The rite of «Vajenne Sula»
The rite of «Vajenne Sula»
This holiday originates from ancient times and is traditionally celebrated the day after Easter. The rite «Vajenne Sula» has a sacred meaning: the round dance is a symbol of the sun, the spring awakening of nature and at the same time is a «signal» that it's time to do agricultural work.The participants of the ceremony are residents of the villages of Gadichevo and Markovichi.All the ritual action is accompanied by expressive folklore songs and dances.
The Vajenne Sula rite was included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Values of the Republic of Belarus in 2019. This is a distinctive manifestation of the spring ritual of driving and burying arrows (or Sulas), characteristic of the territory of Gomel region, Bryansk region (Russia) and Chernihiv region (Ukraine). Sulu is held for a good harvest, good health of all local residents and to protect themselves from the natural element – lightning. Sula unites two neighboring villages-Gadichevo and Markovichi.
The main participants are local youth, ritual acts are performed by women and girls dressed in beautiful homemade outfits. The word «Sula», as the villagers say, is both the rite itself and all its participants. The annual driving of Sula in Gadichev and Markovichi was interrupted in 1967 by the local government. 40 years later, in 2007, the ceremony was restored by local enthusiasts with the support of teachers and managers of the Markovichi kindergarten – secondary school.
Location: Gomel district, d.Markovichi, D.GadichevoTime: April 17, 2023