Celebrating Shrovetide: BelSU Hosts a Multicultural Event for Maslenitsa

Titled "Wow! Maslenitsa!", this multicultural gathering took place at the Peoples’ Friendship Centre (PFC) at the end of Maslenitsa week. Organized by the International Information Centre of BelSU Department of International Cooperation and the Department of Literature in Foreign Languages from the university’s Universal Scientific Library, the event offered a festive and educational experience.

It brought together students from various BelSU institutes – including the Medical Institute, Institutes of Intercultural Communication and International Relations, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Social Sciences and Mass Communications, as well as the preparatory department – representing countries such as Russia, China, Angola, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Ecuador. Participants explored the rich history of Maslenitsa, from the times of celebrating Yarilo, the East and South Slavic god of vegetation and springtime, as well as the significance of the spring solstice and how Orthodox culture has reinterpreted these traditions in connection with Lent. The Director of the International Information Centre, Olga Lyutova, and Anastasia Strzhalkovskaya, Acting Head of the Department of International Relations, Foreign Regional Studies, and Political Science at BelSU, shared insights on these topics. Additionally, Ivan Govorishchev from the university library presented an overview of winter farewell celebrations from various countries, highlighting their similarities.