by Yauhen, age 7, asks Dzied Maroz do you wear a long robe with beautiful embroidery?, about the Belovezhskaya forest bison, and Belarus’s two languages
Dear Dzied Maroz,
My name is Yauhen and I am 7 years old. I live in Minsk, Belarus, where the snow starts early and my papa says our winters are so long that we get very, very good at building snowmen.
First, do you wear a long robe with beautiful embroidery?
Second, a geography question: what large forest, famous for wild bison, is found in Belarus?
Third, a school question about my country: why does Belarus have two official languages, Belarusian and Russian?
I left you draniki with sour cream and a cup of milk.
Love, Yauhen, age 7, Minsk, Belarus, Minsk, Belarus
From the Desk of Dzied Maroz
Dear Yauhen, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do you wear a long robe with beautiful embroidery?
I do, richly embroidered in traditional Belarusian patterns, a robe I am rather proud to wear each winter.
What large forest, famous for wild bison, is found in Belarus?
Belarus is home to part of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha, one of the last and largest remaining patches of ancient forest in Europe, where herds of wild European bison still roam. Flying over it on a snowy night always feels like flying back in time a little.
Why does Belarus have two official languages, Belarusian and Russian?
Belarusian is the country’s own native language, developed over centuries, while Russian became widely spoken during the long period when Belarus was part of the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union. Today both languages are official, and Belarusian remains an important symbol of the country’s own distinct culture and history.
Ziczy vam, Yauhen.
Ho ho ho, Dzied Maroz
