The Szczyrzyc Lachs inhabit a valley which in the north stretches as far as the Wiśnicz Foothills, and in the south – the Island Beskids. To the north the Szczyrzyc Lachs border Krakowiaks, to the east and south-east – Limanowa Lachs (and Lachs of the village of Dobra), to the south – Zagórze Highlanders, and to the west – Lachs of the town of Myślenice (regarded as Western Krakowiaks). Recognised as the capital of the region, Szczyrzyc is situated on Stradomka, a right tributary of the Raba river. It is an old village, where in 1243 the Cistercians located their monastery, thus exerting considerable civilisational, economic and cultural influence on the development of the local population. The advancement in the region was also favourably affected by local knightly families and the Cracow-based Dominicans, who took over a section of the Cistercian demesne in the eastern part of the valley, with the village of Jodłownik as its centre. The village of Góra Świętego Jana was a major crafts centre, with a brewery, a mill, a sawmill, a tannery and a fulling workshop. In the 16th century the Szczyrzyc county stretched down to the Rocky Podhale, and its territory was a place of not only growing cereal crops, but also of highly developed horticulture.
“Mali Szczyrzycanie” ensemble has been operating in affiliation with Władysław Orkan Primary School since 1960, bringing together children from grades 1-6 and attracting them to the idea of the traditional folk culture being handed down to the next generations.
On the Festival stage “Mali Szczyrzycanie” will present a programme entitled “Once the carting is over.” On Saturday afternoon, after the sheaves of corn have been carted to the barn, the mother tells the playing children to rake up straw – the farmyard must be neat so as not to give the people going to church cause for backbiting. The children willingly get down to work. The younger ones get tired more easily, move to the side and start playing. The straw gathered in a little cart will be used to make sheaf caps which, once put on the head, will protect against the rain. A musical band happens to be passing by and so they stop to play for the children’s dancing and singing. Alina Adamczyk is the ensemble leader and instructor, and Wiesław Cudek is the head of the band.
“Mali Szczyrzycanie” ensemble has been operating in affiliation with Władysław Orkan Primary School since 1960, bringing together children from grades 1-6 and attracting them to the idea of the traditional folk culture being handed down to the next generations.
On the Festival stage “Mali Szczyrzycanie” will present a programme entitled “Once the carting is over.” On Saturday afternoon, after the sheaves of corn have been carted to the barn, the mother tells the playing children to rake up straw – the farmyard must be neat so as not to give the people going to church cause for backbiting. The children willingly get down to work. The younger ones get tired more easily, move to the side and start playing. The straw gathered in a little cart will be used to make sheaf caps which, once put on the head, will protect against the rain. A musical band happens to be passing by and so they stop to play for the children’s dancing and singing. Alina Adamczyk is the ensemble leader and instructor, and Wiesław Cudek is the head of the band.