Dziady

:"This article is about an ancient festival. See Dziady (poem) for the poem by Adam Mickiewicz." Dziady (IPA2|dzʲa'dɨ) was an ancient Slavic feast to commemorate the dead. Literally, the word is translated as "Grandfathers". It was held twice every year (in the spring and autumn). During the feast the ancient Slavs organized libations and ritual meals. In local mythologies such feasts were organized both for the living and for the souls of the forefathers who joined the "dziady" after dark.

The festival today

*In Poland, the tradition prevailed in the form of Christian Zaduszki feast.

*Lithuanians also have similar feast, called Vėlinės. It has roots in pagan times, and slightly differs form Slavic Dziady.

*In Belarus, Dziady (Дзяды) were usually held on the last Saturday before St. Dmitry's day, end of October/beginning of November ("Dźmitreuskija dziady", St.Dmitry's "Dziady"). There were also 'Trinity Day "Dziady, 'Shrovetide "Dziady, and some other dates.

Neopagan event

The festival is also an important event in the Slavic Neopagan calendar, especially in Poland. It's being observed by the three major Pagan Reconstructionist organizations: Rodzima Wiara, Rodzimy Kościół Polski and Słowiańska Wiara, as well as by some solitary Slavic Pagans.

The festival in popular culture

*The second part of the poetical novel "Dziady" by Adam Mickiewicz is dedicated mostly to the Dziady feast organized in what is now Belarus, and popular among Ruthenians and Lithuanians during the times of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

*Since 1988 the Belarusian Popular Front initiated the revival of the tradition in Belarus. The initiative was met with strong opposition from the communist administration of the country.