![Belarus Independence Day 2018](http://www.google.com/logos/doodles/2018/belarus-independence-day-2018-4522182049792000-2xa.gif)
Jul 03, 2018
Belarus Independence Day 2018
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle features the flag of Belarus in honor of the country’s Independence Day. The green border at the bottom of the flag represents the Belarussian forests while the red and white design on the left is the traditional textile pattern of a ruchnik, a cloth used during religious services or simply for serving bread to visiting guests.
Concerts and parades take place all over the country on July 3rd as Belarus celebrates the liberation of Minsk, its capital city, by Russian troops in 1944. The biggest independence day parade takes place in Minsk itself, situated on the Svislach River. As many as 6,000 military and government personnel march through Independence Square with an airshow overhead. Local businesses and farmers also take part in the parade. Some farmers even decorate their tractors, attaching straw hats to the roofs and performing a wheelstand along the parade route.
Fireworks displays and a traditional Belarusian dinner complete the independence day experience. Traditional fare includes Vereshchaka sausage and draniki or potato pancakes as well as sweet or savory pancakes made from wheat, barley, buckwheat, oatmeal, and peas.
Happy Independence Day, Belarus!
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