Człowiek kultury pogranicza – na przykładzie Grodzieńszczyzny

Abstract

The present-day Grodno Region is inhabited predominantly by the Belarusians, the Poles, the Russians and some other ethnic minorities. Polish people define themselves explicitly as the Poles, or less frequently as the Catholics, while only a minority of Belarusian people regarded themselves as the Belarusians, more often as Orthodox, and most commonly as “the locals”, and they do not have clearly determined criteria of that self-definition. The local Russians have preserved their national identity. Despite linguistic, religious and mental differences, all the ethnic groups live in harmony, showing tolerance towards other religions and cultures, and often adopt traditions and customs of their neighbours.