The symbolism of the number three in the folk culture of Belarusians

Abstract

This article presents the role of symbols in the lives of individuals and groups. Particular attention is paid to the symbolic significance of the number three in the folk culture of the Belarusians, more specifically in the rites of the folk calendar, the scripts of marriage ceremonies, the ritual of birth, the rites associated with baptism, and the rites associated with death and mourning. The dominant role of the number three in the mythology and oral poetic legacy of the Belarusians (especially in spells and fairy epics) is also revealed. The analysis of scientific literature and research interviews prove that numbers are a universal language, as they contain information about the source of cultural beliefs, the norms and values of different societies as well as the relations occurring among their representatives.