Ancient Folk Industry of Belarus – straw weaving.

So here we have the Belorussian ruble, nominal - 1. The year of issue of this coin is 2009, Mint: Vilnius, Lithuania. Total circulation – 5.000. Devoted to the national trade of Belarus – straw weaving.

In Belarus plaiting of straw has long been engaged. Behind this craft more than one thousand years. It leads its history from ancient rituals associated with the cult of bread and straw. Our ancestors believed in the divine power of straw and grain, saving yourself viviparous power of nature and generously gave it not only the stems and stalks of the new harvest, but all who in any way comes into contact with them.

So venerated last sheaf harvested from the field, which was kept in the house until the next harvest. Straw farmers have linked their future life, giving her the role of the teller in many Christmas divination. The grain showered on the young wedding, and the young were put on the straw to the power plants was passed to the young family and their future children. Countless beliefs and rites connected with straw and bread.

Despite the variability of the world, they came to us from distant pagan times and continue to live with us in the form of the works of masters. Straw "spiders", horses, birds, dolls are not just images, each of them is connected with the person who created it, came into contact with him, by invisible threads of hopes and aspirations which they symbolized.