What kind of souvenirs visitors to our country can take with them?
As a rule, many people bring from every trip not only an abundance of emotions and flash cards of digital cameras filled to capacity, but a lot of souvenirs as well: from trinkets to big objects with symbols of the host side — as a remembrance. It happens, however, that good impression of the souvenirs is replaced by disappointment: after a close examination of the labels it turns out, say, that a purchased panel depicting a story from Egyptian mythology or a Tatar skullcap — the result of work… of Chinese craftsmen. That being true, of course, for many other items brought from different countries. Therefore in Venice, for example, the city officials recently announced that they intend to fight with predominance of non-native presents in the lucrative locations for merchants with legislative acts. And what about the national symbols in our country? Who offers what to foreign tourists in Belarus, the reporter of our newspaper has found out.
According to the National Statistics Committee, 5.8 million people visited the republic last year (Russian citizens excluded). Of these, 64.6 thousand came with tourist purpose (more than 148 thousand counting Russians). The top five countries with the highest tourist contribution included Turkey (3,6 thousand), Lithuania (nearly 3,2 thousand), New Zealand (about 3,1 thousand) and Poland (nearly 3 thousand). It is estimated that each tourist stayed 5 days in the country on the average. What could they take away as a souvenir? Even in Minsk you have to look hard to find one, and the search is not rewarded with a large choice. In small towns, even covered with their former glory, you can find nothing at all. The shops of merchants not far from the excursion routes are not to be calculated upon, the «particles» of future memories concentrated in big stores exclusively.
A reassuring remark should be made: the Belarusian souvenirs in our shops are of local production with few exceptions. Although an inscription «Made in China» on some products can be spotted once in a while. In contrast to our nearest neighbors Russians, who recently found out that 95 % of the original Russian dolls sold in the world are produced in the Celestial Empire, Belarusians do not have to fear for breach of copyright yet. Apparently, our market of souvenirs is not so large for Chinese masters to consider it worthy of running our national pride into mass production.
The range in major department stores of the capital is roughly the same — emphasis is on folk crafts: straw, weaving, and pottery. Thus, on the first floor of the State Department Store, the stalls with souvenirs are crowded even on weekdays. Belarusians buy presents to numerous friends and relatives, including those from Russia. Products made of flax are selling well. For example, towels by Slutsk and Molodechno production, depending on the size, cost Br 80–250 thousand. Small ones, with «Belarus», «Minsk», «Bread and salt» written on them can be bought for Br 85-109 thousand, a tablecloth — for Br 209 thousand. The cost of dining sets is in the range of Br 119–313 thousand. For an apron or a towel one have to pay a little more than Br 300 thousand. A men`s flax suit at the «Kіrmash» shop on Independence Avenue is priced at over Br 518 thousand, a sundress — Br 344 thousand, and a skirt — Br 124 thousand.
In addition, dolls dressed in costumes with national patterns are popular. Thus, small Gannas, Marylas and Stepanіdas, 15 centimeters in height, are priced at Br 30—40 thousand, those higher — at Br 90—110 thousand. A warmer-doll for Br 207 thousand will not just beautify your desktop, but also retain heat, say, of a kettle. Another favorite of the national gift assortment is articles of straw. Those may be tiny bast shoes, bells, and hoops for Br 18-20 thousand, and decorative flowers and panels, and pictures with names of cities for Br 36—172 thousand as well, and also all kinds of vases for candy and crackers cost from Br 100 thousand. At the already mentioned «Kіrmash» they offer not to be penny wise and buy almost one and a half meter high «girls» of straw in national costumes and a straw guy Vasil playing a balalaika. This pleasure costs only Br 1–1.1 million. Collectors of musical instruments can also buy a light guitar, dulcimer, balalaika, fiddle or dombra for Br 75—315 thousand at Minsk stores. Notably, many fragile articles on sale are manufactured in Khoiniki.
Mozyr has also caused a stir: the local artistic goods factory uses humorously to the best effect in its earthenware sculptures the pastoral motifs of a Belarusian peasant life. In the showcases stand out in beauty a solitary hut, a village house with a yard, enclosed in paling, inhabitants of Belarusian forests, standing still, mythological brownies. They cost far from chip — not one hundred Belarusian rubles. But the problem is that Belarusians are not alone in this segment of the market. They have to compete with the Russian businessmen, who make a stake on the funny characters.
Wooden boxes of different size and shape with straw embeddings and views of Minsk such as Victory square, National library, Troitskoe suburb and stella «Minsk the city-hero» sell well. The biggest — «representative» as the price-tag says — cost a little more than Br 505 thousand. The listed landscapes are the most popular subjects on ceramic plates and magnets, too. Among offers one can find a book in the form of a bar, marked that it’s from the Belarusian capital by birth, for Br 450 thousand, and wooden mugs with the «from whom address» for Br 65—90 thousand. Huge pencils from birch trunks with the same inscriptions cost from Br 20 thousand up. Among other goods of wood a clock with a dial in the form of the map of the country on the national emblem as a background for Br 150—380 thousand stands out. A time «counter» guarded by an aurochs is evaluated at Br 377 thousand. By the way, the aurochs is one of the basic faces of the national symbols. Getting it as a hunting trophy is beyond absolute majority’s means, whereas an image of the main Belarusian symbol in the miniature is not a problem. It costs Br 70 thousand at the minimum, and 10 times more at the maximum.
Beside images of the Belarusian gals and lads, and the beast praised by Husovski, the stork, proudly hovering above fields, can be spotted. An earthenware jug with the same picture at the Stolitsa department store is offered at Br 270 thousand. It should be noted, that only some products have indication of their belonging to our country or a certain city (this can be not only Minsk but Gomel, Brest, Mogilev as well). But should you buy a plate with a view of Nemiga embankment at the State department store, the experienced might not believe that you had been in our republic: the inscription «TroEtskoe suburb» contains a mistake.
Finally, what kind of a travel escapes fridge magnets? Home-produced, simple and inexpensive, are Br 5 thousand at the minimum. But they are no match to Russian not in price only, but in appearance as well. It seems, that Russian ones have a brighter picture, and a wider range of famous sights used, and that their forms of a post stamp, envelope, road-sign and even miniature book are more attractive to the eye.
«Most tourists come in summer, during vacation time. Of course basically these are Russian-speaking people, who appreciate ecological purity of the purchased souvenirs, and sometimes take a practical approach in buying them. Expensive things, as a rule, are bought by Belarusians themselves as a gift for a jubilee or to give to visiting honorable guests», the State department store salesmen say.
