Kupala Night Festival (Alexandria Gathers Friends)

The Kupala Night Festival has always been a national asset of Belarus, President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he attended the Kupala Night Festival (Alexandria Gathers Friends) on 10 July.

“Today we have gathered here again, in one of the most picturesque places of Belarus. We got together to preserve the spirit of the ancient holiday that has always been our national asset,” the president said.

“Wherever we live - in a small village or a big city – on the night of Ivan Kupala we flock to places where Kupala bonfires burn, wreaths of meadow grasses and flowers float on rivers and lakes, favorite melodies and songs play. We rush there, to our roots, where it all began, because everyone feels an inexplicable desire to get closer to nature: to breathe the scent of the forest, warm up by the fire and see the most important thing - the clear night sky,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to him, it is important that this festival in Alexandria is not only about the joy of getting together with family, loved ones and friends. For a moment this festival takes us many centuries back, gives a glimpse at ancient knowledge, the experience of all generations and humankind in general, reminds people that they belong here, the land of mighty tribes of the East Slavs.

“The traditions that these glorious, wise and strong people shaped a thousand years ago actually became part of our culture, laid the basis of the modern way of life. They have everything that unites us, Belarusians, as a nation today. This is sacred knowledge about forces of nature, medicinal herbs and amulets. Knowledge that teaches us to love nature, appreciate its gifts and preserve beauty. This is the connection between pagan rituals and Christian symbols, which became the basis of religious tolerance. These are the origins of our devotion to traditional values, the main ones of which are family, care for children, and respect for older generations. This is where our character, our habits and our traditions come from - from there, from a millennium ago,” the Belarusian leader said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the striving for independence inherent in Belarusians can be explained by the unsubmissive and freedom-loving nature of their ancestors.

“We know that Belarusians’ striving for independence is explained by unsubmissive and freedom-loving nature of our ancestors who never were slaves or slave owners. And never in their history were they aggressors, quite the opposite, they always tried to maintain peace and accord with their closest neighbors. Therefore, the unity of the people of Belarus in their ethnic, cultural and religious diversity is unshakable,” the president said. 

“We are trying to stick to these traditions today. Hence our entire policy. We do not claim foreign lands. We do not want to cause trouble for our neighbors and distant nations. We want to live in peace and harmony with everyone,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.

He once again drew attention to the following point: Belarusians have never been slaves or slave owners. “That is why we cannot allow anyone to think of us as of slaves. More than that, we cannot allow ourselves to turn into slaves. We are a nation. A nation who, for the first time in hundreds of years, built their independent and sovereign state that always differs from others in terms of character, morals and traditions. We are Belarusians and we have all features of a nation. These national traits come from the depth of history. It was not me who invented them,” the president said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that it is for a reason that this national festival is called Alexandria Gathers Friends: “This is also an age-old tradition - to share joy with those who come to our home to share peace and good. And we, Belarusians, are always ready to accept into our big family everyone who shares our values and the way of life, our historical memory.”

He went on saying that representatives of various countries performed at the festival and all these years they shared a piece of their culture with participants and guests of the festival. “The history of the Kupala Night Festival in Alexandria continues uninterrupted despite the pandemic and external political disagreements. It will always be so. This year is no exception, because we are the keepers of this tradition, the people who shape their future and choose the life path,” Belarusian leader emphasized.

Aleksandr Lukashenko sincerely thanked all those involved in running this festival, as well as performers whose talent and creativity became the highlight of the event. “I would like to thank the artisans who came here to show us their works despite this African heat,” the president said.

“Let the atmosphere of love, friendship and harmony reigning here will give us, like a magical fern flower, faith in our own strength and inspire us to strive for new heights in the name of a peaceful and prosperous future of our Belarus,” the head of state concluded.