Harvest Festivals 2022
„Dożynki” – the Folk Harvest Festivals have for years been associated with thanksgiving rituals for the completion of the harvest and field work. This custom flourished in the 16th century, when the harvest festival was held at manors of estates. Of course, this custom was practiced much earlier on as „wyżynek”, „obrzynki”, „wieniec” or ”wieńcowe”, and it was probably related to the original cult of plants and trees, and then to primeval agriculture. Although in a different form, the harvest festivals have survived to this day, being the time of all farmers, and are celebrated at the turn of August and September, To this day, the event visited many villages in Poland. In August 2022, the Folkloristic Group “Wielkopolanie” participated in the Municipal Harvest Festival in Bożejewice, the Municipal Harvest Festival in Duszniki, the Parish and Municipal Harvest Festival in Kleczew and the County Harvest Festival in Księginki. “Plon niesiemy plon…” was sung by dancers of „Wielkopolanie” dressed in traditional Wielkopolska costumes from the vicinity of Krobia, Domachów and Szamotuły. Over forty performers introduced the Wielkopolska summer and autumn traditions and customs to the large audience. On the stage, together with the “Wielkopolanie”, the starosts also had the opportunity to dance, and then, according to tradition, they handed over this year’s loaf of bread to the mayor of the city. It was the mayor who went out to the gathered people, revelers, sharing the received bread (this custom was introduced in the 1980s). After the ceremonies, the Folkloristic Group “Wielkopolanie” presented itself during the concert, performing in dances and songs from various regions of Poland. In addition to the native Wielkopolska folklore, “Wielkopolanie” showed dances and songs of Rzeszów, Przeworsk, Łowicz and the lands of Kraków. The variety of the colors on the stage, the dynamics and spontaneity of the dancers were applauded by the large audience. The Harvest Festival is celebrated not only in Poland but also in other European countries, although in a different than traditional form, they have become a permanent fixture in the summer and autumn calendar. It is the largest and most important harvest festival of the year, which is the culmination of the year-long work of farmers.
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