Summer Gathering: Crafting, Dancing, Celebrating!
The 3rd Siberian Culture Festival “Sletye” (literally — “Summer Gathering”) is one action‑packed June weekend, featuring dozens of interactive zones and thousands of guests from across the region and beyond.
In this coverage of the event, we’ll focus on the program presented by the State Center for Folk Art (Omsk) and the “Ancient Siberia” open‑air museum (Bolsherechye).
Crafts
This is the third time hospitable Bolsherechye welcomes “Sletye”
The territory of the “Ancient Siberia” museum is a perfect fit for programs of this kind
Experts in traditional culture feel right at home here
Throughout the festival days, the crafts festival unfolds between the old peasant houses and merchant homes
The museum’s permanent exhibits blend beautifully with this concept
The dolls sculpted by trimming dance on a smooth surface when you tap it rhythmically
Potters demonstrate every stage of their work: a little pot has just been taken out of the kiln (on the right)
Next, the elegant jug needs an immediate, dramatic cooling
It’s great that so many items are being fired — there’s plenty to watch for a long time
Weaving is a distinct form of applied art
Willow baskets are eco‑friendly, durable, and easy to care for
A separate area is dedicated to making birch wreaths
Three flexible, long twigs are all you need for the cherished decoration
At the forge gates, a blacksmith greets the guests
He gladly explains how the metal is heated to give it the desired shape
Ceramicists are represented by various teams these days
You can learn from them not only how to create but also how to decorate tableware
The finished pieces are practically begging to be taken home as souvenirs
Painting
On Saturday afternoon, the Ural‑Siberian painting contest “Door to Tradition” kicks off
The organizer gives the briefing and demonstrates an authentic pattern
Five teams from different parts of the region are ready to join the creative competition
This craft was common in peasant life
Participants can choose the colors, but the stylistics are strictly defined
It’s important to decorate the door the way it was done in Siberia and the Urals over a century ago
During the process, you can give a short interview to bloggers
The brushstroke technique is fascinating: the tip of the brush holds both paint and white pigment at the same time
After all, reviving traditions through competition is a truly valuable experience
Teamwork means discussion, though the canon determines a lot
The contest lasts four hours in total
When everything’s done, a spontaneous photo session is a great idea
It’s important to apply the patterns with a light heart
The door made by the craftswomen from Tara will stand out both to the audience and the jury
In this shot, they don’t yet know about their triumph, but they are happy with the result
Final touches: the panel is already in a vertical position, and time is running out
There’s something almost cosmic in this apparent simplicity
Once you’ve opened the “Door to Tradition,” there’s no going back!
Wedding
The reconstruction of a 19th‑century Siberian wedding is one of Saturday’s key events
Everything is ready in the bride’s courtyard, and the groom is already knocking at the gate — and he’s not alone
The scene is recreated based on the memories of local elders, collected during regional expeditions
After a brief verbal sparring, the groom and his entourage are let into the courtyard
Notably, the bride humbly keeps her eyes lowered for almost the entire ceremony
The captivating ransom ritual begins, with bargaining, jokes, and folk sayings
The groom’s best man is the only one authorized to negotiate at this moment
Lamenting, drawn‑out songs play nearly the whole time — the girl is about to leave her home forever
Finally, the groom takes his place beside the bride, and a veil is placed over her head
The couple’s hands are tied with a towel as a symbol of unity
Parental blessing is an essential part of the ritual
Now it’s time to bring out the dowry!
Though there’s a slight hitch here: the matchmaker announces that the chest is awfully heavy
This is perhaps the funniest part of the script
Only a small offering can lift the spirits of the brave helpers
Finally, things get moving
Everyone present watches the descent
The contents of the chest must be proudly displayed…
…because the guests absolutely must see what a skilled craftswoman the bride is
The moment comes for the bride to leave her parental home for good
The couple takes their seats in the cart the groom arrived in
They’re to travel through the entire village
The songs never stop
The wedding procession must look bright and rich — a reflection of the groom’s family’s prosperity
The young men and women follow a little behind, and after them comes the cart with the dowry chest
After a while, the wedding procession approaches the groom’s house
Unrestrained joy fills the ranks of guests from both sides
The loaf is a mandatory wedding attribute, a symbol of a well‑fed life
The groom’s parents are the first to meet the cart
After the blessing, the couple is seated at the table
The singing continues, its tone gradually shifting
Ahead lies the most important rite of the entire wedding ritual
The final major wedding rite begins — combing the hair and then changing the headdress
Those performing the rite quietly offer well‑wishes and blessings for family happiness
This is how the young woman shows everyone that she is now a married woman
New status — new jewelry!
