Belarus celebrates Independence Day in traditionally Soviet way
In 2007, to celebrate this day, people in Belarus were given four days off. On July 1, authorities organized sports events. An artificial ice ring was staged near the Palace of Sports where winter sports athletes showed off their performance. The impression was that as if nobody was interested in summer sports in this country…
Parallel to that, young athletes were “invited” to compete at a ski-roller route.
“We want to go back home, because we are very tired after the yesterday’s race. We had to get up at 7 a.m. in order to make it here by 9 a.m. It is not the best option. We have also been ordered to wait around until the event finishes. They said we had to stay to make the crowd look bigger. Actually, what I really want is to get home and sleep,” said one of young biathlon female athletes.
On the next day off, a solemn gathering and a concert of Belarusian pop singers took place at the Palace of the Republic. A bicycle festival was also held in front of the Palace of Sports on the former Masherov Avenue.
The event lacked advertising, so only about 2000 people came to watch the tricks of bicycle fans. But participants had fun.
“I simply enjoy making certain elements with my bike. It feels great and fun,” said Mikhas, a bike fan from Minsk.
The parade was expected to become the most spectacular event, but this year the authorities changed a traditional format, crossing out the military equipment from the agenda. TVs, combine-harvesters and Belarus-made shoes were not showed off, either.
Instead, people viewed a show of sportsmen and listened to the songs of Belarusian pop stars, e.g. Tsikhanovich and Poplavskaya. People did not wish to watch tanks and MAZ trucks.
“Belarus must demonstrate our celebrities, not tanks or machinery or buses, but war veterans who passed through all this. Parachutists who were flying today were interesting at such events,” said Tacciana, the mother with a daughter who got to the parade accidentally.
The parade was closed with the columns of young people from BRSM, the pro-governmental youth union. Joyful and spiritual faces of the young people in clothes wearing the symbols of the organization could not but impress. But this reporter saw with his own eyes how the young boys quickly changed into a casual wear in a backyard right after the parade ended.
Finally, the master of the ceremony closed the parade by saying: “The celebrations will now pour around our city!” In 30-minute time, huge lines built up in front of the nearby groceries and kiosks, with people coming back carrying mostly plastic cups in their hands…
There is no need to worry. Everything is as usual on Independence Day in Minsk. According to the old Soviet habit, folks celebrate the way they are used to.
Look at the pictures from the event here
