2025

International Holiday of Traditional Culture

"Braslav's Lightning – 2025"

The International Holiday of Traditional Culture "Braslav's Lightning" is one of the oldest holidays in Belarus. In 2025, it will celebrate its 58th anniversary. The priority goals are the development and popularization of traditional culture, raising the professional level and performance skills of creative collectives, strengthening and expanding friendly ties, and exchanging cultural traditions with other countries.

The year 2025 is a jubilee year for Braslav - 960 years since its founding. In connection with this important event for the city, the concept of the holiday was built on the motto "From the Past to the Present." The main leitmotif of the holiday was our history, traditional cultural values, and modern achievements.

The events organized within the framework of the holiday program were also dedicated to significant dates such as:
• the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War;
• the 85th anniversary of the formation of the Braslav District;
• the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Museum of Traditional Culture of the Research Institution of Culture "Braslav District Museum Association";
• the 15th anniversary of the medieval culture festival "Sword of Bracislav."

During the holiday, the following events took place:
- a festive concert by the male choir of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the National Guard of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
- an open competition of choral collectives "Braslav Choral Assembly";
- an open competition of folk dance "Pazeryskie Tapatki";
- a welcoming concert "Gather, Friends, for Our Holiday" with the participation of creative collectives from the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Republic of Latvia;
- a concert by artists of the Youth Variety Theater featuring popular Belarusian performers (Minsk);
- a mega-mix "Braslav. Holiday. Spring" with the participation of the cover band "Weekend band";
- the medieval culture festival "Sword of Bracislav";
- a creative forum #WEARETOGETHER with the participation of guest collectives of the holiday.

The festive program of "Braslav's Lightning" began on May 23 with a performance by the Male Choir of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the National Guard of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the District Culture Center, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War.

One of the major events of the "Lightning" was the open competition of choral collectives "Braslav Choral Assembly."

This competition has been held for over 10 years and attracts traditions of singing art and performance skills of creative collectives. This year, the competition gathered 22 vocal collectives from different countries and regions of Belarus, uniting about 500 participants performing traditional songs with live accompaniment. The Grand Prix of the competition was awarded to the Honored Collective of Amateur Folk Art Usman People's Choir of Russian Songs named after A.A. Stepanov from Lipetsk Oblast, Russian Federation, conducted by Dmitry Putilin.

The festive welcoming concert for the participants of "Braslav's Lightning" "Gather, Friends, for Our Holiday" took place on May 24 in the "Lesnichovka" forest park with the participation of creative collectives from Belarus, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, and Latvia. Along with bright national dances, songs, and instrumental performances, the residents of the Braslav District were greeted by representatives of official delegations from the Sortavala region of the Republic of Karelia, Ulyanovsk Oblast, Pskov District of the Russian Federation; the city of Daugavpils of the Republic of Latvia; and Hubei Province of the People's Republic of China with congratulatory addresses.

The second day concluded with a musical gift from the artists of the Youth Variety Theater featuring popular Belarusian performers and a performance by the cover band "Weekend band."

The final third day of the holiday "Braslav's Lightning" opened with a creative forum #WEARETOGETHER with the participation of creative collectives of the holiday. The program included: international exchange of souvenirs and a concert program on the stage of the District Culture Center, presentation of the literary collection "My Native Land" by the folk studio of poetic creativity "Sail of Hope" dedicated to the 960th anniversary of Braslav, an exhibition-tasting of traditional Braslav dishes, and a master class on traditional painting on fabric "Braslav's Painting."

On the same day, in the "Lesnichovka" forest park, the following were organized:

- an exhibition "My City," dedicated to the 960th anniversary of the city and the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Museum of Traditional Culture. Within the framework of the exhibition, participants got acquainted with the creative activities of the masters of the club "By the Lake";
- a presentation of the review-competition "We — Once, We — Today!" in which organizations, enterprises, and institutions of our district participated and showcased their history of creation, development, and modern achievements;
- an exhibition-tasting of anniversary cakes "Sweet Number – 960!".

The V Open Competition of Folk Dance "Pazeryskie Tapatki" was held at a high level. This year, 23 honored, exemplary, and folk amateur choreographic collectives participated in the competition. More than 400 dancers, including from Belarus, Smolensk, Pskov, and Ulyanovsk Oblasts of the Russian Federation, and China. The program of the competitive performance consisted of more than 43 numbers, where folk dances, stylized folk choreography, and dances of the peoples of the world were presented. The audience, filling the "Lesnichovka" forest park, enthusiastically watched the virtuoso movements, fiery rhythms, and colorful costumes of the participants. The Grand Prix of the competition was awarded to the Center for Choreographic Art "Kaleidoscope" from the Smolensk region, city of Gagarin, Russian Federation, led by Yulia Tolpygo.

Braslav's Lightning is not only a holiday of traditional folk creativity but also the development of international relations. In 2025, a memorandum of intent for cooperation was signed between the Braslav District Executive Committee and the municipal institution "Administration of the Municipal Formation "Sursky District" of Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russian Federation. A memorandum was signed to establish sister city relations between the city of Braslav and the city of Jingzhou, People's Republic of China.

Sword of Bracislav

On May 24, a festival of medieval culture "Sword of Bracislav" took place at the "Castle Hill," which celebrated its 15th anniversary this year. During this time, the festival has become a true "medieval" calling card of the city.

"Sword of Bracislav" features medieval battles, folk and rock bands, fairs and attractions, master classes, and dishes from medieval and modern cuisine.

This year, participants of the festival included representatives from more than ten clubs of historical reconstruction from the IX-XIII centuries. The holiday opened with a solemn procession of club participants and representatives of Craft Houses who came to the festival from Vitebsk, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, Minsk, Sharkovshchina, Glubokoe, and Miory. The activities of the clubs are quite diverse — including scientific research, reconstruction of costumes, weapons, and crafts. Traditionally, the holiday opened with the acquisition of "living fire." The mood was supported by the folklore group of archaic singing "Knyazhich," as well as the historical and role-playing reconstruction group "Rostan," which presented a theatrical performance. During the holiday, it was also possible to learn medieval dances together with the studio "CHORUS TEMPORA."

The highlight of the festival was the demonstration battles. Throughout the festival, a medieval kitchen, craft rows, and a children's playground operated. The festival concluded with a performance by the musical group "KAS" and a fire show.