии |
November 19 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Consumer |
День
потребителя |
March 15 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Family |
День
семьи |
May 15 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Environment Protection |
День
охраны
окружающей
среды |
June 5 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Youth |
День
молодежи |
Last Sunday of June |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Knowledge |
День
знаний |
September 1 |
|
|
The day when students return to schools
and universities after the summer vacations |
| |
|
| Day of Belarusian Written Language |
День
белорусской
письменности |
First Sunday of September |
Yes (Sunday) |
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Peace |
День
мира |
Third Tuesday of September |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Senior Citizens |
День
пожилых
людей |
October 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Mother's Day |
День
матери |
October 14 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of Handicapped Persons of the
Republic of Belarus |
День
инвалидов
Республики
Беларусь |
December 3 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Day of the Human Rights |
День
прав
человека – 10
декабря |
December 10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Day of Belarusian Cinema |
День
белорусского
кино |
December 17 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Non-official Holidays: |
|
|
|
These are holidays that are
not yet or not any more recognized officially but nevertheless are
celebrated by some people (like holidays recently adopted from the
Western culture) |
|
| |
|
| Old New Year |
Старый
новый год |
January 14 |
No |
This holiday reflects a fact that in old
calendar used on the territory of Belarus and some other countries
in the region until the beginning of the 20th century, January 1
falls in modern calendar on January 14. As many people refused to
switch to the new calendar in early 20th century, a tradition of
celebrating New Year "old style" was established |
Belarusians celebrate this holiday in the
family. |
| |
|
| St. Valentines Day |
День
святого
Валентина |
February 14 |
No |
Day of love and romance |
Spouses and close personal friends greet
each other romantically give gifts and flowers, send greeting cards.
Quite different from some Western countries relatives and just
friends are not greeted, - only romantically loved persons are. |
| |
|
| Day of Will (Anniversary of Creation of
Belarusian Peoples Republic) |
День
Воли (День
создания
Белорусской
Народной
Республики) |
March 25 |
No |
Originally - the day of creation of the
Belarusian Peoples Republic in 1918 that existed before Belarus
joined the Soviet Union in 1919. |
Some political movements organize public
activities such as demonstrations, meetings and actions. |