The towel still binds the couple’s hands
From now on, it’s permissible to kiss the bride
Perhaps the only thing left outside this beautiful reconstruction is the church wedding ceremony
Saturday Evening
Finally, the kids get a moment to rest amid the whirlwind of a busy day
On the village’s main square, rehearsals for the Great Siberian Round Dances begin
130 people gathered to recall folk songs and ornamental dances
Undoubtedly, Russia’s strength lies in its folk traditions
The paving tiles help everyone line up in neat rows
The main round dance event will take place tomorrow on a sun‑drenched meadow
Wreath Weaving
Sunday morning arrives — it’s Trinity Sunday according to the church calendar
“Sletye” participants simply must weave wreaths, following the ancient custom
Not a single item in this photo belongs to the 21st century!
The bellringer is ready to climb the bell tower
In a couple of minutes, the festive, melodious ringing can be heard all around
It brings a special warmth and joy to the heart
The festival has plenty of birch trees stocked up
Everyone weaves — from the youngest to the oldest
Branches, threads, and skill — that’s all a craftswoman needs
A wreath brings a folk costume to life
Fresh greenery on their heads looks especially charming on children
It’s so good when the work goes smoothly!
Ancestors believed that the birch tree holds great life force
In spring, this tree is the first to put out leaves
People linked hopes for a bountiful harvest to the white‑trunked trees
While waiting for the round dances, you can swing on the swings
You can reminisce about other festive traditions — for example, spiritual sisterhood
And you can even squeal with both fear and delight at once — just don’t let the wreaths fall off!
At the yesterday’s painting site, the “Everyone Paints” workshop kicks off
Following the artist’s lead, participants recreate a simple design step by step
There are enough wooden panels for everyone; no drawing skills are needed, and everyone is sure to succeed
There are just ten minutes left for some unusual photo sessions
Oh, why didn’t these smiling young people star in yesterday’s wedding?
Apparently, their couple’s rituals are still ahead — and the organizers will definitely notice them
Lard-and-Egg Dish
Meanwhile, on the meadow by the Bolshaya River, they are preparing vereshchaga
It’s a dish made of lard and eggs that appetizingly sizzles as it cooks
Vereshchaga is a hearty and nourishing traditional breakfast
Taking turns, the head chefs of Omsk’s best restaurants work their magic
There should be enough for both the round dance participants and all the festival guests
Tourists from Omsk confirm that it turned out delicious
Round Dances
And now the Great Siberian Round Dances begin!
The picturesque meadow is an ideal spot for folk dancing
Being the lead singer at an event of this scale is both an honor and a responsibility
The lyrics and audio recordings of the round dance songs were available for advance preparation
Moving correctly to each of them is an art in itself
It was believed that by forming a circle, people helped the sun — the source of life
Though they share a common name, each ornamental dance has its own story and its own pattern
In some round dances, a group of singers passes by those who hold the circle…
…and then, in a quick flurry, the resulting letter C turns back into the letter O
After such speeds, a breather is definitely needed
But already a new song spreads across the meadow
Four vocalists stand as motionless points
Around them, human chains of complex shape begin to swirl
The young women wave their arms, setting the rhythm for this endless movement
Right now, the only way to take photos is to stay close to the singers
It’s heartening to see so many children and teenagers among the participants
The next round dance is a tangled one
To untangle, everyone must follow a specific sequence of steps
Next, the folklore experts form two long lines
A drawn‑out, meditative song called “The Green Grove” sounds out
Each side takes turns approaching the other and bowing
But even this linear configuration quickly changes
Only the uninitiated think that a round dance simply requires holding hands
In reality, the dance‑game variations that have reached us are strikingly diverse
An hour later, the round dance takes on a perfect circle: the finale is near!
“Hello, Kostroma! — Hello there! — What are you doing?”
The dialogue of the closing act is pure improvisation
For a few verses, Kostroma frolics and entertains the whole meadow…
…but at some point she decides to play dead
And that’s the end of the tale: to bring her back to life, the men drag Kostroma to the river!
Fortunately, the water remains calm this time
After tasting the vereshchaga, the round dance participants take commemorative photos…
…and inspire the tourists who came to the festival to do their own photo shoots
Epilogue
By evening, the village’s central pedestrian street becomes deserted
Even the “Ancient Siberia” needs its rest
12,000 people visited the festival locations over the weekend
The project introduced people to the spirit of the Siberians who built fortresses and cities here
In the 17th century, Siberia became a territory of Russian culture and strengthened the power of the state
The mission of the “Sletye” festival is to preserve and popularize the heritage of our ancestors
