THE TRADITION OF 'HERB' (ZIELE) IN SLEZANY (CZESTOCHOWA REGION)

• Authors: Pabian B.
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The Czestochowa Region is an eclectic region with respect to culture. The cult of St. Mary, connected with the shrine on Jasna Góra, affects the cultural specificity of the region. It also affects the customs and tradition. Studies conducted by the authoress in the region of Czestochowa have confirmed the hypothesis about the existence of the 'folk type culture'. One of its manifestations is the custom of 'herb elevation' practiced in the village of Slezany. Although very interesting, the custom is little known. It is based in the folk religious tradition, however it can be related to the cult of St. Mary. Every year, on August 14, on the eve of the Mother of God of Herbs celebrations, the inhabitants of the village gather in the afternoon at a designated place. Together, they put up a spruce pole, several metres high. Atop the pole there is a special wooden structure with field crops - the so-called 'herb'. The height of the pole and the abundance of the 'herb' are indications that the harvest was very good. It is an expression of gratitude and a tribute paid to the Mother of God. This articles not only describes the 'herb' tradition in the cultural context of the region, but also interprets and describes the transformations of this custom.

Keywords

EN

CZESTOCHOWA REGION; FOLK TYPE CULTURE; MOTHER OF GOD OF HERBS CELEBRATIONS

Discipline

• ETHNOLOGY: ETHNOLOGY

• Publisher: Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze
• Journal: Lud
• Year: 2007
• Volume: 91
• Pages: 294-295
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Pabian B.

• B. Pabian, Wyzsza Szkola Hotelarstwa i Turystyki w Czestochowie, ul. Ogrodowa 47, Czestochowa, Poland

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

08PLAAAA03667410