2019-11-02 Sat

Dziady is an ancient Slavic feast commemorating the dead ancestors. The Polish, Belarusian and Ukrainian word means "grandfathers" and is sometimes translated into English as Forefathers' Eve. During the feast the Slavs perform libations and eat ritual meals, to celebrate the living and the souls of the forefathers who joined the dziady (forefathers) after the dark.

In Slavic religion, all the dead ancestors of a family, the rites that are performed in their memory, and the day on which those rights are performed. Dziady takes place three or four times a year; though the dates vary in different localities, daddy are generally celebrated in the winter before the beginning of Advent and in the spring on the Sunday of Doubting Thomas.

A solemn funeral feast (pominki) is prepared and attended by the family; the dziady (forefathers) themselves are addressed and invited to join their kinsmen. The dziady, however, are not considered family guardians and are never asked for favors or protection.

In the year 2008, Belarus issued silver and copper-nickel coins in the memory of this festival. The obverse of the coin depicts a circle framed by a geometric ornament a relief image of the State Emblem of the Republic of Belarus; in the center inscription: in the upper part - RESPUBLIKA BELARUS, in the lower – “TWAZZATS RUBLEY” (on silver) and “ADZIN RUBLE” (on copper-nickel).

The reverse depicts the interior of the village hut in the center in which a table is laid for the commemoration of the dead. Above the entrance to the hut, two angels holding a candle are depicted. The inscription “JEDY” is at the bottom.

Image Courtesy: http://www.groshy.by