Secrets of apple mojitos, herbal weaving, and predictions from the Linen Carousel. What was memorable about the festival in Korma?

The "Linen Carousel" festival brought together hundreds of connoisseurs of folk and craft treasures from Belarus and RUSSIA to Korma. This corner of the Gomel region is fondly and respectfully known as the linen capital. Celebrations in honor of flax—the northern silk—are taking place in the town for the eighth time. BELTA correspondents immersed themselves in the atmosphere of linen art objects, culinary delights, and fashion.

The center of Korma became a veritable linen district, steeped in the cult of this culture. The festival brought together hundreds of local residents and guests from various regions of Belarus, as well as Russia. No one could resist the charm of the local artisans and guardians of culture. The makeshift stage, where a non-stop folk dance master class was held, was a lively gathering. Even high-ranking guests joined in the dancing. 
The town's central park was transformed into a photo zone with interactive areas. Flax was the centerpiece of each composition. This crop and its products were showcased in every aspect: from sheaves with lovely deep blue flowers to a photo zone with a flax tent and a jug of MILK, as well as a bed with linen bedding on the lawn, right under the open sky. 

"We are delighted to participate in this interesting and unique event. Sincere hospitality, generosity of spirit, and warmth—that's how we are greeted by the hardworking, talented, and proactive residents of the Kormyansky District, who have preserved and cultivated the best traditions of their people. We share similar values ​​and are therefore pleased to collaborate and are ready to develop our relationship," said Elena Galkina, Deputy HEAD of the Vyshnevolotsk District Administration in the Tver Region, addressing the district's residents.

The city of artisans attracted visitors with its unique activities. Weave a bracelet from flax fibers, make a souvenir from wood and linen on a magnetic base, or carve a wood pattern—there's an interactive experience for every taste and budget.
Andrey Pavlenko and Ulyana Guseva represent the flax crafts museum from the town of Vyshny Volochyok in the Tver region. Their corner beckons festival guests with the aromas of wild herbs. "We came here from far away to get to know the region, bringing the works of our herb weaving masters. Everything here is very warm, cozy, homey, filled with smiles and joy. We're also interested in the festival organization itself, as we plan to host our first flax festival this month. We've been to Yaroslavl, and now we're coming to Belarus," the master explained.

"Our ancestors, especially our grandfathers, wove birch branch rugs for the bathhouse. They'd place them on the bench, providing a massage both above and below. Plus, the aroma is wonderful. And now, we've come up with the idea of ​​using these rugs for decorative purposes. We weave panels from medicinal aromatic herbs. They can be placed not only in the bathhouse, but also in the kitchen, bedroom, or used to decorate a gazebo, etc. These panels, while still green, delight with their freshness, natural beauty, and aroma. However, they can be used for two or three years," added Ulyana Guseva.
Olga Zhernakova, DIRECTOR of the Soroki ensemble from the Tver region, is also attending the Flax Festival for the first time. "We traveled over 900 km to get to the Linen Carousel. We were warmly welcomed, and the festival was very colorful and atmospheric. Festivals like these have a soul, which is revealed through folk songs. These are the only songs in our repertoire, and we are happy to perform them on the Linen Carousel stage. We've been singing and performing for over 20 years. In addition to musical numbers, we also offer souvenirs—linen dolls, brooches, and lucky bags, the main component of which is flax fiber. Flax production is also preserved and active in our region," she noted. 

The open-air mini-weaving center was organized by artisans from Neglyubka, Vetkovsky District. The head of the children's clubTatyana Suglob, a member of the Neglyubsky Rural Weaving Center's weaving club , and her granddaughter, Diana, gave a master class. A loom, in the hands of skilled relatives, creates incredible patterns. "This is a very unique craft, an ancient tradition. Its main distinguishing feature is that the towels are woven from the back. We have over 200 patterns, and the combinations are almost never repeated. We begin teaching children in first grade. We have a unique place—almost every house has a loom in the attic. I remember as a little girl, watching my mother weave. Now we strive to preserve this tradition and pass it on to our children and grandchildren," said Tatyana.
Guests were captivated by the hospitable table with unusual dishes from the Dubovitskaya Basic School. "Here we have an infusion. It's 'Kormyansky Mojito.' It has fresh mint leaves, APPLE slices, and crystal-clear water. Everything was steeped for over a day. Look at the beautiful, rich color. It's a cooling and refreshing drink—you won't find anything like it anywhere else. The donuts, made using a recipe from Soviet times, are simply flying off the shelves. There are also bagels and buns. Try these cherry-topped candies. The recipe is confidential, but we'll share a secret with you. It's made with gelatin and powdered SUGAR. The taste is exceptional," shared the school's artisans.

Girls in extraordinary handcrafted outfits paraded to the sounds of folk melodies. These are participants in the "Klyusymka-2025" competition. Dressed as the guardian of the flax fields, they decorated the festive venues. 

One of the wonderful contestants, Anastasia Gotsmanova, representing the Kormyansky Children and Youth Creativity Center, dressed as Klyusymka, was delighted to explore the activities offered at the festival venues and, at the same time, bring joy to the guests. "We spent three days preparing the costume, with the whole family helping. It turned out beautifully. The mystery of which of the 12 girls will become this year's Klyusymka will be resolved this evening," she said with a charming smile.
The celebration of linen was evident throughout the festival: from decorations shaped like firebirds and peacocks with linen plumage to luxurious clothing and culinary delights. At one location, one could even receive fortunes from the "Linen Carousel."  

Incidentally, local festival records were also set. For example, in preparation, over 10,000 flags were made, which decorated the central square like a tent, as well as 2 km of ribbon, 8 km of thread, and 400 m of fabric. And just onThe tail of each of the beautiful peacocks that decorated the festive venues required 40 sheaves. In total, the festival site boasts 70 bales of flax straw and three tractor-trailer loads of sheaves.  

The festival is organized by the Kormyansky District Executive Committee. The festival aims to develop the district's tourism potential, promote spiritual values ​​and folk culture traditions, and enhance the prestige of flax growers. Photo by Sergey Kholodilin