Majáles 2011 / The May Feast 2011 in Oščadnica
"Tradition has value."
In Slovakia, there is traditional custom connected with the month of May, in the world known as the month dedicated to love. Love does not disappear also in this case. We still hold the line. At the begining of the month May, men cut the tree and women ( their wives, girlfriends or daughters) should decorate it. Then they bring and put it into the ground next to their house. And so passing people know that in this house there are living young ladies worth for mariage or just beautiful and nice young women.
Hovewer, this was May reality in the past. Now it is not such ordinary, natural and usual, but anyways this custom has remaind.
At the end of May, usually last weekend, the tree, by the way called May is cut down. As probably everywhere in the world also in our village, this customs are dissapearing when concerning daily life of its habitants. Hovewer, still there is centre of a village and people who are taking care about the traditions and so every last weekend in May, there is a big feast in our village called Oščadnica. The process of cutting down the May ( by firemenof the village) is acompaigned with singing traditional songs, dancing and with carriage led by strong horses.
They pass across the village and than come back to centre. Small children can touch them and unless like this have a contact with the past of their grandmothers and grandfathers.
Of course, there are also traders selling some kind of expensive traditional candies, toys or fried saussages.. This year, there was also goulash presented and sold. Surprisingly, very expensive.
Hovewer this is the sentence to stop your imagination and let you see how it looked like a little bit throughout the pictures:-)
The May in village is up, and then is cut by firemen ( we cannot see them, because there are people standing in front)
The top of the May is given to the mayor of the village ( Oscadnica) and then singers ( who were singing during cutting down as well) are going with Mayor in the front to the centre of the village. ( Actually village is pretty small so it just needs to cross the street)
"Bus wanted to follow them, but then realized that it was to big to get to the small centre"
Mayor dancing with the group of local traditional singers.)
And yes, traders offering from traditional specialities to modern bulshits.-)
My mum in front of the stand with Medovina
( special slovak sweet alcohol made of honey) :-)
Perníky. Traditional decorated ginger bread . There are many shapes, many
styles of decorating, so many options to make your partner or children happy.
And, There was also food sold. Goulash for 3 euros. It was good, but damn price.
"Dobrú chuť" :-)
And my Favourite part: Cariages with Horses and Horses
If you fave never seen HORSE SMILE, now you lost your virginity of it :-)
I like May Feast in Oščadnica. It is my favourite regional and local event. And of course when there is beautiful wheater and money in the pocket, then no way not to go.-)
There are still times and places we can remind of our past, traditions and just a little bit show it to the youngsters.
Actually this is what reminds us of history, of what we came from into these day. The May feast 2011.




























