Polotsk. Poozerye Museum of Traditional Hand Weaving.

The Poozerye Museum of Traditional Hand Weaving, located in the ancient Belarusian city of Polotsk in the Vitebsk region, is a real living place where ancient national rituals are preserved and sacred knowledge about the life and work of our ancestors is passed down from generation to generation. The museum's exposition features hand-woven items made in Glubokoe, Miorsky, Sharkovichinsky, Verkhnedvinsky, Postavsky, Dokshitsky and Polotsk districts.

The museum staff fascinatingly tells about the peculiarities, history of development and traditions of the Belarusian people in the territory of the Lake district. The museum has been opening its doors to everyone for almost two decades. You can recall the tale of the evil witch by looking at an ancient spinning wheel, imagine the daily work of Belarusian women thanks to archaic tools and admire the amazing fabric prints on ceramic dishes. All the exhibits are located in three large rooms, and the museum itself is considered a striking landmark of the country, showing one of the areas of folk art of local residents.

The heart and foundation of the entire exhibition is the model of the World Tree. This motif, symbolizing endless life and eternity, can be found on many fabrics and dishes. The tree acts as a link between man and the universe. The roots of the Tree symbolize the process of flax cultivation and its primary processing. The trunk represents the creation of fabric, and the crown tells about the mysterious world of symbols and signs reflected in folk legends and myths. Our ancestors carefully encoded these traditions in national patterns and signs.