December 4th - BarbórkaAt this day Catholic Church commemorates St. Barbara (of Nicodemia), martyr a
December 4th - BarbórkaAt this day Catholic Church commemorates St. Barbara (of Nicodemia), martyr and patron saint of miners (propably because, acording to legend, when pursued by her father, she prayed to God and a mountain opened up to give her hiding). This day is highly celebrated in Silesia - polish region, where mining for centuries was a main source of employment, but also in other places where mines are. Traditionaly, at this day all mines stop the production, and in the morning everyone, miners and their families, put on their best suits and gather at holy mass celebrated in the church or in cechownia (part of the mine, sort of waiting room) where a statue of saint Barbara is. The orchestra of miners goes around the neighbourhood. During the celebratory gathering, the rewards and decorations are given to miners.Another part of the celebrations is “karczma piwna” (inn of beer). It’s a gathering of miners (also retired ones) exclusively. It begins with a “procession of foxes” - a group of the youngest and newest adepts into mining, lead by “Fox Major”- elder and respected miner. Then they perform “skok przez skórę” (jump over the leather), which is a ceremonial from of inclusion into miners’ guild. Leather was a very useful item in miner’ equipment, but also a symbol of his honor. The rest of the gathering went by with songs, conversations between “stare strzechy” (old thatches - older miners) and “młode strzechy” (young thatches - younger miners), and lots of beer. Everything had a traditional and celebrated for years form, which staged version is described here.Read about Barbórka at Wikipedia.St. Barbara has always been held dear in hearts of silesian miners, being a saving heroine of many stories, a source of help and inspiration for artists amongst the miners.Pictures:1. St. Barbara blessing the miner, Wikipedia.2. Miner’ orchestra parading in Nikiszowiec, Katowice, Silesia. (x)3. Fox Major in action. (x)4. Jump over the leather (x) -- source link
#polish tradition#folk culture#poland#silesia#st. barbara#barbórka#ethnology