The Calendar Rituals of Ancestor Veneration in the Traditional Culture of Belarusians: Research Problems and Perspectives

Abstract

The analysis of scientific approaches in the research of the calendar rituals of ancestor veneration in the traditional culture of Belarusians is presented. Features of such rituals as 'Dziady' and 'vozhdeniya Kústa' are considered. It is shown that since the end of the 90s of the 20th century the study of rituals of ancestor veneration has begun to be considered as an independent direction of scientific research. It is concluded that the calendar rituals of ancestor veneration are related to the peculiarities of historical family forms and kinship systems of Belarusians.