The Secret to the Success of Belarusian Straw Weaving: A Journey from Tradition to Modern Art

The Art of Belarusian Straw Weaving: A UNESCO Recognized Heritage

Belarusian straw weaving has earned its place on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list for a reason. While this craft has remained archaic in many parts of the world, Belarusians have transformed it into a contemporary art form. In Belarus, straw weaving workshops attract young people, unlike in other countries where it is primarily the elderly who show interest. To uncover the secret behind the success and popularity of Belarusian straw weaving, its origins, and its future, we turn to the insights of straw weaving master Raisa Ramanenya.

The Diversity and Evolution of Belarusian Straw Weaving

Raisa Ramanenya, the leader of the esteemed amateur collective studio “Belarusian Souvenir” and a recipient of a special prize from the President of the Republic of Belarus, shares her perspective. Her renowned Easter eggs made of straw are part of the collection of a British princess.

“Belarusian straw weaving is the most diverse,” says Raisa. “Our main distinction from other countries is that we have not remained stuck in the past. Belarusians not only preserve the traditions of straw weaving but also develop new ways to create art. I believe that by evolving, we move away from primitive instincts and mature.”

The news that Belarusian straw weaving was included in the UNESCO heritage list came as a complete surprise to Raisa. Although she had participated in a Ministry of Culture meeting two years prior where the idea of submitting an application to UNESCO was discussed, there were no further discussions within their community. She was simply walking home when a colleague called to congratulate her.

The Origins and Development of Straw Weaving in Belarus

People realized that after harvesting, straw could be used in everyday life. They used it to thatch roofs, a practice that continues in some parts of Belarus today. Later, they began making utensils using the spiral weaving technique, considered the most ancient.

There was even a saying, “Who is waist-deep in straw is rich.” People valued this material, but it could not last long, so much of it has not survived to this day. Even the Royal Gates, a masterpiece of Belarusian craftsmen, we do not know who wove them.

The Royal Gates are unique examples of high-complexity straw weaving in Belarus, representing the pinnacle of the straw weavers’ craftsmanship. Two specimens of the “Royal Gates” made of straw are located in Raubichy, and one in Grodno. These are completely unique phenomena with no analogs.

The Symbolism and Global Presence of Straw Weaving

There was a tradition of the harvest wreath: it was woven from straw on the last day of the harvest to thank the “master of the field” and to ensure a rich harvest the following year. Keeping straw in the house was believed to increase the harvest. People even believed that straw had a life-giving force.

A straw spider was hung to cleanse the house of bad thoughts. Before each Christmas, the spider was burned, and a new one was made. I see something magical in these spiders. I myself enjoy watching the slow movements of straw spiders—they move with the air currents. Even children like to rest while watching them. It helps especially when something is not going well.

The use of straw varies slightly from country to country. In Switzerland, for example, they wove threads from it and then made lace. In Serbia, they made appliqués from straw. Classic items like spiders were made throughout Europe. In America, there is a tradition of “love knots”: a boy weaves straw in a special way, presents it to a girl, and confesses his love to her.

Nations have preserved their traditions, but in the culture of these countries, straw weaving has remained at an archaic level. In Belarus, we have begun to bring straw art to a new level.

The Rise of Belarus as a Leader in Straw Weaving

Vera Ilyinichna Gavriluk revived the production of straw figurines at the factory. This gave impetus to the development of straw weaving in our country. Later, Taisiya Agafonenko and her daughters continued the work. They not only revived ancient traditions but also brought something new.

Then the first books appeared. Olga Alexandrovna Lobachevskaya and Nina Mikhailovna Kuznetsova developed the first book on straw weaving with techniques, diagrams, etc.

In 2003, the first international festival of straw art was held, featuring straw products from various countries. This has now become a tradition. I consider the exchange of experiences with other cultures to be the most important step in development. It is international festivals that have helped us see each other better and learn from each other. Yes, we have been considered a benchmark for many years, but we have also drawn much from other cultures.

Popular and Challenging Straw Weaving Creations

“We cannot always weave bast shoes; we need to develop and be modern to attract people. And the craft does not stand still,” says Raisa.

Previously, no one could have imagined that we would make Christmas tree ornaments or jewelry from straw. I love making headgear that was used by groups from different countries. Now I am going to create a collection. There are a huge number of different techniques and weaves that help diversify the product.

As for complexity, there are works that simply take more time. For example, Easter eggs.

Getting Started with Straw Weaving

For those who want to try their hand at this craft, Raisa recommends starting with preparing the straw. At the end of July, the straw should be cut and dried in the sun, cut into pieces, and stored. Before starting work with the straw, it needs to be steamed so that it is not too stiff. Then, understand how to place the straw, where to press it, where to lower it.

Unlike painting, for example, where you can draw as you please, in straw weaving, without knowledge of the technique, little is likely to work out. And there are so many of them that there is not yet a single book where they are all collected. So first, you need to learn at least a few of them, choose the one in which you will work. And then proceed. You can learn from masters, books, or videos on the internet.

Straw weaving workshops are now very popular. People want to occupy themselves, preferably with their hands. It is interesting that in Europe, workshops are more often attended by older people, while we have more young people. I find it very interesting to work with them because communicating with young people allows us to develop.

Abroad, such workshops are more popular than ours—I have conducted more workshops there. It was an interesting experience: people study different techniques and weave differently. But in 3-4 hours, even those far from our culture can create small simple figures. So, most often, we make bells and little angels there.

In straw weaving, the difficulty arises only with the material—it needs to be prepared.

For more information on Belarusian cultural heritage, you can visit the official UNESCO website.