Such a rite has been preserved in eastern Belarus to this day.

Photos here and further: "Onliner"
Our ancestors considered the welcoming of spring a very important matter. They saw a sacred meaning in this rite and believed: for life-giving, lush spring to awaken after a dreary winter, it must be specially called. How spring was welcomed this Saturday at the Yanka Kupala State Literary Museum branch in Viazynka, was shown by "Onliner".
This rite did not have a specific date, but people tried to call spring before the Annunciation, although some called it later, in April. How did it happen? Girls went out to the hills, climbed onto roofs, sang spring songs, accompanied by a prolonged "gu-u-u".


And to melt and awaken the earth, they performed round dances and danced.


In addition, they baked buns resembling stork's feet, and then tossed them on cloths.


In some places, they stuck the baked goods on twigs and went out to the hills with them.


Paper birds on tree branches are one of the modern symbols of "Calling Spring".

What's interesting is that the rite has not been lost. As was told by the Student Ethnographic Society, spring can still be called in Eastern Belarus. But most often, this is done by folklore and ethnographic groups. Viazynka has been one such place for several years now.

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