“Three Arrows”: Traditions That Shape the Future
An annual Slavic festival in the village of Gilyovo, near Zavodoukovsk, brings generations together in a meaningful way. Three arrows stand for time itself: the past, the present, and the future. The organizers believe that the most valuable things must be carefully taken from the ancestors, shared with those living today, and passed on to future generations.
Waiting for the Guests
The organizers are fully ready an hour before the event starts
The Cultural Center of Zavodoukovsk District is hosting the festival for the eighth time
The colourful photo zones blend old‑world charm with modern design trends
While there are no guests yet, the Cultural Center staff take photos of each other
A large team has been put together, with specialists from several rural cultural centers involved
Their outfits perfectly match the spirit of the festival
The hospitable “Russian Hut” area will treat visitors
Tea, sweets, and some unusual delicacies are all ready to serve
This is also where the peddlers will start their rounds with festive souvenirs
This is the one location you just can’t imagine a summer start without
The craftswomen are weaving wreaths from wildflowers and getting ready to teach the craft to anyone who wants to learn
We’ll definitely come back to them, but for now, let’s hurry to the main stage
Prologue and Concert
The concert opens with the “Impulse” choreographic group
The dancers represent Zavodoukovsk Town Cultural Center
Energy and openness — that’s all you need for a great start to the program
The hosts begin sharing stories about the traditions passed down from generation to generation
Not even rain can spoil a Slavic festival
Svetlana Kasenova, Head of Zavodoukovsk District, welcomes the audience
And here are the three arrows! The first stands for our roots, our history, and the wisdom of our ancestors
The second represents us today: our working hands, our hearts, and our voices
And the third arrow is our dreams and hopes — the ones that future generations will bring to life
The theatrical prologue is dedicated to ancient crafts
The “Istoki” local history society walks visitors through the details of wool spinning
The scene unfolds to the sound of a folk song
Next, a blacksmith appears on stage with his grandson, who’s trying his hand at forging
The grandfather encourages him: “If you make a mistake, we’ll reforge it! Metal is patient while the blacksmith learns”
And there it is — the boy’s first horseshoe, and with it, the secrets of the craft are passed on
Meanwhile, the rain keeps falling, but it doesn’t bother the audience one bit
Another scene from the past comes to life: a village edge, a bench, a wattle fence
Soon, the characters will invite everyone to join the round dances
The main form of the ornamental dance is a circle — a symbol of the sun and infinity
Holding hands, the dancers feel each other and become one
But it’s not just a ritual; it’s also an exciting game with simple rules
Watching from the sidelines is just as captivating as taking part
“Round and round people go, making all the dancers glow!”
The round dance songs carry the kindest thoughts and wishes, shared with everyone present
After the interactive part, the creative performances begin: the “Native Melodies” group takes the stage
The audience is convinced: nature has no bad weather
The vocalists from the Padun House of Culture do their best to impress the guests
The “Melody of the Soul” group from Novaya Zaimka village isn’t on stage yet
Diana Shaderkina from the Isetsky District chose the song “I am Russia, You are Russia!”
Of course, the crowd joins in with real enthusiasm
Now it’s time for choreography: the “Fantasy” ensemble arrived from the Golyshmanovsky District
Their energetic number is called “Nizhny Novgorod Round Dance”
Somehow, the artists manage to chase the clouds away and finally make the festival sunny!
Interactive Zones
A dedicated area is set aside for artisans
Nadezhda Egorova from Kolesnikovo village is a master of doll‑making
Each doll reflects the creator’s personality: character, mood, and soul
Alexey Kochkarev from Shorokhovo village has been working with birch bark for ten years
He fell in love with this natural material after seeing similar items in Tyumen
Every summer, the master personally harvests birch bark to last him a whole year
On the central alley, specialists from the Komsomolsky settlement’s House of Culture are stationed
They run a no‑lose lottery
One of the symbolic prizes is the chance to tie a ribbon on the Wheel of Fortune
Nikolay Kravchenko, elder of Zavodoukovsk Cossack society, shows off traditional weapons
Nearby, commemorative coins are being stamped
Friendly “villagers” invite everyone to a sun‑drenched glade where wreaths are being woven
Time to take off the raincoats: summer seems to have fully claimed its rights
In the sunlight, the carefully chosen wildflowers look especially picturesque
For girls, wreath‑weaving is the first step toward mastering other traditionally female crafts
Those who know how to weave wreaths usually excel at embroidery and weaving too
The weaving technique has come down to us from ancient times with almost no changes
Even one wreath shared between two people can turn an ordinary photo into a fairy‑tale scene
Flowers in a girl’s hair give her look a touch of magic…
…and the young man beside her completes a story worthy of an epic tale
Today, absolutely everyone had the chance to weave a wreath and connect with history
Another zone is decorated with symbols of traditional culture
Here, visitors are invited to join cheerful active games
The props are modern, but the excitement is purely ancient Slavic :)
The craft workshops aren’t empty either
In this format, one can, for example, make a small amulet figurine
Experts from Lebedevsky, Starozaimsky, and Dronovsky Houses of Culture are running the sessions
A horseshoe always brings good luck — and one made with your own hands brings double the luck!
Trying out the crafts is fascinating for both children and adults
Just look at the beauty one can create stepping away from the strict rules and letting imagination run free
Moving on: Natalya Vishnyakova from Borovinka village is preparing… the Women’s Porridge
Hundreds of fans of folk cuisine gather to taste this unusual dish
They’re also offered tea brewed from forest and meadow herbs, following old traditions
Despite the name, the Women’s Porridge isn’t really a porridge in the usual sense
The recipe’s uniqueness lies in the fact that it contains no grain, and the ingredients are kept secret
It’s truly delicious — and the air of mystery only makes the treat even more enjoyable!
Back to the Stage
Isn’t it time to return to the stage? The concert has been running non‑stop all this time
Artists from Novaya Zaimka are showing their support for their fellow villagers performing
Russian songs sound deep and heartfelt
The baton passes to the “Cossack Glory” group from the Lybaevsky House of Culture
The vocalists don’t just sing — they also demonstrate the art of flanking
That’s the term for the virtuoso handling of bladed weapons
Originally, flanking was an essential skill for defense and repelling enemy attacks
From the 19th century onward, this martial art became part of Cossack culture
Cossack songs make a beautiful finale for the musical part of the program
Now it’s time for letters of gratitude: Alla Maksimenko presents them to the participants
And once again, the archers appear on stage
Their bows point upward: these meaningful arrows will be our guiding light
Our inspiration lies in our ancestors’ legacy, the strength of truth in the present, and faith in a bright future
The “Three Arrows” will unite us and show the way to happiness and prosperity
A salute of coloured smoke is a vivid finale for the Slavic festival
Of course, no one really wants to leave just yet, so…
…the epilogue is another cheerful round dance
There are no strangers here — only people connected by shared history and values
Folk culture stays alive when it sings, dances, and laughs
God bless everyone who preserves and promotes our traditions
Someday we will meet again on the hospitable land of Zavodoukovsk District!
