By Katherine Krakhmal

Mother’s Day is probably one of the most significant and touching holidays around the world. Our mother is most likely the first image we see, and whose image we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. No wonder that in Belarus, Mother’s Day is a day set aside for the most important woman: Mother.

Mother’s Day has been celebrated in Belarus on October 14th since 1996. The Belarusian government is very just in honoring the generous, tender and wise Belarusian women to whom the highest level of gratitude is given.

Belarusians typically organize children’s matinees, concerts, competitions and exhibitions to celebrate this event. They generally take place in sport centers, or educations and cultural institutions. The festivities also hope to point out the importance of women within the Belarusian society. Belarusians are poets by nature, delving into the richness of the language to create prose and poetry that will long be remembered by those who listened to it.

Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity for poets to flourish, describing mothers’ sacrifice and devotion. At the same time, works expressing gratitude and colorfully describing admiration for mothers, are often heard. Mothers who raise many children– often called “Superhero Moms” –are honored with a special commemorative medal presented to them by the City of Mink’s Executive Committee or the separate provincial executive committees.

On Mothers Day, many people choose to attend Orthodox churches to not only pray for them, but to revere her and wish “Health to all Belarusian Mothers!”

Belarus has many songs dedicated to mothers and the happiness and beauty of motherhood. Many of these songs are also popular in other Eastern European post-Soviet countries. Examples of such songs are, “The Ballad About Mother,” “Vasiliy’s Mother,” and “Oh, Mommy!”

“The beauty of your soul, dear Mother, is always with me. Wherever I happen to be under the Milky Way, I’ll never forget your kind words. They will always be in my mind.” These words y a famous Belarusian songwriter, brilliantly demonstrate how Belarusians feel about their mothers.