The Żywiec Beskids is the highest range in the Western Beskids. The colonisation which had been increasing in the region as of the 15th century, enhanced by waves of incoming Wallachians – against the backdrop of the mesmerising Carpathian nature – gave rise to an original pastoral and agricultural culture filled with vivid elements of brigandage, which lent originality to the local tradition and customs. The trade routes that ran here enriched the Żywiec culture with Czech, Slovakian, Hungarian, Austrian and Romany elements. In the borderland between the Żywiec Beskids and the Silesian Beskids lies the village of Laliki, which administration-wise belongs to the commune of Milówka. It was here that in 2004 the ensemble SPOD KIKULI was founded; the inspiration for its creation was provided by classes in the local culture run at the local primary school. The ensemble presents the folklore of the Żywiec Beskids in its characteristic highland dances (e.g. obyrtka, koło, girls’ dance, siustany, koń, pasterski, hajduk) and traditional singing. Besides, the ensemble popularises Christmas and New Year customs and rites, as well as boasts a wide repertoire of ancient Christmas carols and shepherd Christmas songs.
At the Festival the ensemble will present a programme entitled “Grazing on Kikula.” Young children are playing in a clearing. Some older girls come; they have arranged to meet on Kikula (a local name of a mountain in Laliki) to graze cattle. Soon they leave the young children behind and go picking raspberries. In the meantime some boys arrive and start playing footbag. The raspberry-picking girls return; the “uncle” bagpiper and an older girl with a violin turn up too. Some more girls from “Dziedzina” (another elevation in Laliki) come. Fun and games get underway, boys begin showing off, and the playing children are soon joined by a musical band, which begins accompanying the dances of siustany, koń and obyrtka.
Grażyna Pydych-Babicka is the ensemble leader and choreographer. The musical band, which is headed by Wojciech Maciejowski, will be playing violins, a diatonic button accordion, Żywiec bagpipes and a double bass.
At the Festival the ensemble will present a programme entitled “Grazing on Kikula.” Young children are playing in a clearing. Some older girls come; they have arranged to meet on Kikula (a local name of a mountain in Laliki) to graze cattle. Soon they leave the young children behind and go picking raspberries. In the meantime some boys arrive and start playing footbag. The raspberry-picking girls return; the “uncle” bagpiper and an older girl with a violin turn up too. Some more girls from “Dziedzina” (another elevation in Laliki) come. Fun and games get underway, boys begin showing off, and the playing children are soon joined by a musical band, which begins accompanying the dances of siustany, koń and obyrtka.
Grażyna Pydych-Babicka is the ensemble leader and choreographer. The musical band, which is headed by Wojciech Maciejowski, will be playing violins, a diatonic button accordion, Żywiec bagpipes and a double bass.