Traditions across borders

Beneficiary : Przeworsk Commune

Slovak partner:   Current Spissky Hrhov

Implementation period:   01/02/2018- 31/12/2018

Realized project value: € 52,206.87 , including ERDF co-financing: € 44,375.81 ,

Exchanging experiences and maintaining the identity and traditions of the regions through joint artistic, culinary and tourist activities are just some of the added values of the implemented project. The activities planned in the project were an opportunity to exchange examples of good practice in various areas of activity. The first of them concerned the traditions cultivated during the celebration of holidays or celebrations in Podkarpacie and Spissky Hrhov. The second area related to the upholding of traditions related to the life of people in the countryside. Based on the knowledge of the oldest inhabitants, local traditions and published publications were recreated. Thanks to this, the old customs of the regions were saved for good.

The main activities carried out under the project:

• Polish-Slovak Easter rites and traditions . The rituals and customs related to the Turki's grave guard, as well as the Easter traditions in Poland and Slovakia, were recreated. In Poland, archival photos of Turks were collected and a photo exhibition was prepared, which could be seen during the Grave Guards Parade. The event was attended by a group of 20 people from present Spisski Hrhov. The visit of the neighbors was also an opportunity to talk and compare the traditions related to the celebration of Easter on both sides of the border.
• Polish wedding on Slovak soil . The task was to recreate and show the traditions associated with an old Polish wedding in the countryside. An amateur theater group from the Przeworsk Commune prepared a staging of this rite based on conversations with the oldest inhabitants of the village. This rite was presented to the Slovaks during the trip of a group of 50 people from Poland to present Spissky Hrhov. The representatives of the Przeworsk commune together with the representatives of Spissky Hrhov also participated in the conference ended with a debate on the tradition of rural weddings both in Poland and Slovakia.
• Former Polish and Slovak villages - similarities and differences . As part of the task, old traditions and rituals cultivated in the countryside were restored. During their trip to Slovakia, representatives of the Przeworsk Commune conducted handicraft workshops, thanks to which the inhabitants of Slovakia learned the secrets of tissue paper products. In turn, the representatives of the Partner conducted wooden craftsmanship classes in Poland. Items used in the past in the Polish and Slovak villages have also been reconstructed. The partners also prepared exhibitions and presented them to both their residents and project participants during the trips. The exhibitions ended with debates on the similarities and differences in traditions in the Polish and Slovak villages. The culmination of this task was to publish a publication on the formerly used equipment, which made it possible to permanently save our own history from oblivion and learn about the traditions of our neighbors.
• Christmas with us and our neighbors . The inhabitants of the Przeworsk commune recreated the customs related to Christmas. During their trip to Slovakia, an amateur theater group presented the customs related to the Feast of Christmas. A group of 50 people from Poland participated in this trip. There were also cooking classes during which traditional regional dishes were prepared and served during the holidays. In turn, a group of 20 people from Slovakia participated in culinary workshops and a debate on Christmas traditions in Poland. On arrival, the guests from Slovakia visited the area of Przeworsk. A publication containing recreated rituals and customs, recipes as well as Christmas carols and pastorals was also prepared.