A lot of good things can be said about the genuine Slavic hospitality. One may talk about it for ages providing examples to enthrall weary traveling businessmen and those who are sick of eating fast food meals. This tradition is respected in the Belarus Republic so much that the people had invented a national synonym for the word “hospitality” – “hlebosolstvo” (“bread and salt”). This word goes back to the old custom according to which the symbol of hospitality was a round loaf of bread and a salt shaker set on the table under an embroidered towel.

If a guest (even an unexpected one) appeared in a Belarusian home, he was always invited to come in and was entertained by conversation while the hostess cooked dinner. If the family was short of something, the mother would always send the oldest kid to the shop or to the neighbors’ house to get something to please the guest.

Belarusian people believe that a guest brings joy to their house. Old proverbs say: “Guest comes – the house fills with happiness” or “We’ve got a lot of food and drink – now we need someone to talk to”. That’s why Belarusians are always happy to see their neighbors, friends from the nearby villages, or near and distant relatives coming to borrow a couple of eggs or to just gossip and chit chat.

Sometimes wanderers would ask to stay for a night. They were also invited to come in and given the royal treatment. Travelers seemed to bring the news from all over the world. People who never saw anything but a couple of villages (actually a couple of houses surrounded by swamplands) and the city where the fair took place, were always ready to listen to a story about a wedding (which, in fact, took place a couple of months ago but seemed to be breaking news anyway). Any story was a lot more interesting than the modern news from the Internet. When a good story-teller stopped in the village, all the inhabitants came to listen to him talking about the news which usually turned out to be plain tales.

And if Belarusians were awaiting a friend; a dearly beloved person from far away who didn’t visit too often, it was the right time to set the feast! Even today, in the times ruled by information and globalization, these traditions haven’t been forgotten. What we all really value a lot is plain warm-heartedness, isn’t it? Come to Belarus – here you will be able to get a lot of it!

Of course, it would be better to let the hosts get ready for your visit and inform them about it in advance. Then you’ll be treated like a king! If a Belarusian invites you for a cup of coffee, don’t expect to see the table with just a coffee pot, cups, and sweets on it. Before tasting the coffee you’ll have to try all the culinary masterpieces that the hostess is able to make.

Don’t miss the chance to taste the incredibly delicious soups, numerous dishes made of potatoes, pastries, and meat courses. And don’t be surprised when all the hosts plainly say that seeing your delight will be: “It’s alright. Nothing special – we just treat you with what we have at home”. That’s the thing all Slavs always say; even though the cuisine is plenty worthy of being served in the best French restaurants, and usually takes a lot of the hosts’ time and money. But Belarusian people just don’t care about it – all they want is to treat the guest the way he will always remember. Even many, many years later you will tell your grandkids about the sincere generosity and hospitality of the Belarusian people.