Blacksmith's day
Description:
Blacksmithing is one of the oldest and most respected crafts. For a long time, blacksmiths were respected and respected by the people.
Becoming a blacksmith is not as easy as it seems. Education today takes a sufficient amount of time, and once the blacksmith studied from 3 to 10 years.
The blacksmith usually stood on the side of the village, and always from there came a cheerful ringing of iron - this blacksmith works. Shoves horses, melts sickles and braids, knives and scissors. The blacksmith was considered a hero in whose hands iron and fire become obedient. Not everyone can subdue such elements.
Until the 12th century, blacksmiths were "part-time" and gootniks - masters of iron smelting from swamp or lake ore, from which later forged various objects of labor, weapons and jewelry. Sometime in the late 11th and early 13th centuries, blacksmiths became independent masters. In the 14-17th centuries there was a division of blacksmiths into separate professions - swordsmen, warriors, lockers. City blacksmiths belonged to the estate of burghers and from the 16th century had the right to unite in workshops. In the second half of the 17th century, many Belarusian blacksmiths worked in Muscovy, Italy, Venice and France. Study could last up to 10 years, after which students became apprentices. To obtain the status of a master, the blacksmith had to make a “journey” through the craft centers and do some specific thing, which was evaluated by the chairmen of various workshops. We took into account the decoration, complexity and duration of forging, as well as strength when it came to weapons.
Rural or village blacksmiths did not enter the workshops and satisfied the needs of a narrow circle of consumers - fellow villagers and residents of round villages. Most often they did the necessary things in everyday life: horseshoes, locks, upholstery for chests. The transfer of skills took place by admission to students. They were most often members of the same family - nephews, brothers and sons.
Until the end of the 19th century, there were up to 50 rural blacksmiths in each poveta of Belarus. They usually worked together with the helpers. In addition to hot and cold forging, blacksmiths carried out welding, various plumbing and soldering works.
Since the professional activities of the blacksmith were well paid and respected, albeit sometimes difficult, the younger generation in the village certainly wanted to be representatives of the blacksmith community. To be similar, children invented various games, which would feature blacksmith or his activities. In Belarusian folklore, a huge number of such games have survived to this day.
Despite the fact that modern industry has replaced handicrafts, the blacksmith profession remains very respected. Around her still hovers a halo of mysticism and mystery. And forged goods today are expensive luxury goods. Often beautiful, elegant works of art. In addition to the day of their patron Kuzma, blacksmiths often arrange holidays of their profession at various festivals and exhibitions. For example, during the Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk, the Ball of Hephaestus is held annually. There, fire and iron masters demonstrate the ability to turn metal into flowers, butterflies or even a headdress.
